The Power of Percy and James

[PerfectPercy]

As I started my collection years ago, I realize that James and Percy are the weakest engines when it comes to strength. They don't do well going up hills.

Thomas is stronger than both of them. While Edward is a but stronger than Thomas, I would say, I think James should have been in the strength area that Edward's in. Percy should be as strong as Thomas. I would think that many others are experiencing this problem too.

Has this problem been resolved at all with the production of these two engines? I need them to be stronger myself because they can't handle the hills of my layout like Thomas can.

[mtkeller]

thats been happening to me

[razgriz233]

what i would do is get a bigger motor for percy and james, but it has to fit in the housing

[alex wittman]

well that might be a little difficult, you see, when i made my stunt gordon and thomas, they had different size housings for the motor, now if you try and fit a gordon/henry motor into a smaller housing, then it might melt or break, for percy, when i replaced his old motor with a used one from thomas, his motor was worm gear down, i think percy's motor is fine the way it is, but he can pull six to seven trucks without slipping because my layout's even with the floor, i would reccommend to check you layout's with a leveler and fix it if uneven.

[razgriz233]

or u can try a different motor from a different model, other then thomas.

[alex wittman]

that might work too, but unsolder the wires from the circuts first, then take it out

[Santa Fe buff]

For James,
Add some Bullfrog Snot (Liquid rubber traction tire solution.) or a traction tire. Apply Bullfrog Snot with a toothpick to one of the drivers and leave the other 2 for driving. Let dry.

For Percy,
Add copper contacts. (http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/product_p/81-825.htm) Peferably between the two drivers. Add traction tire or Bullfrog Snot on rear driver. Let dry, follow application instructions from James' section. For questions, post.

Bullfrog Snot:
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/product_p/bfs-bfs.htm

Notes,
Be sure to apply the Bullfrog Snot in a complete circle on the driver(s). Spin drivers manually, or use a Kadee Products "Speedi" wheel cleaning on a pick up to apply electrical connection allowing spinning. Be careful not to get product on or inside locomotive. Whip product off quickly if it gets on exterior. Examine interior for damage/survey to see if product has caused damage. Replace parts and/or whip Bullfrog Snot off anything else then the wheel base. Use caution and patience.

This will increase tractive effort incredibly.

Cheers,
Joshua

EDIT: A more powerful motor will help with power, but traction may or may not be affected by adding a more powerful motor. In fact, you risk spinning the wheels and losing great tractive effort if the motor is driving too hard. For best results, attempt to add a more powerful motor/capable re-powering kit after following the previous steps.

[James The Red Engine]

That Bullfrog Snot is good stuff.  I know a lot of guys at the club who use it.

[shining time]

my idea is to leave them the way they are and get some emrey paper and rub that on the rails not really hard but enough for some scatches to be seen and have them run on that i have a small hill in the front of my layout and it has a slight s curve and percy thomas and james and gordon  would have problem pulling the four coaches or 5-7 freight cars we use the emery paper and percy and james and thomas can pull 6 cars and gordon and henry and pull 13 cars or the four coaches i have

p.s. hope this helps

[razgriz233]

For James,
Add some Bullfrog Snot (Liquid rubber traction tire solution.) or a traction tire. Apply Bullfrog Snot with a toothpick to one of the drivers and leave the other 2 for driving. Let dry.

For Percy,
Add copper contacts. (http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/product_p/81-825.htm) Peferably between the two drivers. Add traction tire or Bullfrog Snot on rear driver. Let dry, follow application instructions from James' section. For questions, post.

Bullfrog Snot:
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/product_p/bfs-bfs.htm

Notes,
Be sure to apply the Bullfrog Snot in a complete circle on the driver(s). Spin drivers manually, or use a Kadee Products "Speedi" wheel cleaning on a pick up to apply electrical connection allowing spinning. Be careful not to get product on or inside locomotive. Whip product off quickly if it gets on exterior. Examine interior for damage/survey to see if product has caused damage. Replace parts and/or whip Bullfrog Snot off anything else then the wheel base. Use caution and patience.

This will increase tractive effort incredibly.

Cheers,
Joshua

EDIT: A more powerful motor will help with power, but traction may or may not be affected by adding a more powerful motor. In fact, you risk spinning the wheels and losing great tractive effort if the motor is driving too hard. For best results, attempt to add a more powerful motor/capable re-powering kit after following the previous steps.

Well im not a big fan of things like that, cause they dont have a great conection to the track and it makes it look like crap

[Santa Fe buff]

razgriz233,
Yes, it does, but it's an option. You can still use the technique with James, and you don't need the contact. The same rule applies with any other locomotive. The 0-4-0 wheel arrangement is the smallest you can get (In the Thomas range, the smallest is the 2-2-0.), so electrical contact is critical. Since Percy is the smallest, you don't need the contact for any other engine bigger than an 0-4-0 (Percy.). Which is nice.

Also, there are a few techniques to mask them, but I don't think anyone really wants to go that far into such a simple problem.

Cheers,
Joshua

[PerfectPercy]

For James,
Add some Bullfrog Snot (Liquid rubber traction tire solution.) or a traction tire. Apply Bullfrog Snot with a toothpick to one of the drivers and leave the other 2 for driving. Let dry.

For Percy,
Add copper contacts. (http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/product_p/81-825.htm) Peferably between the two drivers. Add traction tire or Bullfrog Snot on rear driver. Let dry, follow application instructions from James' section. For questions, post.

Bullfrog Snot:
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/product_p/bfs-bfs.htm

Notes,
Be sure to apply the Bullfrog Snot in a complete circle on the driver(s). Spin drivers manually, or use a Kadee Products "Speedi" wheel cleaning on a pick up to apply electrical connection allowing spinning. Be careful not to get product on or inside locomotive. Whip product off quickly if it gets on exterior. Examine interior for damage/survey to see if product has caused damage. Replace parts and/or whip Bullfrog Snot off anything else then the wheel base. Use caution and patience.

This will increase tractive effort incredibly.

Cheers,
Joshua

EDIT: A more powerful motor will help with power, but traction may or may not be affected by adding a more powerful motor. In fact, you risk spinning the wheels and losing great tractive effort if the motor is driving too hard. For best results, attempt to add a more powerful motor/capable re-powering kit after following the previous steps.

Are you saying that if I increase traction, my motor will work itself too hard? Also, how would this copper contacts work?

I don't think I need more power because James and Percy can pull a decent amount on level ground. The wheel spin becomes a problem, so I think traction is the problem, though I'm still not entirely sure.

So, what do you suggest? Would the Bullfrog snot work better or the tires?

I need James too be able to pull 3 coaches up a hill easily while right now he can barely take up 2. Percy is okay, but being able to pull more up a hill would be a liking.

Thanks for all of your advice so far.

PerfectPercy

[Rickenbacker 325]

You can add more weight to the engine. I put 2 nickels in the cab and try to fit them in the eye mechanism now James can pull 4 express coaches up the clubs 2 1/2 inch grade.

[alex wittman]

what i will try and do is that i will get the thickest Plastic cards and build a new thomas chassis frame and motor housing and try and build it like the season 7-12 chassis frame

[Santa Fe buff]

PerfectPercy311,
You seem to be confused on several statements, let me clear that up. Adding the Bullfrog Snot will help greatly with it's traction. It will pull more, and you can really get the most out of the motor. Contacts (Only needed for Percy, not James.) are copper items that act like the shoot on a Subway or a third rail train. You connect it to the negative and positive wires on Percy, they contact the rail, insuring Percy won't shutter, jolt, or stop over turnouts since it's other contact wheels are used for traction with the rubber over it. Adding a more powerful motor is okay, but make sure not to make it too powerful, you will slip the wheels because it's metal on metal. Adding the Bullfrog Snot to the rear wheels (With contacts, not needed for James.) will give you great traction, so adding the motor wouldn't be a problem.

As far as tires, they are simply a tad harder to install, and if they break or wear down, you have to buy more. Bullfrog snot is a lot (Even though it's only 1 once, it goes far.) easier because there's no need to use tools, or disassemble if needed. You just need a toothpick, a good eye, and a good sense of control. The finished product doesn't look like the snot that in the jar, but drys to a translucent green, which looks pretty cool. Traction tires have just been a classic, so that's why a lot of people use them. The Bullfrog Snot product is pretty newer, so using it hasn't become so average yet. Tires don't cost as much, but it adds when you have problems with wear.

About adding weights, yes, do that. I picked up a Thomas model in it's package a few days ago. I was stunned at it's light weight. I also "weighted" Percy and James. They don't feel very heavy, heavy enough, but not to my standards. I would use lead in the small areas, but since I don't think many would like to use that since you either have kids, or don't have the proper equipment to cut it safely, using nickels is fine. It adds to the value of your model, however.

If you have further questions and/or debates, post them. The topic can go 2+ pages, I can see that happening.

Notes,
How to install Bullfrog Snot from the company themselves: http://www.bullfrogsnot.com/pages/How_to.html   Using the shown method of power supply is okay, just as long as it gets power, that's fine.

Cheers,
Joshua