Adding some "traction" would only marginally help in some cases.

However, in this case, I am positive that is not the problem. The problem is that your axle is now a tad too long since you took off the derailleur hanger. Does the axle (the threaded hollow tube) protrude a bit beyond the outside of the dropout? If yes, then that is your problem.

What to do? Depends what you have to work with. But here are some ideas.

-How close is the axle from protruding on the other side? If you have enough room over there, can you shift the locknut/cone/hub/cone/locknut to the other side so that neither side protrudes?

-If it is just a smidge over, you can remove both QR springs and buy yourself another couple of mm's.

-You could add a spacer under the locknut on one or both sides so that the axle does not protrude. Steel frames are pretty forgiving about such things.

-The correct solution would be to get or make a shorter axle (cut off a bit). I would try the above two first though.

This is a common and easy problem, don't give up.

jim