How do I add power plick-ups to cars with plastic wheels? I know I need metal wheels, first off.
I would be adding them to some HLW mini’s, and I would like to add pick-ups to some tram-like cars I hope to scratch build. someday,( who knows if I’ll follow through with that though…)
After you put the metal wheels on you hook this 
Power unit to the back of the wheels!
Part # R2084 $8 +/-
Or you could run a pig tail from the engine to the cars!
Sean
Since you’ll be swapping out the wheels anyway just swap in a set of ball bearing wheels with power tabs. They are made by Aristo, LGB and these by Train Li / ProLine -
-Brian
Brian I don’t know!!
| # ProLine: ProWheels with Power Pickup (set of 2 axles) [TL30-67012] |
# $39.95 |
|---|
Or $ 8.oo +/- and
| R2040 | Wheels and Axle Set-Solid (2) | PAIR 6.95 |
|---|
$16.00 =/- [%-)]
You get what you pay for, less cost = more drag and some maintenance
More $$ and no drag and no maintenance.
Life is full of choices [:)]
Regards, Greg
Ball bearing wheels are pricey. Plunger pistons add a LOT of drag.
You can insert a brass bushing into the axle hole in the tender frame–use a piece of brass tube a little bit bigger than the axle. Solder a wire to the brass tube, insert the tube into the sideframe (probably have to drill it out) and then you’ll have power pickup if you use uninsulated wheels. Aristo wheels are insulated on one side, and can pick up power on the other side. It’s way cheap, and not that hard to do, and it gives you less drag than plungers. I did it to light a set of Bachmann passenger cars. Works as well as plungers with much much less drag
Aristocraft will sell you a set of brass bushings, if you don’t want to mess with cutting brass tube. You will probably still have to drill out the sideframes a little
What is the part number for the Aristo wheels (is it 29123B-S )? Do they have the tabs?
Where could I buy those USA trains powerpick-ups? I don’t think St. Aubins or Trainworld has them (might be wrong)?
Where could I buy those USA trains powerpick-ups? I don’t think St. Aubins or Trainworld has them (might be wrong)?
I may have a new set to sell like pictured above from a new caboose take off that I added BB wheels too. I’ll look today for the parts. OR you could check and watch Ebay.
I think wholesale trains sells those.
What do you plan on powering ???
Wholesale trains does sell them.
I would like to build 2 or 3 cars similar to this:
http://gardenrailway.webs.com/coaches.htm
I may add lights, but for sure will add pick ups so I can connect the cars and the loco together (electrically). I will then have the loco’s power pick-ups, and all the cars’ linked. I should be able to run over dirty track without the lights flickering or the engine stopping and starting. I learned it here: http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips3/connector_tips.html .
George’s site is a fantastic resource
The plungers really do add a lot of drag–they work, but the bushing thing in my experience works better
Yes I know the cause a lot of drag but I can’t afford BB wheels.
Sure, BB wheels are ridiculously expensive. But If you do the bushing thing you have power pickup for practically free, and you don’t get the drag.
It works with uninsulated wheels–for example, Aristo wheels come with one wheel on each axle not insulated from the track. You put a brass bushing in the sideframe on that side, solder a wire to it, and voila–power pickup. I’ve used Aristo’s brass bushings and also just a piece of brass tube.
I bought some LGB plunger type pickups years ago (similar to USAT) and put a dab of USAT conductive grease on the plungers. It lowers the friction between plungers and wheels.
Also I have metal wheels on all my rolling stock, dirt doesn’t build up on them like plastic wheels, and they keep the track cleaner, the weight lowers the center of gravity on rolling stock.
Good luck, Rob
Just found Gary Raymond wheels, it appears some of them (the BB ones) have those pickup tabs. Do they?
These wheels are one sale in a lot of places so if these are good wheels I will think about them for my trains.