[:-^] Can someone help. Are we allowed to ask where one can have some wiring repairs done on a brass steam engine. I have several that need re-wiring and was wondering if someone could let me know, (if possible?) where I could send them, someone reliable.
Thanks,
Robert sylvester
Newberry-Columbia Line
Someone asked about getting DCC installed near Chicago and that thread didn’t get shut down.
If location is important, you might want to give us a clue as to where you live.
When you say “re-wiring”, what do you mean? As in, add a DCC decoder? Or replace a lightbulb or resolder a drawbar? Because most brass steam engines don’t have much wiring from the factory. Only the most recent steam from Division Point and others have much in the way of wiring.
All of my brass steam locomotives only have one wire, the wire that runs from the insulated pin that connects the tender to one of the motor brushes.
.
Do you have additional wires for lights or something?
.
Are you brass locomotives just having running issues?
.
-Kevin
.
Some years ago I stumbled across this .pdf file of what looks like a PowerPoint presentation addressing some common issues with early brass works.
http://schutzer.net/Brass_Clinics/RebuildingBrass2008a.pdf
I found it to be helpful.
Regards, Ed
Try All Brass Backshops you can do a search for them. Pretty much full service on brass. Pretty well known in the NY/NJ area. Mark has done three paint dcc conversions for me and very pleased.
[bow] Thanks to all of you. My engine has two wires, one on the right side, where the insulated wheels are, it is a short wire soldered to the cross bar that conects the engine to the tender. Then there is a long wire on the left side of the locomotive that was soldered to the floor of the tender.
I disconnected the long wire then re-attached it and the engine did not work, strange. Then I took the long wire and touched the track, the engine would run, same when I touched the wheels tire tread on the left side.
After cleaning the drivers of excess grease and oil, I tried to re-insert the springs on the nipples and place the drivers back into the grooves on each side of the chassis but could get the rods lined up right to slide the drivers back into the slots. I was concerned that I would bend some of the driving rod, so I have sent the engine off for repairs.
Funny how you can slip the drivers out of the chassis of a Spectrum locomotive, then slip them right back into place, yet it’s much more of a challenge with brass engines.
Robert Sylvester
Newberry-Columbia Line
South Carolina