Installing new pickup rollers / pins? How to press the pin????

[Fordiesel69]

Before I grind out the old pins and not be able to crimp in the new ones, how do I go about peening or pressing in the new pins.  Can I insert them and pinch it in the vise, or do I need a special punch?

[cwburfle]

Lionel used a couple of "systems" to mount the rollers. Some were held in place with rivets, others were held with pins. The pin type ones are only held in place on one side. If everything looks clean, many folks will just bend the "arms outward until there is enough clearance to slide the old roller off.
If you do replace the pin then you can rest the end of the pin that is not going to be upset on a metal block, and gently peen the other end with a small hammer. It doesn't take much, a few gentle taps.
(over the years, I've collected an assortment of metal odds and ends to use as anvils, or as shaping tools)

[phillyreading]

If it is the roller wheels on the KW or ZW transformers I cut the roller wheels with a pair of diagonal cutting pliers first to remove the old wheel, the I cut the pin in half and pull it out. To replace the roller wheel and pin I insert the roller and then the pin and gently press the pin on the ends with a pair of electricians pliers, a.k.a. kliens.  From experiance don't use vise grips unless you want to waist your time and replace the pin a second time, because it will be way too tight to turn the little roller wheel.

While you have the cover off clean the area where the slide rollers make contact.

Lee F.

[bfskinner]

[/quote]

cwburfle

Lionel used a couple of "systems" to mount the rollers. Some were held in place with rivets, others were held with pins. The pin type ones are only held in place on one side. If everything looks clean, many folks will just bend the "arms outward until there is enough clearance to slide the old roller off.
If you do replace the pin then you can rest the end of the pin that is not going to be upset on a metal block, and gently peen the other end with a small hammer. It doesn't take much, a few gentle taps.
(over the years, I've collected an assortment of metal odds and ends to use as anvils, or as shaping tools)

[quote]

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One additional "trick" is to cut a U-shaped slot in a thin piece of metal to be inserted temporaritly over the axle between the edge of the roller and the inside edge of the bracket. The object is to create a temporary shim  to prevent the bracket from closing down too far and pinching the roller during the squeezing or peenng process.

 As Bob "lionelsoni" Nelson pointed out the last time this question appeared on this forum, you don't have to use two of the temporary shims --  one will do just fine. Once you pull the shim out, the roller will have plenty of space on either side --  assuming you have chosen the proper thickness for your shim.

Some of the bracket materials are not very springy. If you spread the bracker  to pop out the type of roller that has it's own built-in axle, i.e., ones with no pin running all the way through, you may have difficulty in getting it to return and remain in in the proper position to "capture" the roller. Bend very cautiously. You are likely to need two small precise needle-nose pliers to do the job.

.

 

 

[bfskinner]

O.K, Offer withdrawn due to lack of interest. So be it.