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Looking for spare Athearn Motor Lead Clips

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  • Member since
    January 2021
  • 24 posts
Looking for spare Athearn Motor Lead Clips
Posted by mattyjoe on Thursday, May 6, 2021 5:28 PM

Anyone who's opened up an Athearn locomotive is probably well familiar with the little black clips they use to secure the wire leads to their boards. Here's a picture:

https://imgur.com/i07IKDq

It looks like Athearn used to sell spares, but everywhere I've looked they're no longer in stock. You can get them with Athearn's board replacements and LED sets only.

So, just wondering if anyone has any spares, and would be willing to send them to me. Feel free to respond here, or message me privately. I apologize for asking for this, but I really need some more of these and they're simply unavailable to be purchased on their own.

Thanks

Matt

P.S. I do solder, and I'm aware that it provides a more reliable connection. I just prefer to use these clips when I can, since it makes troubleshooting and further work down the road easier.

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Thursday, May 6, 2021 5:53 PM

 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
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Posted by RR_Mel on Thursday, May 6, 2021 6:42 PM

http://www.averystreetstores.com/athearn-ho-scale-wire-locks-sd70-sd75-28-pieces-g63838/



Mel
 
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951


My Model Railroad    
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

  • Member since
    January 2021
  • 24 posts
Posted by mattyjoe on Friday, May 7, 2021 12:00 AM

RR_Mel

Thanks, but they dont appear to be in stock, which is the problem I'm having everywhere with these.

Actually, I don't see any way to order any of the products they have listed, and no way to contact anyone. I would be wary of that site. It could be phishing for credit card and personal info.

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Friday, May 7, 2021 6:07 AM

mattyjoe
Thanks, but they dont appear to be in stock, which is the problem I'm having everywhere with these.

Over the years I've probably tossed out well over a hundred of these. I'm pretty sure I still have a dozen or two on hand.

This is only about half the pile:

 DCC_PCBb by Edmund, on Flickr

Does your PM function work? Send me your address and I'll send you all I have. There are short ones and long ones. Life-Like uses them, too.

Regards, Ed

  • Member since
    March 2012
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Posted by PC101 on Friday, May 7, 2021 7:25 AM

For something I did not like, it's funny how many I have stashed in a box. Post here if you can not get any from anybody else. Have you any thoughts on soldering the wires to the boards and not using the plastic slide on clips? 

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Friday, May 7, 2021 7:35 AM

PC101

Have you any thoughts on soldering the wires to the boards and not using the plastic slide on clips?  

mattyjoe

P.S. I do solder, and I'm aware that it provides a more reliable connection. I just prefer to use these clips when I can, since it makes troubleshooting and further work down the road easier. 

I used to be in that position. I know how to solder, but those clips just seem so much more convenient and so much less permanent.

But, I eventually got over that feeling and started soldering the wires to the tabs. The OP should start doing the same thing. Even if you later have to remove soldered wires, it is no big deal.

Rich

 

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Friday, May 7, 2021 5:44 PM

Loose connections and the bother of having to disassemble an engine argue strongly for soldering the connection to be done with it once and for all.  Get a vacuum solder remover for a few bucks, or some solder wick just in case.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    January 2021
  • 24 posts
Posted by mattyjoe on Friday, May 7, 2021 6:33 PM

gmpullman

Does your PM function work? Send me your address and I'll send you all I have. There are short ones and long ones. Life-Like uses them, too.

Regards, Ed

 

 

Thank you! Messaged.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Saturday, May 8, 2021 1:06 AM

mattyjoe
It looks like Athearn used to sell spares, but everywhere I've looked they're no longer in stock.

I have been trying to get handrail kits for a GP-35 and a GP-38. The handrail kits on ebay sell for more than a dummy locomotive.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Saturday, May 8, 2021 5:53 AM

Package going out in today's mail, Matt Yes

     I tossed in a couple of Athearn PC boards, too.

Regards, Ed

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