I finally figured out that my contacts on my DCC locos keep wiggling loose, under the gray pin. Can I solder these brass contacts or is there another way to secure these contacts. I'm removing the shell several times a day and bending the contacts so it's only a matter of time before I break something.
Thanks
Tim
Are you talking about wire-to-board connections? Yes, you can solder them. Use a thin-point soldering iron, and not too much heat.
If this is a plug connection, though, it would be difficult to solder that.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I'm not sure what the connections are called however, they sit under a small gray plastic clip that is suppose to hold the brass contacts to the board, i think. i tried to tape the gray clip down, but it doesn't work so I'm constantly removing the shell, then the clip and bending very carefully, the brass clips down towards the board again.
Are we talking about an N scale Kato locomotive here? If so Yes. Tin the two motor contact strips and the two pads. A very small amount of solder will do. Then hold the strips down onto the pads with a toothpick and then hold your soldering iron on the strip until the solder flows. Use a small tipped soldering iron of 25-30 watts.
A better description of the loco would help a lot. Brand, scale. Even a photo.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Those clips are the defacto standard on many boards. First thing I do is take them all off and throw them in the garbage, then solder all the wires in place .... even the larger ones on the contact strip in the trucks.
Nothing like soldering to ensure a positive electrical connection. A mechanical connection can work loose or even oxidize over time to the point it won't make reliable contact.
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
If you are talking about the little grey clip that Kato uses. It holds the motor contacts on N Scale E, PA's, PM42's, FP40's, and F units. Solder the contacts to the decoder board. The method has already been posted.
Martin Myers