So I have an Athearn 2-8-2 that was having trouble with track pickup. Turns out the wire connector was severed at the washer, so I went to go and fix it.
According to a post on a thread in this forum, the wire connectors in this locomotive are notorious for breaking off, so you’re supposed to strip the wire and then loop it under the screws connecting to the motor. I tried stripping the wire by pinching the insulation with nail clippers, then gently pulling it off.
To make things short, it didn‘t go well. My red pickup wire is now an inch and a half shorter.
So what the **** do I do now? This is so incredibly frustrating. Is there any reasonable fix, or did I just create a heavily detailed paperweight?
Replace the wire?
Seems reasonable to me...
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Get some #30 stranded wire and a proper pair of wire strippers for that size wire. Do this correctly. Replace the complete wire. Trying to solder splice and apply shrink tubing over splice can be a pain. It can make that part of the wire rigid. Klein is one company that sells a wire stripper with this size.
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.
I can get the wire cutter at the hardware store. Where can I get the wire itself? A chain hobby store, LHS or will it have to be an online order? And do I replace the whole wire or just attach it to the end of what remains of the existing one?
Mjorstad I can get the wire cutter at the hardware store. Where can I get the wire itself? A chain hobby store, LHS or will it have to be an online order? And do I replace the whole wire or just attach it to the end of what remains of the existing one?
Google 30ga wire (in the color you want) you’ll find several vendors. As previously stated if you solder and shrink wrap an extension you’ll end up with a rigid piece that may not fit easily when you reinstall the shell.
How do I take the pickup wire out of the JST plug and put in a new one?
TCS. "Train control systems". Has the wire in various small gauges and tools.
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
If you have a local electronics store you can find the proper wire and solder. While you are there you might even ask around and find someone with experience to do it for you.
Mjorstad How do I take the pickup wire out of the JST plug and put in a new one?
Now You are giving us more details. Without a picture, we had no idea what you where dealing with.
The Model Railroader General Discussion forum shows how to post photos here.
I doubt you will find #30 at a hardware store. Only a Local hobby store or online store. Two hardware stores in my city do not stock it.
I have bought colored #30 and colored shrink online from Litchfield Station but there are at least a dozen of more online sites.
Google should be your best friend.
Forget pulling a wire out of a JST connector. Splice up a ways to the JST connector. Without a photo of the install, we have no idea of what you are working with. Only those with the loco know.