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 Posted - February 21 2015 : 4:14:50 PM
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I was tired of the flickering headlight and poor performance of this engine. It's one of my favorite engines and I believe one of Tyco's most handsome. So before the snow started flying today, I went to the LHS for some brass wire. They had none so I settled on 0.016 brass flat stock and fashioned some pickups. They're resistance fit in place with 24 ga. stranded wire connected to a brass contact plate. No more flickering headlight and much better performance. I didn't realize how badly this engine was running before today. Now she can be run at a creep with five 50' passenger cars in tow.
~ Dave
They're ALL toys
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Posted - February 21 2015 : 5:23:45 PM
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Nice work! That gives me some inspiration for pickup redo on my Pacific.
Tim
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Posted - February 21 2015 : 5:39:56 PM
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Thanks! I was going to change out the wheels too, but it's running so nice that there's no need. I might get rid of that traction tire though. I really don't like them.
~ Dave
They're ALL toys
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Posted - February 21 2015 : 6:23:04 PM
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I have one of these things except it's a Mantua Dixie Belle in Rio Grande livery made in 1985. This is making me wonder if I should do the same thing although it runs okay, especially on clean track. But yeah, that traction tire, I'm not a big fan of it either. I just don't want to get rid of it in fear it would have wheel slippage and whatnot, causing it to not be able to pull much.But yeah, very handsome locomotive, I agree.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
Edited by - kovacste000 on February 21 2015 6:24:47 PM
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Posted - February 22 2015 : 11:42:52 AM
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| Nice work and nice photo posting Dave.
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Posted - February 22 2015 : 3:57:20 PM
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Thanks!
~ Dave
They're ALL toys
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Posted - February 22 2015 : 6:54:50 PM
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Looks good, glad that solved the flickering headlight. Now get some of those little rare earth magnets and get the old motor back up to full power. Its amazing how well those old open frames can run with a strong magnet in them. The old Alinco magnets loose thier strength over the years. Look thru an old model train magazine and you will see adds to remagnetize them back in the pre can motor days. Mike
Still NT's, I have Aspergers.
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Posted - February 22 2015 : 7:14:03 PM
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I have a pile of magnets ready to go. Not sure when I'll get to it though. I have 5 MDC Roundhouse 50' passenger cars to paint for this engine. Maybe after the painting I'll get them in.
~ Dave
They're ALL toys
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Posted - October 18 2015 : 4:37:18 PM
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The biggest gremlin on most model steam locomotives is the electrical resistance that occurs between and axle points and side frame journals of tender trucks. As a result this little improvement is one of the easiest ways of improving steam loco performance. The only thing that I would like to add is that Phosphor Bronze works better than brass for electrical pickup wipers.
Proudly keeping Tyco Pluggers out of landfills since 2016
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