Re: HO Power pickup question

At Tue, 10 Jun 2008 23:59:39 GMT Big_Al <BigAl@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

> 
> Jay1028 wrote:
> > I have a caboose (HO) that I would like to light up.  It has plastic
> > wheels.  I have been looking around for metal wheels that will get the
> > power from the track but non have wires attached.  Just metal wheels.
> > How do I get power from the track with the metal wheels do I have to
> > replace the trucks?
> > Thanks
> > 
> > jay
> 
> The first question is:
> If the wheels are metal, are the two metal wheels jointed by a metal 
> axle. If so then this will short across the rails and glow the power 
> supply.   Of course, don't do this.
> 
> Normally something like one wheel is plastic and one is metal, or both 
> are metal but the axle is mounted in a plastic center to insulate it 
> from one wheel.
> Either way, you can lay a small brass leaf like contact on the axle and 
> pick up power from one rail on one truck and reverse the other truck so 
> you pick up power from the other rail.     Or some combo of this in some

> fa****on.

What happens with Athearn passenger cars is the truck mounting screw (a
2-56) holds the brass leaf (actually probably phospher bronze) across
the two axles in the truck (both axles in a given truck have the wheels
oriented the same way and one truck is opposite the other truck).  On
the inside of the car there are two pieces of metal that hold the bulb,
each is mounted by one of the truck mounting screws.  One piece of metal
has a hole that fits over the bulb and the other goes under the bulb.

It might be possible to adapt an Athearn passenger car lighting kit for
the OP's caboose. 

>                                                

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