Well this morning I was just giving my Loco's there Daily 15 minute run around the Track.. Well I noticed there was a problem with my Lif-like GP 38.. It was kangarooing all over the track.. So I pulled off the shell and to my suprise the Power Pick up wires to the front wheels was completely severed off. Now I do not have steady enough hands to do a repair job like this.. Has anyone else had a Problem like this before ?? If so how did you manage to fix it ?? It seems to have broken the Soldering off the flexible pick up point on the front Drive wheels
Yes, the wires breaking at the solder lug is one reason for the "wireless" pickup on later Life-Like power, like the recent GP18 and GP20. Atlas and Kato locos have had wireless pickup for years. The LifeLike GP38 is a very old design, though (15 years?) It is not a difficult repair if you have done one before. I wish you were nearby, and I would gladly walk you through the repair, and you would know how to do it the next time it happens. I have a number of older LL diesels, and I wind up soldering a couple wires a year across that group of older power with high miles on them. The repair involves - * working the underframe loose from the shell * poking out the short axle that holds the idler gear in place and also holds the truck on the frame * working a little of the wire loose to extend it out to where you can work on it. * (optional) I snap the sideframe assembly loose from the gearbox unit to avoid damaging it while soldering. Some guys have better hands than me. OK, most guys... * tin and solder the wire. * reverse the above process steps for re-assembly. Back when this loco and the similar design FA2, BL2, FP40 and GP18 were new, NTrakkers used to coat the connection point with Walther's GOO so that when the GOO dried thorougly, the wire would be forced to bend further up in the insulation, instead of bending right at the solder joint every time the truck swiveled. I don't know your skill level, but does this sound like something you think you might like to try?
Nah.. I am not that skilled.. I have dropped it of to my local " Train Doctor" and have told them the problem.. They are going to rebuild it for me.. A Ground up restoration just to keep my Favorite Loco going... It may sound crazy, but it will probably cost me the price of a new loco to get my old one running, but once you fall in love with one train you will do anything to keep it alive..
Magnat, Since you will need to have this done again, you may want to see if some one, you or a relative knows, could teach you to solder wires. It's a pretty common skill. These sorts of repairs are fairly easy and it's a shame to drop the cost of an engine on something that would take you an hour the first time you do it and probably 15 minutes the next time you do it. Also, if you are going to pay for a new engine why not buy another of the exact same engine so you can have spare parts for it if it breaks down even worse later? How to solder: http://www.epemag.wimborne.co.uk/solderfaq.htm http://www.kingbass.com/soldering101.html Soldering is easy. Just make sure to keep the tip clean and hot, and use lots of rosin.
LOL no problem. I got taught to solder by a guy who had been through the Nasa soldering school when he was in the airforce.
Had this problem some time ago. Like you have , my hands are some what unsteady. So , i got myself a 5th hand and the smallest iron i could find. Raised my head to my god, took large sluge of brandy., and over some 3 hours, got it done. Runs better than new.. Good luck I will keep my fingers crosed for you...
Going to assume he had this loco repaired...the original thread was started over 6 and half years ago
