Question re Lionel 6-28098 Ten-Wheeler Pickup Rollers

I believe you can just take them off from the bottom.  The question is, why does that one need new rollers?

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I believe you can just take them off from the bottom.  The question is, why does that one need new rollers?

John,

Thanks for the response.

I just bought the engine. It's running OK with the original rollers but, as you can see, they're discolored and I'm unable to remove whatever the black residue is. Seems worthwhile to change the rollers although they don't have an apparent groove due to wear.

MELGAR

Mel,

A Dremel (if you have one) with a wire brush attachment or these mushroom shaped brushes of different grits (available on Amazon) and a little contact cleaner should probably remove the black residue w/o harming the rollers.

@MELGAR posted:

I just bought the engine. It's running OK with the original rollers but, as you can see, they're discolored and I'm unable to remove whatever the black residue is. Seems worthwhile to change the rollers although they don't have an apparent groove due to wear.

I use a Dremel wire wheel, it'll knock that right off.  For rollers that have a groove already, I use a Cratex wheel to smooth them.  I don't replace rollers until they really need it.

You're living the impossible dream if you want to rollers to look like new, they pretty quickly discolor after a little running.

I keep my Atlas O track pretty clean and none of my locomotives has discolored rollers like this. The wear pattern on the engine's rollers is unusual - not on centerlines and opposite offsets. By contrast, the tender pickups are clean. I thought the discoloration (dirt?) might degrade contact with the center rail. Traction tires already replaced.

MELGAR

@MELGAR posted:

I have a Lionel New York Central Lines/B&A 4-6-0 Ten-Wheeler 6-28098 and want to install new pickup roller assemblies on the engine. Each collector assembly is attached to the underside of the engine by a stainless-steel screw (see photo). Can I just remove the screws, substitute the new collectors and retighten the screws or is it necessary to remove the shell to connect (or solder) the collector to wiring inside the engine?

MELGAR

Mel- the off-set dirt pattern leads me to believe the engine has been run on the same loop of track for a while. Either that, or it doesn't run straight on the rails and is slightly twisted to one side and kind of "crabbing" down the track.

I use contact cleaner on pickups followed by a wire wheel in my Dremell.

Bob

The reason the locomotive rollers are discolored and not the tender is the amount of current drawn.  The tender is just handling a couple hundred milliamps for sound, the locomotive is handling an amp or more for motor and smoke.

John,

What Cratex wheel do you use?  Do you have a set of them?

Thanks

@RSJB18 posted:

Mel- the off-set dirt pattern leads me to believe the engine has been run on the same loop of track for a while. Either that, or it doesn't run straight on the rails and is slightly twisted to one side and kind of "crabbing" down the track.

I use contact cleaner on pickups followed by a wire wheel in my Dremell.

Bob

Bob,

Here's a video of the engine in operation. No evidence of running skewed that I can see. The traction tires were in tiny pieces and cracked throughout, but it's an older engine (2002). No undue wheel wear but it must have been on very dirty track. I used alcohol on the rollers.

MELGAR

Its an odd pattern but as John says, just clean them, they will be fine. I use a wire wheel in a Dremel also. Also you can just remove them from the bottom. The top insulator has an extra screw that holds the assembly to the frame.

Pete

Nice engine Mel.  If you have the books by Robert Jones on the B&A. I believe it’s in Volume 1. There is a nice picture and caption of this engine. Lionel did a good job on this one adhering to the prototype. It did mention it saw service on passenger, milk and freight.

@Norton posted:

Its an odd pattern but as John says, just clean them, they will be fine. I use a wire wheel in a Dremel also. Also you can just remove them from the bottom. The top insulator has an extra screw that holds the assembly to the frame.

Pete

Thanks Pete. In that case, I will probably replace the roller assemblies.

@Dave_C posted:

Nice engine Mel.  If you have the books by Robert Jones on the B&A. I believe it’s in Volume 1. There is a nice picture and caption of this engine. Lionel did a good job on this one adhering to the prototype. It did mention it saw service on passenger, milk and freight.

Dave,

I do have both volumes of the Jones book - Boston & Albany -The New York Central in New England - but hadn't looked there for a photo. Thanks for letting me know. There is also a builder's photo in New York Central's Later Power - 1910 to 1968, by Alvin Staufer and Edward May.

MELGAR