Hi All, I’m trying to lengthen the red and black wires in an MTH passenger car because I stretched the chassis. The problem I’m having after stripping the sheathing off is, it’s impossible to solder to the factory wire. Even using flux and getting everything hot, the solder sticks to the new wire but the MTH wire. Is there a trick or you have you replace their wire and find tiny end connectors? 🤦♂️
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Try using a little bit of sandpaper or emery cloth on the MTH wire it appears the wiring may have some kind of coating or lacquer on it.
Use the sandpaper as suggested and then You might try twisting the new and the old together.
I did this method two weeks ago using new 24 gauge and twisting a little over 1/4” forming one strand. The original “old” wire originated from the pickup roller.
Soldered with a small shrinking sheath pulled over the newly soldered strand and with a hair dryer shrunk the sheath to protect from shorting out. Works for me.
If it won't solder it could be aluminum wire. But do try sanding it first, could be an antioxidant coating on their wires.
The wire that they use appears to be optimized for lead-free solder. Usually I just turn up the soldering iron heat to around 650F and that impresses it. I use 63/37 Rosin Core solder.
Instead of attempting to splice, why not replace the entire wire with a type that is more user friendly?
@Arthur P. Bloom posted:Instead of attempting to splice, why not replace the entire wire with a type that is more user friendly?
Then I would need those very small round connectors that screw into the trucks on top of the roller. I figured I’d add the six inches of wire I need.
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