Shorting Exactoscale loco wheels

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Lord Colnago
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Shorting Exactoscale loco wheels

Postby Lord Colnago » Tue May 25, 2021 10:04 am

Has anyone any experience of shorting Exactoscale loco wheels with a view to using either split axle pick up or the "American" system?

John.
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Mark Tatlow
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Re: Shorting Exactoscale loco wheels

Postby Mark Tatlow » Tue May 25, 2021 7:43 pm

Yes and they have the advantage that their design automatically sets them up to be isolated from each other and the stub axles are part of the wheel so the fixing of the wires can be done prior to the fitting of the wheels (although be careful about getting the back to back gauge sorted).

The only issue I had was soldering the wire to the rim, because it is steel. You want a very strong flux (brown label) and a speedy application of a hot iron. I use a technique that Bill Bedford taught me of wrapping the wire around the axle rather than trying to secure the wire to the axle.
Mark Tatlow

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Lord Colnago
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Re: Shorting Exactoscale loco wheels

Postby Lord Colnago » Tue May 25, 2021 8:11 pm

Thanks Mark,

I was a bit worried that it couldn't be done, mainly because I hadn't seen anyone do it! The Bill Bedford method seems similar to that shown by Tim V on this forum, where the wire rests under tension on the axle. Trouble is I can't find where he posted that. ( Hint to Tim)

Thanks again.

John.
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Mark Tatlow
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Re: Shorting Exactoscale loco wheels

Postby Mark Tatlow » Tue May 25, 2021 8:26 pm

Lord Colnago wrote:
The Bill Bedford method seems similar to that shown by Tim V on this forum, where the wire rests under tension on the axle. ( Hint to Tim)



One wrap around the axle is Bill and my technique, it will always have some of the wire in contact with the axle.
Mark Tatlow

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Lord Colnago
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Re: Shorting Exactoscale loco wheels

Postby Lord Colnago » Tue May 25, 2021 8:37 pm

Thanks Mark.
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Alastairr
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Re: Shorting Exactoscale loco wheels

Postby Alastairr » Wed May 26, 2021 8:06 am

Lord Colnago wrote:Thanks Mark,

I was a bit worried that it couldn't be done, mainly because I hadn't seen anyone do it! The Bill Bedford method seems similar to that shown by Tim V on this forum, where the wire rests under tension on the axle. Trouble is I can't find where he posted that. ( Hint to Tim)

Thanks again.

John.


I think Editor Tim is away operating a 2' 3" railway so could be offline this week John - we exchanged tokens on Monday!

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Lord Colnago
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Re: Shorting Exactoscale loco wheels

Postby Lord Colnago » Wed May 26, 2021 9:59 am

Hi Alastair,

Thanks for letting me know. I'm sure he'll get back to me when he can, one way or the other. There's no mad rush in any case.

John.
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Tim V
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Re: Shorting Exactoscale loco wheels

Postby Tim V » Wed May 26, 2021 4:19 pm

Alastairr wrote:
Lord Colnago wrote:Thanks Mark,

I was a bit worried that it couldn't be done, mainly because I hadn't seen anyone do it! The Bill Bedford method seems similar to that shown by Tim V on this forum, where the wire rests under tension on the axle. Trouble is I can't find where he posted that. ( Hint to Tim)

Thanks again.

John.


I think Editor Tim is away operating a 2' 3" railway so could be offline this week John - we exchanged tokens on Monday!

So that was you! Limited bandwidth here ...

I haven't used the trapped wire system for a long time, preferring to use the EMGS shorting strips. Whether they would work on Exactoscale 3mm axles, I don't know.
Tim V
(Not all railways in Somerset went to Dorset)

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Lord Colnago
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Re: Shorting Exactoscale loco wheels

Postby Lord Colnago » Wed May 26, 2021 4:54 pm

Thanks for getting back to me Tim. I'm not sure about how well shorting strips would work. I'll check the ones I have and see. If they aren't suitable then a trapped wire it will have to be.

Thanks again.

John.
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Tim V
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Re: Shorting Exactoscale loco wheels

Postby Tim V » Wed May 26, 2021 6:01 pm

Have a look on my workbench thread.
Tim V
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Winander
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Re: Shorting Exactoscale loco wheels

Postby Winander » Wed May 26, 2021 7:16 pm

Lord Colnago wrote:I'm not sure about how well shorting strips would work. I'll check the ones I have and see. If they aren't suitable then a trapped wire it will have to be.


Or solder a phosphor bronze wire or two to the shorting strips so they spring onto the axle?
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Lord Colnago
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Re: Shorting Exactoscale loco wheels

Postby Lord Colnago » Wed May 26, 2021 7:34 pm

Thanks Richard,

Always handy to have an alternative up the sleeve.

John.
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Will L
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Re: Shorting Exactoscale loco wheels

Postby Will L » Wed May 26, 2021 8:31 pm

Tim V wrote:...I haven't used the trapped wire system for a long time, preferring to use the EMGS shorting strips. Whether they would work on Exactoscale 3mm axles, I don't know.

3mm? Exactoscale driving wheels are on 1/8 Axles

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Lord Colnago
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Re: Shorting Exactoscale loco wheels

Postby Lord Colnago » Wed May 26, 2021 8:41 pm

I've had a quick look and I think the Brassmasters shorting strips, which look the same as the EMGS ones, may well do the job. Thanks to everyone.

John.
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