LGB Pickup skates/shoes

50calMal

50calMal

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Hi all, does anyone know what material LGB pickup skates are made of? Is it possible to solder to them? I'm running LGB on Peco track and have started getting more arcing from locos, when passing over point frogs, possibly due to skate wear, but I was wondering if its possible build them up on the inner side to avoid this problem. Also possible to trim them down I guess, has anyone else achieved this successfully?
 
As the points are not self-isolating, you can get a 'short' if the skate is very worn, or bent.

You can bend the skate up with a pair of pliers.
CARE! - You need to be aware you are bending a piece of metal, supported by plastic.

Some people trim the outer part of the skate, but you need to go round with a file to remove burrs. - Avoid getting metal filings in the works!

A strip of insulating tape, along the outer part of the skate, some people use paint, but this can wear quite quickly.

It should be possible to build-up with solder, but ordinary solder is very soft, and will wear rapidly.
Silver solder would be more robust.
You MUST remove the skates to do this! - You will melt the block, otherwise.
In my opinion, it is not worth the effort.

PhilP.
 
Thanks, I may try the trimming route. I've just put a new set in as the old ones were quite worn and may have exacerbated the issue. I now have an old set I can play about with on the bench to my hearts content and not damage the power bogies!
 
Simplest, is to cut a strip of insulating tape, about 4-5mm wide, and place this along the outside of the skate..

PhilP.
 
50calMal said:
Hi all, does anyone know what material LGB pickup skates are made of? Is it possible to solder to them? I'm running LGB on Peco track and have started getting more arcing from locos, when passing over point frogs, possibly due to skate wear, but I was wondering if its possible build them up on the inner side to avoid this problem. Also possible to trim them down I guess, has anyone else achieved this successfully?
Click to expand...
The arcing over Peco pints is common. I had the same issue till I converted all of mine to live frog. A solution as Phillip said is to bend them a little so that the flat is slightly raised at the outside thus stopping the skate from causing the arcing.

BUT head the warning, remove them from the loco before bending them.
 
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