Ebit pick up for LL SW's

[Joetrain59]

While searching through my parts containers, I found a printout of Ebit's improved LL SW electrical pickups.
He sent this to me years ago. He said he made his with phosphor bronze. The long finger gets bent
up at 90˚ to contact the frame. Held to sill with CA. I never tried this. How would you cut the phosphor
bronze?
 Joe D

[wm3798]

A simple score with a sharp Xacto, then bend it back and forth till it breaks.
What do you have to cut?
Lee

[nkalanaga]

Cut it out of a larger sheet, maybe?

[Chris333]

I made mine out of brass.

[Joetrain59]

I've got brass and phosphor bronze in sheet form. The latter is .005", if I typed that correctly.
 I have tried to cut with scissors, but it curls:(
 Thanks,
 Joe D

[wazzou]

Be cool if there were a finished product photo available to make more sense of the drawing.

[Joetrain59]

Yes that would be great if a pic was available. Ebit just seemed to disappear on us a few years ago. He was very inspirational.
 Where ever you are Ebisan, you are remembered and missed.
  Joe D

[Lemosteam]

Did Ebit recommend a material thickness?

0.005" seems thin to me.  0.010" would curl less but can be flattened easily with smooth jaw pliers. 

I use these to shear metals ans to snip parts form etched frets very effectively:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Fiskars-Softouch-Micro-Tip-Pruning-Snip/19792672?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=101001483&adid=22222222227015540403&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=40471130432&wl4=pla-78362210552&wl5=9058221&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=126890705&wl11=online&wl12=19792672&veh=sem&gclid=CjwKCAjwvZv0BRA8EiwAD9T2VXZptQ5vcIhylFZ4uMajEZiAFuNNqRYFjYHeXvZAsptY0nz4VIUGyhoCy-0QAvD_BwE

[Jim Starbuck]

This is my modification when required and doesn’t rely on the plastic sill at all.

Remove the tabs from the sill and clean up bumps or glue on the underside of the sill.
Flatten the bend on the top of the short side of the tab and drill a #63 hole in it.
Make a few passes with a file on the chassis where the tab contacts to make sure it’s smooth and clean.
Hold the predrilled tab up to the chassis and mark a hole location with a pin or small awl.
Drill and tap for a 00-90 screw. Make sure the screw doesn’t protrude on the back side and touch the other frame half.
Some minor tweaking may be require to make sure the tabs contact the truck tabs squarely.
The shell can now be removed anytime without disturbing the pickup tabs and the mech can be run without the shell.

Hope this helps

Jim
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
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Not trying to hijack the thread just trying to share a simple technique plus you probably have everything on hand already should you want to try this.

[diezmon]

Here's my early version.  I'm going to try that template at some point.    I used some spare brass sheet i had lying around, cut with a scissors.

[C855B]

This is my modification when required and doesn’t rely on the plastic sill at all. ...

Genius. I have one languishing on my bench disassembled for a cow-calf project, and this mod is likely the round-tuit it's been waiting for.

Thanks! 

[johnb]

This is my modification when required and doesn’t rely on the plastic sill at all.

Remove the tabs from the sill and clean up bumps or glue on the underside of the sill.
Flatten the bend on the top of the short side of the tab and drill a #63 hole in it.
Make a few passes with a file on the chassis where the tab contacts to make sure it’s smooth and clean.
Hold the predrilled tab up to the chassis and mark a hole location with a pin or small awl.
Drill and tap for a 00-90 screw. Make sure the screw doesn’t protrude on the back side and touch the other frame half.
Some minor tweaking may be require to make sure the tabs contact the truck tabs squarely.
The shell can now be removed anytime without disturbing the pickup tabs and the mech can be run without the shell.

Hope this helps

Jim
(Attachment Link)
(Attachment Link)

Not trying to hijack the thread just trying to share a simple technique plus you probably have everything on hand already should you want to try this.

would you want to sell 3 sets?

[peteski]

Here's my early version.  I'm going to try that template at some point.    I used some spare brass sheet i had lying around, cut with a scissors.

The reason Ebit's version had an offset tab contacting the chassis was to have a notch in the center which follows the notch in the walkway.  I don't have the loco handy, so I'm not sure what that  notch is for (probably for a tab which holds the shell and walkway together).
 
Your version covers that notch.  Not sure how that will work out.  Also, the motor is in the center of the chassis. Will the tab make a good contact with the metal chassis in that area?

I really like Jim's self-contained solution. While it is more work to install, I like the fact that the shell is free of any pickup parts which can get mashed when the shell is removed and installed. 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

This is my modification when required and doesn’t rely on the plastic sill at all.

Remove the tabs from the sill and clean up bumps or glue on the underside of the sill.
Flatten the bend on the top of the short side of the tab and drill a #63 hole in it.
Make a few passes with a file on the chassis where the tab contacts to make sure it’s smooth and clean.
Hold the predrilled tab up to the chassis and mark a hole location with a pin or small awl.
Drill and tap for a 00-90 screw. Make sure the screw doesn’t protrude on the back side and touch the other frame half.
Some minor tweaking may be require to make sure the tabs contact the truck tabs squarely.
The shell can now be removed anytime without disturbing the pickup tabs and the mech can be run without the shell.

Hope this helps

Jim
(Attachment Link)
(Attachment Link)

Not trying to hijack the thread just trying to share a simple technique plus you probably have everything on hand already should you want to try this.

]

Well *****. That's getting done to the 8905 currently on my workbench. And every other SW I have next time I open it up.

Do you happen to have a link to the screws you used that were the right dimensions?

[John]

]

Well *****. That's getting done to the 8905 currently on my workbench. And every other SW I have next time I open it up.

Do you happen to have a link to the screws you used that were the right dimensions?

Aren't those the same as what MT gives you with their couplers?