Atlas locomotive contact strip replacement?

[steveis]

Hi, new to the forum.

I have an Atlas MP15DC and a pair of GP9s and am wondering about the copper contact strips that touch the tops of the trucks to route power from each rail to the motor via the frame halves. Is it worth replacing the strips with wires that run directly from the wheel contacts on the truck (the little knob that the strip rides on) to the contacts on the decoder? Would that make electrical pickup more reliable, or am would it not be worth the effort? I haven't seen anyone discussing this, thanks.

Steve

[tehachapifan]

Power pickup via the stock contact strips is pretty rock-solid, as long as everything is clean and making proper contact with just the right amount of spring pressure. I've never felt the need to replace these with hardwiring like you described but perhaps others here have. What issues are you having?

[MichaelWinicki]

As tehachapifan posted, as long as they're kept clean those brass strips work well.

If there's a problem child (or two in the Atlas "system") #1 It's the brass strips along the sides of the truck (the axle cups quite often contain grease/oil/dirt that weakens conductivity) #2 The contact strips off the motor that touch the bottom of the decoder (if you have a decoder installed). 

[narrowminded]

As tehachapifan posted, as long as they're kept clean those brass strips work well.

If there's a problem child (or two in the Atlas "system") #1 It's the brass strips along the sides of the truck (the axle cups quite often contain grease/oil/dirt that weakens conductivity) #2 The contact strips off the motor that touch the bottom of the decoder (if you have a decoder installed).

Yes.

[jagged ben]

If you really think you're having problems with the contact strips, just make sure they aren't bent sideways or up too far.  If they're not making contact with the truck contacts, that will cause problems.  But it's relatively easy to fix.