Hello, been searching the net for the best train site and I think I found it here. This is my first post so be gentle. I purchased a complete 254 prewar Lionel set (less boxes and track) that is in appearance between good to excellent condition, closer to excellent. Problems, the old zinc drive wheels had expanded and were worthless except for one, and when opening it up I found the wiring insulation was so brittle that looking at it caused it to just fall off. The wheels were easily fixed. I even modified them to look more like the originals by removing the Bowser name and filing down that large inner rim it had to match the smaller on that the originals have. When it came to rewiring I used a gauge of wiring that matched what was on it but it was not a single strand as what was on it. It was multi-strand and that made for a much larger piece of metal going under the screws to the point that some of the mounting points would not work with this wire. What I am looking for is a source for the same gauge wire with a single strand wire as original. Anyone know a source or two? Then I have to ask, at which point does a repair become more of a restoration? New wires, new rims but nothing else touched falls under which? Thanks all in advance for any help you can provide.
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What gauge wire did you use?
An appropriate gauge stranded wire should fit just fine.
Most Lionel parts dealers carry "reproduction" wire that is appropriate for trains if you want to use it, and have the trains look like they did when they were made.
I buy my wire by the spool from these folks. I'd probably use their C22 or C24 cloth covered wire on a 254.
We offer the same as original cloth covered solid wire that you are seeking. Go to our site, click on "shop on line" and check out the wire and bulb section. Harry
I may not have been clear enough in my first posting. The 254 I have has one cloth covered wire and that is to the pickups. It's fine. All the other wires are plastic coated and due to their age the plastic is brittle, just falling off by touching it. It has a single strand of wire in it. The gauge of that wire is 18 and I was able to find 18 gauge wire locally. Here is the problem. The modern wire is multi strand brass wire vs the single strand steel that was on it. The covering on this modern wire is much thinner then what Lionel used hence the multi strand wire has a much heftier overall strand that goes under the screws. The screws have very few threads as they are so using this thicker wire, where there are 2 or more wires going to one (such as the pickup leads and the two headlamp leads that all go to one screw) makes it impossible for the screw to hold it in place. It also does not look original, what with multi-brass strands showing at the screw contact points vs the steel single wire that it was built with. Thus why I am looking for some single wire 18 gauge wire to replace my worn out stuff, if that is even possible. Someplace out there there must be someone who makes something like this.
Lionel didn't use steel wire. The original wire on your 254 was likely tinned copper, which would probably look like steel.
Modern electrical wire isn't brass.
Top quality wire is copper. I have read that wire companies are starting to sell copper clad aluminum wire, but I suspect that is mostly in larger wire sizes, such as the type that is used in home.
Wire is sized by the diameter of the conductor, not the overall diameter of the wire with it's insulation. The insulation is important, and there are many types, but it has nothing to do with the gauge of the wire.
Most of the time, Lionel used 20 to 24 gauge wire in their locomotives. I may have a prewar motor that is similar to your 254 motor in my parts drawer. If so, I will check the wire sizes and let you know.
Found the motor. The wire from the collector assembly is the only wire left, but it is the original wire. It is 24 gauge.