Pick up Rollers

Well, usually the roller assembly would be replaced.  However, if you can find the roller and pin parts, you can replace the roller and pin.  First step is to remove the pin, you can usually grind the end off and then drop it out.  I use my press to put the new pin in, but you can use a center punch and small hammer if you have three hands.

Also you can solder one end. 

Chris

For postwar Lionel the pin is riveted at only one end, the small end.  Just bend the side of the collector arm that not riveted outward about 15 degrees releasing the end of the pin from the sheet metal.  Then bend the other side, the riveted side,  about 15 degrees, just enough the get the roller off the pin. Clean the pin and slide a new roller on the pin.  Reverse the bending process and it is ready to go.  If you are careful with the bending, when the job is finished you will never know the roller was changed.   I have been changing rollers like this for about 40 years and have never had a problem. 

A question about the roller pickups.  On the Tinplate Traditions passenger cars I have had the rivets on the pick brackets (where they attach to the truck) come loose allowing the screw that holds the wire connector to pivot and short against the trailing axle.  I have replaced those rivets with 4-40 screws, but at times the heads of the wire connector screws still hit the axle causing an overload.  I have put a small dab of silicone sealer on the head of all of the screws so if one happens to try to arc to the axle, it should not happen.  Is this a common problem?  

There has been an effort, recent history, to add third rail contact rollers.    Atlas SW9 models had (4) rollers, an advantage over standard, two roller, third rail pick-up.  Later model Atlas engines have (4) rollers.