Removing Roller Contact Assembly to rewire power contacts for 224 Steamer

Most folks do whatever they can to avoid removing that fiber collector plate.
Typically, there is still wire attached, but the insulation is dried out and cracked off.
I usually slip a piece of insulation over the remaining bare wire, and splice a new section to the end.

There is a spreader tool on the market to help get those plates out.
I haven't had much luck with it. But I am planning to try again the next time the occasion arises.

Just don't use pliers for spreaders... I learned that the hard way on a 2026 for the same purpose.

The entire wire broke off, C.W., so soldering in close quarters is the only, albeit poor, alternative. I was hoping to get it right by gaining access to the source in the open.

I have another 224 steamer, which is a rusted solid piece of junk. I will dismantle that piece by piece to see how I may improve my options. But that is an unwelcome complication and delay to my original repair.

Thanks, Nathan!

If it is going to be your own runner, and you are not doing a restoration, then I suggest giving consideration to drilling a small hole through the fiber plate, feeding the bare end of a replacement wire through, and soldering it to the exposed side of the base of the collector assembly.

Experimenting with your rusty mechanism is a great way to figure out how to get things done.