Insulation failed on Romford/Markits Driving Wheels . Repair possible?

[mick b]

As subject title.

I have had the insulation breakdown on one Romford Driver . It does a nice impression of a Catherine Wheel when rotating in one place on the rear of the wheel.

Before I bin it ,and spend another £7.00 on one wheel, is there any way the insulation can be repaired ?? There is a small gap visible in the brown insulation.

Also is the any cure for wobbly Romfords Driving wheels , holes checked no burrs or debris. I have used old axles which look ok, could they be the cause ?

Thanks for any advice.

[Hatfield Shed]

...I have had the insulation breakdown on one Romford Driver . It does a nice impression of a Catherine Wheel when rotating in one place on the rear of the wheel.

Before I bin it ,and spend another £7.00 on one wheel, is there any way the insulation can be repaired ?? There is a small gap visible in the brown insulation...

Repair is usually possible based on my - groan- near fifty year past experiences. There's carbon tracking bridging the insulation, all of which must be removed until the ohmmeter says no conduction. Back then I filled the gap with 24 hour Araldite, and immediately tested that there was still no conduction. Now I would use a two part epoxy putty like Milliput as much more convenient to handle; and immediately test that there was still no conduction.

...is there any cure for wobbly Romfords Driving wheels , holes checked no burrs or debris. I have used old axles which look ok, could they be the cause ?

Sadly it is more likely to be wear or deformation to the cast wheel seat. Worth trying new axles in case you have a tolerance mismatch.

[mick b]

Thanks very much, I will update for others info, re any success.
The wheels when bought via ebay appeared unused . I now have my doubts as whether that assumption is actually correct!!.

[Hatfield Shed]

The wheels could be unused. Quite what technique was used to ensure the casting locators and machined axle squares were made for a closely toleranced fit I don't know...

[mick b]

Success, Driver back on the Loco and no flashing !!

Many thanks.

[earlswood nob]

Good morning all

Thanks for the methodolgy, Hatfield, I've mucked up a couple of wheels by soldering using solder paint while the wheels are still in the chassis.

Now to return to the workbench to "dirty up" some PO wagons.

Earlswood nob

[Hatfield Shed]

Good to know that the technique still works', thanks Mick; and all the best with your fix, earlswood nob.

(Past suspect of cause was a lubricant damaging the insulation material resulting in carbon tracking. My D2 which was construted using s/h wheelsets was fixed this way around 1971/72 and still runs, but now 'plays away from home' as it was withdrawn before my present modelling period and is DC only and would need a partial mechanism rebuild to eliminate the live chassis to motor terminal connection for a DCC decoder fit.)