INSTALLING YOUR SOUND CAM IS VERY EASY BUT PLEASE DON’T GET IN A HURRY.  WE SUGGEST THAT YOU READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS ALL THE WAY THROUGH BEFORE STARTING, THEN TAKE EACH STEP ONE BY ONE.

THE CAM WILL BE ATTACHED TO THE AXLE WITH AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE EPOXY.  WE HAVE DONE MANY OF THE INSTALLATIONS WITH THIS EPOXY AND HAVE BEEN 100% SATISFIED WITH THE RESULTS.  THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN SO GOOD THAT WE NO LONGER RECOMMEND THAT THE CAMS BE SOLDERED TO THE AXLE.  ALTHOUGH WE DO NOT SOLDER ANY CAMS WHEN WE DO INSTALLATIONS FOR CUSTOMERS HERE, WE DO STILL OFFER CAMS THAT ARE MADE TO BE SOLDERED ON.  CALL, WRITE OR E-MAIL US FOR MORE DETAILS.

FIRST THING TO DO IS TO DETERMINE WHICH AXLE OF THE LOCOMOTIVE THAT YOU WANT THE CAM ON.  SOME OF THE MOST RECENT BRASS MODELS COME WITH A CAM, USUALLY SQUARE (UNLESS IT IS A SHAY, HEISLER OR A CLIMAX). (SEE FIG. 1)  THIS TYPE OF CAM REQUIRES YOU TO LET THE WIPER HANG OUT IN THE AIR SO THAT ONLY THE TIPS OF THE CAM TOUCH.  THEY DO WORK, BUT ARE SOMETIMES HARD TO ADJUST AND NOT AS EFFICIENT AS A ROUND CAM.

IF YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE ON THE AXLE, SIMPLY REMOVE THE WHEEL/AXLE ASSY AND CUT THE CAM OFF WITH A CUTTING DISK.  (SEE FIG. 2)

NOTE:

WHEN REMOVING A WHEELSET FROM YOUR LOCOMOTIVE, REMOVE THAT WHEELSET ONLY.  TAKE THE SCREWS OUT OF THE SIDE RODS AND LEAVE EVERYTHING INTACT SO YOU CAN PUT IT BACK TOGETHER EXACTLY.  IF YOUR ENGINE RUNS GOOD, DON’T TAKE THE CHANCE OF CROSSING THE SIDE RODS FROM SIDE TO SIDE.  IT SHOULDN’T, BUT SOMETIMES IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. 

WHEN REMOVING THE OLD CAM, CUT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE AXLE ON ONE SIDE THEN DO THE OTHER SIDE.  BE CAREFUL NOT TO CUT INTO THE AXLE TOO MUCH.  AVOID CUTTING THE AXLE AT ALL IF POSSIBLE.  IF YOU DO CUT OR SCAR THE AXLE, IT IS OK, THE G.M.E. CAM WILL STILL FIT AND WORK PERFECTLY.  JUST MAKE SURE YOU SMOOTH UP THE AXLE WITH A SMALL FILE BEFORE INSTALLING THE CAM.

IF THERE IS NO EXISTING CAM, YOU MUST CHOOSE WHICH AXLE TO INSTALL THE CAM.  TRY TO CHOOSE ONE FOR EASE OF INSTALLATION OF THE WIPER ALONG WITH THE CAM.  LOOK CAREFULLY AND PLAN THE INSTALLATION BEFORE YOU START.  YOU WANT THIS INSTALLATION TO BE EASY AND PERFECT. 

NOW THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN THE AXLE, REMOVE THE WHEELSET FROM THE FRAME.

WITH A PIECE OF “FINE” EMORY CLOTH OR 600 GRIT SANDPAPER, CLEAN THE AXLE WHERE THE CAM IS GOING TO BE INSTALLED.  WHEN GLUING THE CAM ON, YOU WANT THE AXLE VERY CLEAN!

TAKE THE CAM AND CHECK THE FIT OF THE INSULATION PIECES.  THE GLUE ON CAM WILL HAVE ONE INSULATION PIECE AND THE SOLDER TYPE WILL HAVE FOUR. YOU MAY NEED TO SLIGHTLY TRIM THE ENDS OF THE PIECES TO MAKE THEM FIT PROPERLY.  THEY DON’T HAVE TO FIT PERFECTLY, AS THE EPOXY THAT YOU INSTALL THEM WITH WILL FILL ALL THE GAPS.  TRIM THEM WITH A MODELER’S KNIFE OR SAND THE EDGES WITH SOME VERY FINE SANDPAPER TO MAKE THEM FIT.  PUT THE INSULATION PIECES ASIDE FOR INSTALLATION LATER.

GLUING THE CAM

WHEN GLUING THE CAM ON THE AXLE, USE A SMALL AMOUNT OF ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE EPOXY AND PUSH THE CAM ONTO THE AXLE.  IT MAY OR MAY NOT “SNAP” INTO PLACE, SOME DO AND SOME DON’T.  ALIGN ONE OF THE CAM CONTACT POINTS SO THAT IT IS ALIGNED WITH THE CRANK PIN (SEE FIG. 3).  CENTER THE CAM ON THE AXLE AND MAKE SURE IT IS PROPERLY SEATED ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE AXLE.  ALSO MAKE SURE THE SLOT OF THE CAM IS POINTED DOWN SO IT WON’T COME OFF OR SLIP WHILE THE EPOXY IS CURING.  PUT THE AXLE IN A SAFE PLACE WHERE NO ONE (EVEN CATS AND DOGS) WILL BE ABLE TO TOUCH IT.  LET THE EPOXY CURE COMPLETELY!!!!!!!!

INSTALLING THE INSULATOR PIECES

NOW THAT THE CAM IS INSTALLED, IT IS TIME TO INSTALL THE INSULATOR PIECES.  THESE ARE INSTALLED WITH A NON-CONDUCTIVE EPOXY.  (5 MINUTE EPOXY WORKS GOOD AND FAST)

GLUE THE INSULATOR PIECES IN; USE ENOUGH EPOXY TO FILL ALL THE GAPS BUT NOT ENOUGH TO DRIP.  REMEMBER, YOU CAN ADD MORE EPOXY LATER IF NEEDED. 

LET THE EPOXY CURE COMPLETELY BEFORE MOVING ON TO THE NEXT STEP.

SMOOTHING THE CAM

USING A SMALL FILE OR AN EMORY BOARD, CAREFULLY FILE THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAM AND INSULATOR PIECES.  TRY TO KEEP IT AS ROUND AS POSSIBLE, DON’T GO CRAZY WITH THE FILE.  MAKE SURE YOU GET THE CAM FAIRLY SMOOTH AND THAT ALL OF THE CONTACT POINTS ARE CLEAN OF THE EPOXY.  (SEE FIG. 4)  A FINAL POLISHING OF THE CAM WITH SOME 600 GRIT SANDPAPER WILL MAKE THE CONTACT POINTS SMOOTH.  REINSTALL THE WHEELSET AND YOU ARE COMPLETE WITH THE CAM INSTALLATION.

WHEN INSTALLING THE WIPER, USE SOME PRESSURE AGAINST THE CAM BUT NOT TOO MUCH.  YOU WANT ENOUGH PRESSURE TO MAKE GOOD CONTACT BUT NOT ENOUGH TO DAMAGE THE CAM OR THE WIPER.  ALSO, THE CAM COULD HAVE SOME AMOUNT OF WOBBLE OR UP AND DOWN HOP TO IT IF IT MOVED DURING THE INSTALLATION PROCESS.  IF IT DID, DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT.  IT WILL PROBABLY WORK JUST FINE.  INSTALL THE WIPER AND TRY IT.  IF YOU GOT ALL THE EPOXY OFF THE CONTACT POINTS AND SMOOTHED THEM UP, IT SHOULD WORK PERFECTLY WOBBLE OR NOT. 

IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO IMPROVE THIS INSTALLATION OR OUR PRODUCTS, PLEASE CALL, WRITE OR E-MAIL US.  WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.