DCC motor brush insulation.

[Hamilton]

Does anyone know where I can buy suitable sleeving to insert in the earth brush hole of my (ancient) Hornby Duchess Loco. to isolate it from the chassis? The hole in the sleeve needs to be the same size as the existing hole obviously. The outside diameter is not too critical because I can ream out the existing hole to suit.
Thanks for any suggestions.

[Flashbang]

Hi
Not sure what was used originally?
But I often use the PVC insulation stripped from flexible wire. 7/0.2mm, 16/0.2mm, 24/0.2mm or 32/0.2mm etc equipment wire should offer choice of internal hole diameters?
The other thing that springs to mind is to use Heat Shrink tubing with a suitable internal bore size

[Hamilton]

Thanks Flashbang. I never thought about insulation sleeving off wires. I did consider shrink tubing, but I am not sure how small it comes.
The loco is converted from 3 rail (many moons ago) and the motor earth brush is pushed into a hole in the chassis, just above the horse-shoe effect magnet, followed by the spring and push in bifurcated securing plug. I need to open up the hole and insert an insulating sleeve.
Unless someone knows a better way

Oh, by the way, here is something that might be useful to some. Years ago I discovered that the carbon anode in the old style Zinc/carbon AAA batteries is usually the same diameter as the brushes in the old Dublo Loco's (like this one) and makes good brushes too. Never looked inside the later long life batteries.
Jim.

[beeman]

I altered mine as follows.The brush hlder needs to be driven out carefully from the motor body by holding it in a vice and a small suitable drift,preferably stepped to minimise any damage to the brass brusholder, gentle taps should remove. it is necessary to enlarge the hole slightly then produce a single wrap of paper for the hole and a paper washer for under the head of the holder push back in to test, and if ok can be epoxied in to place make sure with a testmeter that it is insulated from the motor frame before it sets. I would keep away from plastic sleeving as any motor heat could cause it to loosen, ok if you can find some woven glass type, paper still my preference and its insulation is well adequate. Beeman