Peckett pickups

[Theo]

Anyone here having problems with Hornby Peckett B2 pickups? I've had two pickup plates in less than 6 months (kindly replaced by the retailer),  but the spring steel(?) Wipers are snapping off. Can I get replacements?

[The Johnster]

I think the replacement comes as a complete assembly with the keeper plate.  Why are wipers snapping off?  

[Theo]

Two just fell off, one broke when cleaning. Unlike Bachmann pickups, which appear to be phosphor bronze, the Hornby ones seem to be very thin (not) spring steel, and theyv

[Theo]

Theyve all snapped at the right angle bend.

[Theo]

Oops, wrong picture. This shows what I've done to try to repair the pickups. Here's a picture of the broken ones

[Flying Pig]

I was chatting to a chap at Scaleforum who was converting Hornby industrials to P4 and he complained of exactly this problem of brittle pickups with the B2 (none of the other models apparently).  He had replaced the pickups, but I can't remember precisely how - either phosphor bronze strip to the original design or some kind of wire wiper.

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

The pick up design looks standard, suggests either the wrong bronze formulation used in manufacturing or a right angle bend formed rather than slightly radiused. Worth contacting Hornby.

[Theo]

Thank you all for your responses. I'll  contact Hornby, as I've now managed to break the pivot pin between the connecting rod and crosshead. Such is life....