Lionel 153 block signal

[thankey]

How do you remove the "drive screws", part 153-14 from a Lionel 153 block signal? I'm having trouble removing the lower bayonet bulb. The top clear bulb is marked "H-51". Where can I find the correct replacements, what are the part numbers and where can I purchase them? Also, which color should go on top?

 

http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/cd/accs/acc153p2.pdf

[rtraincollector]

again talk to jeff he'll walk you thur it

[wrmcclellan]

thankey,

Those "drive screws" are a press fit pin with a knurl on them so they bite into the metal of the signal head. You can try to drill (just enough to take the pin head off) or file the head off to remove the signal head. Once the signal head is loose, you should have enough of the pin left to try and twist it out of the signal head. There is a risk of breaking the signal head when you do this. If you succeed in removing the pin, you can see if Olsen's or other folks like rt recommend have a replacement pin. You will have to carefully support the signal head in order to drive the new pin. If pins are not available, you should be able to do the same thing with a small screw. Be aware that the pin assists in providing the "common" connection for the lamps in the signal head. If you glue the new pins/screws in place, you need to be sure that you have electrical continuity.

Typically the green light goes on top, red on the bottom.

[lionelsoni]

I would agree with Roy that the green light should go on top, since that's the way prototype railroads invariably do it.  However, Lionel seems always to have gotten it backwards and put the red on top, like automobile traffic signals.  If you want a "tinplate" look, you might want to put the lamps in that way.

That "51" is a 7-volt bayonet lamp, which doesn't seem right for the 153.  The 153 was supposedly made with 7-volt miniature screw-base lamps or with 14-volt bayonets, but not with 7-volt bayonets.  The earlier 7-volt version should have a 40-ohm resistor in series with the common, as well as the screw sockets.