By switcher problem in General Discussion (Model Railroader)
I am running a O gauge setup and the track switcher seems to cause the engine to short out intermittently. The engine does seem to spark more than it should when it crosses over. It runs fine and than it will just cross the switcher track and quit. Red light on transformer comes up.
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What type of track? What is the exact model of the switch and the locomotive? Is it just one engine or several that have the problem? Do you have other switches that work OK, or are they all a problem?
Like Gunrunnerjohn says, knowing the type of switch and locomotive will help trouble shoot what is going on. There are a bunch of great folks on this forum, and most questions get answered.
To me, it sounds like something is shorting out when the locomotive crosses the switch. Since you say that the locomotive runs fine when not on the switch, I'm going to guess that something is amiss in the anti-derailing circuit in the switch. This circuit varies from switch to switch, so we need to know the type of switch you are having trouble with before any useful trouble shooting ideas can be offered.
Good luck.
Hmm... We're talking, but there's nobody home.
Thanks for the replies. I'm new to this forum world an have been away from email. I have recently resurrected my trains so I may have some nomenclature issues but this is what I have ascertained.
My setup is a Lionel 1122 "027" switch. It seems to have the problem more with the Twin Diesel (no. 2032) locomotive, a 1956 vintage I think..
The slightly newer No 602 Diesel Engine, a 1958 vintage I think, seems to spark less and short out less.
It is only the 1 switch that is apparently the culprit.
The track is all 50's vintage Lionel stuff with some newer with the brown "ties" instead of the black ties. I think its referred to as 3 rail? Thanks again for your attention.
If only one switch is the issue, I'd be comparing that very closely to one of the working one, there's likely something you can fix here.
Well, the red light on the transformer coming on when the engine stops in the switch would indicate a short circuit. Something is creating a path for the electric current to flow from the center rail straight to the outer rails without going through the motor first. Note exactly where the engine stops and look very carefully for anything the might be bridging between the outer and inner rails. It could be something on the engine itself, or a foreign object lodged underneath the engine, or something internal to the switch that acts up due to the weight of the train.
The 11
The 1122 switches have a problem with the pickup roller shorting to one of the movable (outer) rails. If you roll the loco by hand across the switch and look under the loco, you can probably see the roller touch the movable rail. I don't use these switches but I do have some of them, and I have used them in the past. You can probably fix the problem by putting a piece of electrical tape on the movable rails to keep the roller from shorting.
You can also probably see burned spots on the movable rail showing where the short occurs.
As someone else mentioned, sparking on an 1122 is common. Your problem may have more to do with the 2032 front truck. The coupler on a 2032 is electromagnetic, and its source is thru a slide shoe. If your shoe is missing, maybe the metal tab is shorting. I have seen these bent up and protruding on cars that have lost a slide shoe. This maybe why you don't see it with the 602, but doesn't explain why it is only happening on 1 switch. Good luck...Alan
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