Marx signal question

[Steve1964]

Hi Everyone,

I picked up a Marx "Caution-High Speed Trains" signal with warning bell today at a train show. I brought it home and wired it to my layout, powering it with a Lionel ZW transformer and tubular track insulated rail. When my train passes over the insulated track, the bell usually only rings once, as opposed to the continuous ringing that I think this signal is supposed to do. The little striker that hits the bell gets pulled down low in its cylinder, the mechanism hums, and not much else happens.

I cleaned the cylinder and striker with alcohol, and the contacts look clean to me. Does anyone have any more ideas to get this thing working?

Thanks! Steve

[8ntruck]

Most of the Marx signals were triggered by an insulated 'sleeve' that was maybe 1 1/2" long that went over one of the outside rails that would make a regular section of track work like the insulated track section that you are now using. 

I would expect that the bell on this accessory rings only once when power is applied.  To get repeated ringing, you will need to pulse the power on and off.

I'll guess that the insulated section of track is long enough that once the train rolls on to it, the power to the signal stays on until the train rolls off of the section.

Try replacing the insulated section of track with a piece of regular track.  Then make a "U" shaped contact about 1" long out of a piece of thin brass or copper shim stock to fit over one of the outside rails.  Insulate the inside of the "U" with electrical tape.  This should be short enough that individual trucks, or maybe even axles will make short pulses of power that should ring the signal repeatedly as the train passes.

Good luck.

[Steve1964]

Thank you very much for your info, I actually found that Marx signals came with a track clip, which triggered the bell repeatedly as the individual wheels of the train passed over it. I made a small clip out of thin copper shielding that sits on a piece of electrical tape, which insulates the switch from the track. I wired everything up, and the signal works great.

I have had a lot of fun with this little signal that cost $5.00 at the train show!

Steve

[LL675]

I;ve got one of those that was Dad's. I had it hooked up, and it rang one time as yours did. Then I did some track work and never got back to redoing it to ring multiple times. One the list for winter!