How to modify Lionel switches for Prewar Flyer O

[T Coyle]

What can be done to allow American Flyer 3/16 O and Chicago O gauge run more smoothly through 022 Lionel switches?

[Nationwidelines]

Honest answer, get rid of the switches.  I gave up trying to use switches on my O gauge flyer layout as the wheels did not make it through more modern switch frogs.

NWL

[ADCX Rob]

There's nothing wrong with the frogs, it's the guard rails.

Marx O-27(27" & 34"), Lionel 1121 & 1024 switches all work well with Flyer wheels.

[servoguy]

Get your Mark I eyeball down at track level and watch the cars go through the switch.  You should be able to see what the problem is.  022 switches work very well with prewar and post war Lionel stuff.  This in spite of the fact that the prewar wheels are slightly larger than post war wheels.  

One problem I have had with some rolling stock is bent truck frames.  This allows the wheels to be too far apart and will allow the wheels to climb the frog and derail.  The fix is to bend the truck frames back into shape so there is no end play in the axles.

[rrlineman]

most likely the spoon/slideshoe pickups on the flyer engines are hitting the big honking swivel railfrog of the switch. Flyer used a flat-edged design on their switches. also the flyer engines seem to have less movement in thier pickups compared to Lionel's roller pickups. I have about 4 prewar 3/16ths engines and 4 Chicago Flyer O gauge engines. I have run them on my brothers Lionel layout and they hit the lionel switches there.but don't do it on the GARGRAVES switches he has.  Go figure...

Mike