MTH F3 & 042 SWITCHES ??

[gwg50]

Hey Guys

On my MTH F3 every time it goes across my  042 switches it stop and starts up again in neutral unless I‘m going real slow???? Anything above slow it stops. Anyone know what's going on? All my other trains work just fine. Gary

[otftch]

I had a railking f-3(PS-2) that did the same thing on Lionel 027 switches.Even my small wheelbase units went through with no problems.The battery was good and I could find no indication of a short.I finally got rid of it.

                                                              Ed

[Anonymous]

I have several 0-42 switches on my layout and I run my railking F-3 diesel on them without any problem.They sometimes stall or hesitate on 1 or 2 switches but I clean them with Goo Gone and then they are fine.What type of track are you using ?I'm using realtrax.....Felix

[Wes Whitmore]

I don't know if it's because it is shorter, but my MTH F3 AA Santa Fe passes through my MTH realtrax 042 switches, no problem.  Mine is the starter kit "027" sized version, though.

Wes

[gwg50]

its 027 track 042 switches

[phillyreading]

Depends how well you like the F3, you could try to give the unit a secondary power source by adding a center rail pick-up on a car behind it and running a wire to the F3 as an auxillary power supply.

Another fix would be to solder a piece of copper to center rail on the switch adding about half an inch of useable power at the switch point.  There is a gap of almost half an inch on 027 switches that can be used to add a piece of copper to expand the center rail power supply, be careful not to touch the outside rail area or sparks will fly at the switch when an engine or other unit crosses the switch.  The gap you are going over is about one & a quarter inches.   You can get the copper strip at most hobby stores.

Lee F.