latest 213 lift bridge problem

[ed11670]

Has anyone had problems with the red lights at the top of the latest 213 Lionel lift bridge?

[Chris F]

ed,

Try this:

http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=63160042&f=57660482&m=653106124&r=388100224#388100224

[rlplionel]

Noticed the referenced OGR thread in reply to the #213 Lift Bridge lights question no longer exists. I had a problem with the light on top of my non-motorized bridge tower. The light would flicker when the bridge was in operation and at times would go out completely. I tried cleaning the light contacts and the contacts in the base on the bridge to no avail.

In the past month I had occasion to remove the Lift Bridge from my layout in order to relocate it. I took the opportunity to further investigate the light problem. Downloaded the exploded parts list and wiring schematic for the bridge from the Lionel website. Discovered the light atop the non-motorized bridge tower received its power from the motorized tower through the two stationary steel rods connecting the two bridge towers. I decided to disassemble the top of the non-motorized bridge tower to check the power connections. The disassembly was fairly straightforward and easier than I thought it would be. Inside the tower, I found a pair of pinched wires and two dirty electrical contacts. Also, the screws on the outside of the bridge holding the rods to the tower had worked loose.

After cleaning and tightening things up in the non-motorized tower, I decided to check the connections in the other tower. Found the two rods going into this tower were not firmly seated either. After tightening up the rods in the motorized tower, I put everything back together and bench tested the bridge. The problem light now burns steadily! Hopefully, this repair info will be useful to someone else who is having lighting problems with this bridge.

Robert
http://www.robertstrains.com/