Is there a way (without compromising value) to eliminate the flickering of the lights inside my 2500 series Lionel passenger cars while in motion? I've changed bulbs, so it's not that. I've cleaned the inside base of the bayonet housing, and the bulbs fits snugly and make good contact. The housing's spring clips make a good firm contact with each car;s frame and the housing makes good contact with the frame's internal clip. Also, the pickup rollers are clean and all have strong springs, so there's good contact with the track. So, why the flickering? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks, EdN.
Are the wheels clean. They need to be so you have a complete circuit from middle rail to outside one. Looks like everything else is in good shape.
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You mite try cleaning the wheels real good and maybe some conductive lube on the wipers that ride on the axles for the ground connection. Also give the tracks a good cleaning, a scotchbrite pad for the stubborn stuff and an old t-shirt or teatowel with some denatured alcohol for regular cleaning. A word of caution with the alcohol, it is extremely flammable but drys rapidly w/no residue. Use with adequte ventilation and it will tend to dry your skin unless you wear rubber gloves.
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Do you have one or two center roller wheels? I added an extra center roller wheel to a few of my 2640 & 2641 passenger cars from the early 1940's and this helped cut down some of the flickering. The parts were a little expensive for pre war stuff, but it helped a little.
Lee F.
You can also add a capacitor and bridge rectifier to help stop flickering. Scroll down a bit for how to do it.
http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/t/189819.aspx
Several of my American FLyer 650 passenger cars lights flickered and after doing what the others have said and they still flickered, I added a wire from the base (-) of the lamp base socket to the base (-) wheel set.
Being two rail it may be a bit different but you could apply the same principal to three rail.
Also, if the lights flicker in a consistant spot, make sure the track is laying and staying flat and not moving up and down as the cars pass over sections
Jim
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