ADAPTING THE COW ON THE TRACK TO LIONEL TRACK

[EMCIII]

I'VE HOOKED UP MY AMERICAN FLYER COW ON THE TRACK TO MY LIONEL TRACK.  THE COW SWINGS OUT AS IT SHOULD, BUT THE TRAIN DOES NOT STOP AS EXPECTED.  I HAVE THE ORIGINAL AMERICAN FLYER INSTRUCTIONS AND HAVE PUT INSULATING PINS IN BOTH OUTSIDE RAILS.  ANY IDEAS ON WHAT TO DO?  THANKS

[Major]

I have a cow on track for my S gauge trains.  The cow is definitely better scaled for O Scale. The  common wire to the insulated track section is routed through the "cow's" mechanism in the base so that when it is on the track the connection is open and no power flows to the track.  Post one should be connected to the track and for 3 rail systems that would be the outside rails. Post 3 is connected to the common post, the "U" terminal on many Lionel Transformers.  If you look under the base you will see how the metal arm is wired to post one and when the cow is "in the field" not on the track that metal arms makes a connection to a metal stud connected to post 3. Also note that post 3 is the common for the coil electromagnets that move the cow.  Post 2 & 4 go to the controller box and from there to the 17 volt post on your  transformer (or Lionel equivalent).  If the cow has been rewired it may not break the power flow to the track.  First check your track to ensure that is is completely insulated from the rest of the layout and make sure that it is long enough so the locomotive does not bridge the insulated section.  If the track is fine check you "cow" to see if it is wired correctly.

 

I hope this helps.  Rich

[lionelsoni]

Stopping a 3-rail train by interrupting the outside rails is problematical, because car frames and couplers can bridge the gaps.  When a coupler does this, there is a good chance of burning out the coupler knuckle spring.  On the other hand, the accessory is designed to interrupt the common side of the circuit, which corresponds to the outside rails.

One way around this is to use a separate transformer, dedicated to the accessory.  Connect the black and yellow wires to this transformer, then connect the black wire to the center rail outside the stop block and the white wire to the center rail of the stop block.

Another approach is to wire it as American Flyer prescribes, except for the addition of a relay.  The relay coil goes between the accessory voltage and the white wire.  The normally-open relay contact switches track voltage to the stop block center rail.

Yet another option, if there is only one transformer and no other track-operated accessories, is to wire the transformer common and the black wire to the center rail outside the stop block, the variable voltage to the outside rails, and the white wire to the center rail of the stop block.  This will swap the whistle and bell controls for modern trains.

[Major]

After reading Lionelsoni comments about problems with insulating the common out side rail you have another option.  Insulate the inside rail and wire the cow on track accessory in reverse. with the wire from the two button controller going to the common and the wire to post three going to  the variable voltage on the transformer.   It will work either way.

[stebbycentral]

EMCIII

I'VE HOOKED UP MY AMERICAN FLYER COW ON THE TRACK TO MY LIONEL TRACK.  THE COW SWINGS OUT AS IT SHOULD, BUT THE TRAIN DOES NOT STOP AS EXPECTED.   ANY IDEAS ON WHAT TO DO? 

Make hamburgers...

[Major]

I had to laugh at your comment as  the name my wife gave to the cow on track is  "Hamburger". 

[lionelsoni]

Major's suggestion will work if the track voltage is turned up high enough to operate the accessory, which seems to be designed for 15 volts but might also work at a lower voltage if 15 volts is too high for the train.