American Flyer controllers - bulb not working

[Benjamin Maggi]

I have a pair of American Flyer switches with the controllers that feature the nice big green and red bulbs. After storing them for a dozen years I was pleasantly surprised that 3 of the 4 bulbs still worked. The last one was burned out so I bought a replacement online. Then, yesterday afternoon it lit up like normal. I threw the switch back and forth and the bulb went out, never to turn back on. I unscrewed it and the contacts seemed clean enough.

Any ideas? I figure tonight I will get a q-tip with some naptha and try and clean out the socket and the screw portion of the bulb (note; unplug transformer first!) but anything else I should be looking for?

Thanks.

[richhotrain]

Are you sure that the bulb is burned out?

Start there.

Test is with a 9 or 12 volt battery, one wire to the base of the bulb and one wire to the side of the bulb.

Rich

[lionelsoni]

Or just swap it with one in another socket.

[richhotrain]

lionelsoni

Or just swap it with one in another socket.

LOL

All I can say is DUH.  Good point, Bob.

It will be interesting to see what the problem is here.

Rich

[Benjamin Maggi]

Nope, the bulb isn't burned out. As I discovered when it lit up for a few seconds after a week or so of remaining dark, it isn't burned out.

[richhotrain]

Well, then, I would check the wiring for a loose or broken wire or a failed solder point.

Rich

[TrainLarry]

  Ben,

  Try swapping a known good bulb into that socket to see if it works. If the other bulb works, and not the new one, then possibly the bottom contact of the bulb may be a bit too small, and not making contact with the bottom of the socket. If the good bulb does not work, then check for loose/broken wires, or bad solder joints in the socket, as Rich advised.

Larry