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Coil coupler question....

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  • Member since
    April 2010
  • 269 posts
Coil coupler question....
Posted by silentman on Sunday, August 5, 2012 9:24 PM

Is there a remedy for the old coil couplers to keep from opening when they go over Lionel O72 switches? No problems with the O22 switches.

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: Virginia
  • 544 posts
Posted by TRAINCAT on Monday, August 6, 2012 10:20 PM

I wish I knew myself. Mine open on any switch, no matter what size. I tried taping part of the frog and other places.

Roger

  • Member since
    March 2012
  • From: San Diego
  • 247 posts
Posted by overlandflyer on Wednesday, August 8, 2012 10:18 AM

this problem usually involves the sliding shoe.  some people go as far as clipping it off completely, but if you can snip the wire going to the shoe, that should also cure the problem with a way to revert to the auto uncouple feature (which nobody uses) if you want to restore it later.

good luck...gary

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    December 2001
  • From: Austin, TX
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Posted by lionelsoni on Wednesday, August 8, 2012 5:38 PM

To disable the shoe, I push it all the way in and then wrap around the part behind the plate a single turn of the largest PVC-insulated solid-conductor wire that will fit, wedging it into the space under the bakelite lip.  It stays in place; but I can remove it easily, leaving no trace of the modification.

Bob Nelson

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    April 2010
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Posted by silentman on Thursday, August 9, 2012 5:39 PM

Thank you gentlemen.

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • 8 posts
Posted by Dashster on Friday, August 10, 2012 11:01 AM

Is it a new O-72 switch or an old prewar/postwar one? The older ones were meant to work with slide shoes, but I've heard complaints about the new switches on a wide variety of issues. If yours is new, you might try snagging an old one off of Ebay.  As for myself, modifying the couplers isn't an option. I've run into your issue on a several manufacturers and have only had luck with Gargraves switches after minor modifications to the switch, and Ross with major mods.

 

Good luck,

Dan

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