5165/5166 072 switch repair

[servoguy]

Glad to be of help

[pullman jct]

I saw your post Servoguy, thanks! I haven't worked on switches for some time. Your tips were a good jog to my memory and there were some new things there too.

I was able to fix the locking mechanism that I first mentioned by careful bending of the bracket and hinge wire, which allowed the spring to stay in position. The spring wire seems thinner than what I remember from 022 motors, but I haven't measured them yet.

I have filed the points on a few switches to get a better fit against the stock rails. Anyone else done that?

[servoguy]

If you look up my post on fixing 022 switches, you may find some useful information.  022/722 switch operating pblms.  It is on this forum.  Use Google to search for it.  I have a few of the O31 switches that are similar to your O72s, and I did find a few problems that are peculiar to the later model switches.

I have 5 switch motors that are new enough that they have metric threads on the terminals, but they seem to be of good quality and work just fine.

[phillyreading]

Have you thought about using a postwar switch motor & solenoid in those switches? That series of switches has a bad reputation for failure. I had the 031 equivalent switches and the wires inside the switch housings burnt up on me.

[pullman jct]

I set up a large floor layout for the holiday season using 072 curves and switches. The switches were manufactured in the 1990s and several need repair, primarily to the locking mechanism. I took one apart last night and discovered that the spring on the lock hinge would not stay in position. It also appears to be very flimsy compared to one in a properly operating switch motor. I have looked around the internet a bit and have only found one source. The photo is so poor I can't make any judgement on the quality of the spring. Short of cannibalizing other motors, any ideas where to get proper springs?

Another question regards the points. Some of the switches I have seem to need a bit of filing for the points to fit the stock rail properly. Any others out there have tips for getting these switches running as reliably as the good old 022 switches? Thanks!

Bob Lalich