Thanks for that.... It didn't work the first time... I will investigate... probably a crossed wire or ground somewhere. I've been moving and refining wiring.
At least I know I'm "on the right track"
Always learning, Always TRAINing.... Richard.
You should be able to get that to work. From what I can find, the wiring looks the same
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
That's what I thought. In fact, my current layout uncoupler track, that dumps the car, is already wired that way. But the Coaling station controller has a connection to dump the car too. I was hoping to use it, but I guess I'll just leave everything connected and not worry about that portion of the controller.
Thanks for your help... I'll have to wait a little to put it in place, as several items have come up on my 'honey-do" list.
As usual, I'm still in training.... Richard.
If i read right. The uncoupler track is a two wire. One wire can be wired to the ground. The same ground from the 497 can be used as long as you use the same power source. The other wire goes to the button controller. from there to the power source. Should work
I see the wire from the solinoid that is grounded to the motor. A wire from one of the brushes is also at the same junction. If I understand what you are saying, I need to remove both the solinoid wire and the brush wire and connect them to my power source ground. And the 5th wire from the controller goes to the power source.? What happens to the two wires from my "simple" uncoupling track.?
Still need lots of training..... Richard.
Thanks for that. Kind of rainy in Oregon today, so may have some time, after the "inside" jobs get done, and before "Sweetie time"
Thanks. Richard is always in training.....
Youd' thin somewon wouild provid Spellchick on the forum.... :) Probably too busy answering train questions or playing with trains....
Ok. Sounds like a wire got crossed in there some where. Hopefully you have found a good wire scheme matic. Now to isolate it fromthe track for seperate power. I looked at mine. You have a four conductor ribbon from the controller to the 497. You need a fifth wire.
In the unit you will see where a connection comes from the motor and from the selonoid for the dumb. That point also connects to the metal frame of the 497. That is your ground point to the track. Disconnect that point and isolate it. The fifth wire is connected to the wire from the selonoid and motor. That fifth wire goes back to the ground for the new power source. The other wires remain untouched. The wire from your controler also goes to the other terminal of the separate power Source.
the 497 is now isolated on a seprarate power souce. And will operate as designed. Once you get the wire schemematic. You will see the connection location to be isolated
I am going to look at how I have mine hooked up.
I sent you a PM if you give me a e-mail address I will try to send you a copy of the diagram. I am having a real problem trying to post it here?
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
Here's my dilema. Originally the unit worked using track power... loose wire from unit to ground clip on track and loose wire on controller to hot on small transformer. (I don't recall how I hooked up the unloader track, but it dupped the car. Then I replaced the 4 wire harness with good wire. Now the 4 wires on the unit connnected to controller. That leaves the wire from the unit, and the wire from the controller. Then also the two from the unloader track, and power from the smalll transformer. I've tried different configuratioins.. Sometimes the unload & load switch just dumps the car. Sometimes only the motor works -- both directions, but not all 4 at the same time. Thank you again for all the brain-train power of your group's informaiton
Always in training. Richard m
I guess I'm a little dense at this time at night. I did some checking and found continuity from station "poles" ,2,3,,4 to the station base. I would think there would be only one?? Or is finding continuity not appropriate in this case. If that's the case, which wire is grounded to the outside rail. Reading some of the literature, it seems the station is made to sit on sections of insulated track. Most diagrams use the UCS track, not the simple one buton uncouple track. There are two loose wires in the setup.. one from the controller adn the other from near the motor. If we didn't have problems to solve, what fun would this hoby be? Always in training. thanks. Richard M.
I did exactly what you are tryingvto do. There is one wire that ground to the outside rail. That wire, i rerouted to the ground of the auxiliary power source. Along with the power wire. This required a 5 conductor ribbon wire. Then wire the uncoupler track as you normally would.
Search "wire diagram for lionel postwar 497 coaling station". Go under images and it should be right there. I ended up buying greenburgs lionel guide. Has all the diagrams in it. Really fat book.
Roger Carp Hi Richard, You are on Classic Toy Trains. The members of our forum and our editoria staff can help you find answers to your dilemma with the Lionel coaling station. Roger Carp Senior editor
Hi Richard,
You are on Classic Toy Trains. The members of our forum and our editoria staff can help you find answers to your dilemma with the Lionel coaling station.
Roger Carp
Senior editor
Thanks Roger! Sure someone will chime in.
Thanks for that. I thought this was CTT. I'll make sure I'm on the correct forum, when I repost.
Please contact me at Classic Toy Trains for help with your problem.
Sincerely,
262-796-8776 ext. 253
I purchased a 497 Lionel coaling station (ebay) and it workwed. ( It is also listed as 2315) The wire coating was fragile, but I was able to spread cracked insulation out enough to avoid grounds. The controls work as indicated on the controller. I've cleaned and steel-wooled surfaces, so it moves freely. It had the track clips so I could have used regular track and the older type dump car, which I do not have. I removed the clips and set it to use a single magnet remote track for the newer dump cars, and that worked fine. I noticed that the wires near the motor connected reverse order to the controller.(1,2,3,4 to 4,3,2,1). I have since taken off the fragile wires and replaced with good 4-wire harness. Now it does not work. I lost the paper with my wire drawing. I dont' have the UCS track, only simple 2 wire uncoupler. My dump cars are the modern with the center pull and spring. I want to use the small transformer that powers my other accessories. I have read several posts, but all use either track power or the UCS track.
Am I trying the impossible, or should I just locate a UCS track..? Thanks for the excellent information, especially for us old 027 guys.
Always in training. Richard M.
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