Switch will not operate

[Anonymous]

I have a couple of MTH Real Trax )-42 Switches. I have had them trouble free for a couple of years. Yesterday, when my son went to sitch the switch using the remote, the power on the switch died. The lantern will not illuminate. I followed the Troubleshooting recommendations from the manual (to check that the jumper between the Track AC Out Screw terminal and the Auxillary AC Power In Screw Terminal is installed.). Everything is installed as required.

Has anyone experienced this problem before, or is there anyone that can assist me.

Thanks,
Craig

[wrmcclellan]

Craig,

I cannot help you, but there was a nice article in the June 2004 OGR (Run 201) that gave some photos of the guts of these switches for the purpose of converting to LED bulbs. Maybe this may help a bit if you have access to this issue.

From what I see of the switch - make sure the switch motor is still firmly plugged into the side of the switch. MTH uses the same tiny (JST) connectors that Lionel uses on their TMCC and RS boards. If the motor has slipped out a little - it may loose electrical contact.

Regards,
Roy

[jimhaleyscomet]

I had one like this. It turned out the little spring inside the switch (really just a bent wire) had popped loose. I took of the bottom of two switches and compared them and saw the difference.

Also, sometimes just pulling out and inserting the lamp assembly will do the trick. Sometimes I turn the lamp a few times while out.

[Anonymous]

Jim: You said the spring was in the switch? I would have thought that the problem would be with the remote as it stopped lighting up when the switch stooped working.
Craig

[wrmcclellan]

Craig,

Again I do not know specifically about the MTH switches - but with Lionel switches, the switch provides the power to the remote (i.e. lamps). I think the MTH is similar.

Regards,
Roy

[Anonymous]

MTH e-mailed me and suggested that I try changing the switch motor with another one and see what happens.

My question is: where is the switch motor located?

Craig