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Need help with 445 operating switch tower

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  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 523 posts
Need help with 445 operating switch tower
Posted by mpzpw3 on Thursday, August 18, 2005 9:34 PM
I think 445 is the correct number...Anyway, I recently got one and cleaned it up. The solenoid works every time, but the string gets held up everytime. I'm thinking of replacing it with nylon fishing line. Anyone have any ideas to help prevent the "dragging string"?
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Southeast Florida
  • 134 posts
Posted by Back2Trains on Thursday, August 18, 2005 11:35 PM
I have one that had a similar problem. In my case, the man was sticking on the stairs. I put a little bit of LaBelle powdered teflon between the slide bracket and the stairs. I then worked the figure up and down a couple of times and it works perfectly now. The Greenberg Lionel Service Manual mentions that the hole where the string goes through the wall can wear which will cause the string to stick. The cure for this is to install an eyelet in the string hole.
  • Member since
    May 2005
  • 382 posts
Posted by trigtrax on Friday, August 19, 2005 3:00 AM
The string is actually nyon woven fishing line..This comes in two flavors, waxed and unwaxed. Try rubbing a candle on the line to lubricate it.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 7:58 AM
I threaded mine with dental floos. Hey don't laugh, it works pretty good. The 2 guys in the switch tower get excellent , checkups at the dentist also. Easter.
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Bensalem, PA
  • 195 posts
Posted by Dave45681 on Sunday, August 21, 2005 6:15 PM
I am not sure if the PW version is the same here, but on a newer model, (happened to be a burning variety, 6-12768) I found that the metal slider piece the "stairs man" was mounted to had some drag, and therefore there was not enough downward pull on the string.

I held the mechanical arm in so that the man could get all the way to the bottom of the stairs, carefully removed the slider and man from the stair track (did not need to remove them from the end of the string) and carefully bent the slider so as to make it ride the stairs smoother.

Works much better since then. Just another possible thing to try if you don't have luck with the other suggestions already offered.

-Dave

-Dave

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