operating track

[boxcar2217]

Has anyone ever repaired a lionel operating track section, and if so was it hard to do.

the problem with my track is the uncoupler might be burned up.
the unload part of the track works fine.

[Big_Boy_4005]

If the electromagnetic coil is shot, it's probably not worth fixing. Time for a new one, or a nice used one.

[fwright]

Whether it's worth repairing depends on whether the red electro-magnet is actually burned or just not working.

If the red plastic is melted (not just black from track dirt), or the coil has the characteristic electrical burning smell, chances are the varnish insulation on the coil wire has burned and no longer functions. Unless you're a better man than me, replacing the coil (rewinding magnet wire) isn't worth the effort.

On the other hand, if there are no indications of burning but the uncoupler just doesn't work, it's usually fixable. 2 places to check - the controller and the coil connections. In the controller, the buttons get mashed and the contacts sometimes get bent - eminently fixable with a wiring diagram and an ohm or volt meter. At the coil, sometimes the solder connection of the coil wire at either end gets broken through handling. Again, eminently fixable once you locate the problem, and can be checked with volt or ohm meter.

yours in tinkering with toys
Fred Wright

[phillyreading]

Try testing the magnet with a multimeter first, if there is a resistance reading between
the outside rail and the pick-up wire on the coil you need to clean the track or mire, no resistance reading throw the track in the garbage and buy another one, electromagnets are too time consuming to repair and not cost efficient either.
Lee.