First ebay win....

[Demon09]

I just received the first item ive ever won on ebay...... a slightly beat up pair of #1122 switches i won for $ .99............ all the moving parts work, but I will have to wait until tonight to hook them up to make sure they work....i think i read somewhere that these need insulating pins in certain spots? is this true or can i use regular lionel pins?...... also the wires on the controller are somewhat frayed, i will have to tape them so they do not cause a short, and maybe even replace the controller...... i will post back later with any questions and to tell if they worked or not.......

have a great day everyone!

[Dr. John]

Congratulations on your Ebay win! You will need the insulated pins for the non-derailing feature of the 1121 switches. Lionel offers the insulated pins separately - make sure you get the O-27 and not the O gauge pins.

[Demon09]

these are not completely neccesary though, are they? I ask because i dont want to hook everything up tonight to test it and have it blow up in my face or something.... i could get them at a later time but for now i only have regular pins.....

Also, any clue as to what gauge wire i would use on the controllers, upon a closer look i am 95% sure that the wires need to be replaced, they are so old and worn that when i move or bend the wire they crack-exposing more bare wire, so i cant leave it like this......

[Poppa_Zit]

Good for you. It's a great win on eBay anytime the shipping cost exceeds the winning bid.

[lionelsoni]

If you connect it to other track without using the insulating pins, the switch will buzz and quickly burn itself out. For a quick and dirty test, just omit the two pins that should be insulated, leaving a small gap instead. The two rails that need to be insulated are those that almost touch the frog.

I recommend reading the stuff on the Olsen site before trying to run the switches:
http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/searchcd2.htm?srt=8

[ADCX Rob]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Demon09

I just received the first item ive ever won on ebay...

...i think i read somewhere that these need insulating pins in certain spots? is this true or can i use regular lionel pins?......

The 1122 switches did not need insulating pins for the non-derailing feature, but these were only offerred in 1952. From 1953 on, the 1122E was available & required insulating pins in the short control rails.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Dr. John

Congratulations on your Ebay win! You will need the insulated pins for the non-derailing feature of the 1121 switches.

The 1121 switches did not have a non-derailing feature built in, you can build your own insulated track sections to give them this feature, though.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Demon09

Also, any clue as to what gauge wire i would use on the controllers, upon a closer look i am 95% sure that the wires need to be replaced, they are so old and worn that when i move or bend the wire they crack-exposing more bare wire, so i cant leave it like this......

I've been using 3 conductor bell wire since about 1965 with the original controllers for long runs on our 1965(gone) & 1971(still going) layouts. No problems at all.

Rob

[lionelsoni]

Here are Kevin's switches:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Pair-of-Lionel-1122-Switches_W0QQitemZ6046267053QQcategoryZ4146QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting
They do indeed look like the 1952 version, which does not need insulating pins.

[DCmontana]

Santa brought my train Christmas 1952 and there were no insulating pins with the switches. They worked pretty good. I had a problem with one, got it fixed by the dealer, and if I am not mistaken, they still work. I don't use them anymore and they are retired to their original box. I still keep the stuff that I got that Christmas. About 30 years ago I traded the caboose, but still have the gondola car, the two dome sunoco tank car, and the Lehigh Valley hopper car and the transformer. Ole 2056 still runs like a charm except for continual maintenence on the %$&*$#@ e-unit!

[Demon09]

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions and information. I spent most of last night removing the old wires, they were too far beyond use, so I went out to radio shack for a soldering iron and some new wire. Many of the pins are broken or missing, but if i do not in fact need the insulating pins then I will be able to steal the pins from a few extra pieces of track laying around and test them tonight.

[Demon09]

Both of the controllers work, the one wont light up unless its at an odd angle, then it wont switch back, so i will use it without the lantern..... also, it tends to stick from time to time, so i might have to double check the tightness of the wires.... other than that, they both work, Thanks again to everyone!