Wiring a 5121 Lionel switch?

[cnw1995]

I have a simple loop with a siding and one of these switches. I just have a lock-on to this loop for power. This switch buzzes like an angry hive. Is this supposed to happen? How do I hook up the slide switch it came with - which wire goes to what post - I originally thought I had to power this separately from the transformer to the post. Thank you v. much for any help

[lionelsoni]

If it buzzes without any controller connected to it, it is probably because you have put metal track pins into the two control rails. These are the rails that implement the anti-derailing feature. They are the two inside rails on the trailing-point side of the switch, that is, the two rails that meet at the frog. These rails should have insulating pins or gaps so that they do not connect to the (grounded) outside rails of the abutting tracks.

The control should not be a slide switch. You need a single-pole-double-throw center-off momentary switch ((ON)-OFF-(ON)), which is what the original controller was, effectively. Or you could substitute two normally-open pushbutton switches. The terminal with the metal base goes to the common of the switch. It is just a connection to the outside rails (ground); so you can pick it up at the transformer if you don't want to run three wires to the turnout.

In fact, you cannot power the turnout separately without rewiring it, which is a pain but, I think, worth the trouble.

[cnw1995]

Thank you so much, Bob, so I'll put the insulating pins no both outer rails on both sides of the switch. I have an original controller that seems to be as you described. Then I'll try to attach the wires from the controller - it appears to have two or maybe three (with two together) to the terminals fo the switch.

[lionelsoni]

Only two insulating pins total, on the rails that come together at the frog (the v-shaped casting in the middle of the turnout).

If you get the controller wires wrong, there will be no harm. There are only six ways to connect three wires to three terminals; so trial and error is a practical way to get them right.

[cnw1995]

I think I got this wrong. I isolated the middle rail on both sides of the mainline on the switch and the trolley stops dead. I noticed I'll try one of the other rail 'pair's now or just search for 'trailing point' to find the right ones. I'm blanking on it.

[lionelsoni]

Doug, don't put any insulating pins in any of the center rails. Look in the middle of the turnout. There is a zinc casting in the shape of a V or an arrowhead. This is the frog. Two of the outside rails come together at the frog. Those are the only rails that need the insulating pins.

By the way, the "facing-point" side of the switch is the side that the "arrowhead" of the frog points to. The "trailing-point" side is the other side.