Lionel locomotives stalling on O-72 switches

[Anonymous]

Has anybody had problems with Lionel locomotives equipped with the Odyssey system stalling on O-72 switches, particularly at very low speeds? I have had two powered F-3B's, and both have had this exact same problem. As long as the units are not running over switches, they run fine. I should note that none of my other Lionel or MTH locomotives have this problem - not even the powered F-3A (which also has Odyssey).

Has anyone experienced or heard of this problem - and has anyone heard why this happens? I would have to think that if this has happened twice for me with the same engine - powered F-3B's, I would assume I'm not the only one who has had this problem. I would also assume it's not a problem with my layout, since none of my other locomotives have ever experienced this problem.

Any help or ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

[ChiefEagles]

Do not have any 072 switches installed yet but, I had one Lionel switch [new] that my SD80's would stall on if run real slow [creaping with Odyssey on] over it. Other engines would not. What I found was the weight of these heavy and long [over 18 inches] engines was making the center rail touch the sliding part of the switch that is the outer rail. I bent up the metal under the center rail part adn this stopped that. I also was getting an arching on the wheels of some cars crossing that switch. I found that the center rail entering the switch was a little high. I put some spacers under the tack ties [using tublar track] and this stopped that. This may not help your situation.

[paulstecyna21]

do you have a picture that you could send to me?
my dad might know what the problem is.
please send the picture to [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the suggestions to everyone. I was doing some additional troubleshooting this afternoon, again running the powered A and powered B units at very low speeds over switches (again, the units do not stall unless they are on switches). I noticed that now, even the A unit is starting to stall on switches at very low speeds.

When running the B unit in reverse (it has a small back up light which turns on in reverse), the light will go out when the unit stalls, which to me means either: 1) the unit is going into a state of neutral when entering the switch; or 2) the unit is simply losing power.

I now believe theory #2 is more likely - when the unit stalls and the backup light goes out - I simply jiggle the unit from side to side a little bit - and the backup light will go on and off in an erratic fashion when doing so. If I move the unit to one side, the light comes back on. When I move the unit to the other side, the light goes off. I can consistently recreate this situation when the front truck is on the insulated portion of the switch (and therefore not getting power), and therefore, only the rear truck pickup roller is getting power (or supposed to be getting power. It's my understanding that locomotives have two pickup rollers (one on each truck) so that when one pickup roller is on the insulated portion of the switch (and unable to draw power), the other pickup roller (which is not in an insulated section) can still pick up power and allow the unit to keep moving. (This would also explain why the unit never stalls when it is not on a switch track, as at least one pickup roller is always providing power).

I therefore have to assume that the electrical connections on one or both trucks are loose. Guess I have to send the unit back to Lionel with this detailed description and hope for the best!!

Does anyone have any further thougths or theories? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[paulstecyna21]

is there a plastic piece that moves for the locomotives to enter the switch?

[lionelsoni]

Even if you don't have any electrical meters, you can test your idea that the connections to the pickups are loose: Put two tracks end-to-end but not touching. Connect a transformer to one track and put a lighted car on the other. Put the locomotive on both tracks, straddling the gap. If you can light up the car (with the locomotive in neutral), the pickups are probably okay.