Lionel 5530 O gauge UCS Track section wiring

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

I have the 5530 remote uncoupler/unloader the wires have become brittle over the years so I tried replacing the 4 wire connection. WRONG I did something wrong the power on the tracks decreases while the power to the uncouple stays on… Can someone help

Thanks

2

I’ve rewired about three dozen of these, so I’ve made about every mistake than can be made.

By first guess would be that you have the wires which connect to the track reversed. So, try reversing them, and see if that works.

Failing that, try opening the controller to make sure that you have everything hooked up and stacked right.

Here are a few general notes about the inside of the controller:

  1. The wires just go in order in connection to the stack.

  2. The top most contact strip has one side sharply bent-this side should go under the uncouple button, and should be bent away from the rest(not toward them).

  3. There is a spacer which goes between the second and third contact strips on the unload side.

That’s about it. Be sure you don’t have a wire tail shorting something out, also.

3

Here are some schematics that may help - http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/searchcd31.htm?itm=689

4

Yep, as simple as these appear is just as finicky as they can be. I’ve rewired many and most times they go without a hitch, then there are others that for whatever reason you just can’t figure out what’s wrong. Those are in the parts heap.

Piece of advice, those square fiber spacers are not all the same thickness, if you replace them out of order sometimes it causes the slightest bit of conact of two blades.

Good luck

Mike