Repairing a 445 Switch Tower

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

I recently purchased a 445 Switch Tower using ebay. I have generally had good luck but one pays the nickel and takes the chances. The seller said that the return spring needed to be replaced. When I received the unit I ordered a new return spring and found more problems. The plunger in the solenoid was sticking. I called my friend the Train Tender and ordered up a new soleniod. I finally installed that yesterday and that part of the mechanism is working good now. The problem was the man was not going up and down smoothly. I noticed the stairway was not parellel with the building. I took that apart and found the back locator plastic pin had been broken and was glued. I managed to cut off a aluminum pop rivet and drill out the broken pin and with a bit of epoxy that part is as good as new.

Now the problem. The man will not go up/down with the operation. I have tried to adjust the slides in the slots to no benefit. Any ideas what to do to make things runs smoothly. HELP!

PS…the previous owner had also glued the second story man to the aluminum pivot. I am not sure how I fix that one but I will come up with something.

2

Has the string cut a notch into the plastic where it passes through the building? Sometimes that happens and it causes the guy to get stuck or move sluggishly. The fix for that is to order an eyelet and place it in the hole, and then thread the string through it (easier said than done) Can’t recall the part number, but it’s listed in the repair manual sheets for the 445.

Hope this helps,

J White

3

Thanks, I will check that tonight.

Bob

4

I took a look and the plastic where the string comes out look good. I will probably order the kit and give it a try.