Four years ago when I started my Lionel layout I used Lionel 42 switches. I am at wits end with these switches. All they do is continually spark and shut down the transformer. No matter how many times I clean them it is an ongoing problem. Does any other manufacturer make 42 swithces so that I don’t have to tear up the entire layout to replace the Lionel switches?
Thanks,
John
Lionel is comimg out with K-line by Lionel 042 and 072 switches that look alot like lionels. I believe they ship this fall, perhaps you can try them.
Is there any information on the K-Line switches that I can read up on?
Thanks
I’m not sure, besides the product info in the catalog, you can always e-mail Lionel.
Before you replace them get some liquid electrucal tape and coat both sides of the long silver piece in the center of the switch.Come over the top about a sixteenth of an inch.Sometimes the contacts touch the sides of this piece and the outer rails.You can do this with regular electrical tape but it will keep coming off.This is the only problem I’ve had with these switches.I’ve used mine for about six years now with no other problems.
Ed
It’s too late for me as I replaced my Lionel switches with GarGraves about nine years ago, the Lionel switch # 6-23010 series O gauge kept messing up, especially with non Lionel loco’s. The problems I had were; a mad switch point via the solenoid(would move back & forth nearly 50 times a second) only when a non Lionel loco approached it, second the power went out in the switch at random, light inside the switch housing didn’t stay lit-on & off every few seconds. Checked all the wiring and all was where it should be, no disconnected or burnt wires.
Like the problems I had this could be a design problem that Lionel is not addressing. Check with the guys at Williams Trains and see what they have to say about your Lionel switch, the answer may surprise you!!
Lee F.
I have K-line 0-42 switches on my layout and they are trouble-free for the most part.I do recommend that you opt to have the switches powered from a seperate transformer and not use track-power.They will not spark and will not trip the circuit breaker so they are pretty good.
I will have to try the tape solution. I am not too happy about spending $600.00 to tear up the present switches.
John
I have a seperate transformer for running mu accessories. I will have to try running the switches off that to see if that stops the problem.
John
What are the part numbers on these Lionel switches?
If it is 6-23010 & 6-23011, you will be better off to replace the switches.
I had an older Lionel switch, I think the number was 5314 O gauge 031 switch, the wire inside the switch burnt up on me and was causing sparks every time something went over the switch-even a freight car. Open the switch and check your wiring, you may be surprised!!
Lee F.
The 042 switches are 6-65167 & 6-65168. Strangely enough the trains run reasonably well through the switches in one direction with just a little sparking, but absolutely refuse to run through the switches in the other direction, the engine just sparks and shuts down the transformer.
John
Just an uneducated observation here. From what I’m picking up here, the switch only shorts out when a loco crosses it. My quess is that because the point rails are so close to that center piece that the loco’s pick up roller is contacting the point rail also, causeing the short. Is there a difference in roller width between lionel and other mfgr’s. and are the rollers centered on the loco’s. Out of gauge wheels would also contribute to this, allowing the roller to move too far to the side. Ken
Do these switches look like the old 022’s from the post war era or are they new looking like the 6-23010? In my honest opion if they are similar to the 6-23010 in style(except for the cut-off track section) then the problem is in the switch design. I was having the worst time with the Lionel 6-23010 series of switches and changed over to Gargraves switches and track. One of the reasons that I changed over is that I don’t have to remove a switch just to replace a defective switch motor, leave the switch in place and change out only the switch motor, also like the looks of Gargraves track compared to Lionel tubular when I changed over, Fastrac was not out as yet. All I need to go between Gargraves and tubular track(027) is adapter pins sold by Gargraves, for O gauge you have to shim up the Gargrvaes track along with adapter pins. I will buy Lionel track but not their switches in tubular as the switches are NO good except for target practice!!!
Lee F.
The switches are 3 years old and they have always sparked. I have thourghly cleaned them but still they spark. In fact they spark so much the track is becoming pitted. I only run a inexpensive Lionel Berkshire on this track and switches on an inner loop. I use all Atlas track and Atlas switches on the outter loops to run my MTH stock. Not one problem with the Atlas track and switches.
I run the Lionel inner loop in conventional mode off the right side of my Lionel ZW transformer and the MTH DCS system off the left side of the ZW. Of course when the Lionel sparks out it blows the entire transformer off line.
All accessories are run off a seperate small transformer. As suggested above if I can’t stop the sparking I probably should pwer the seitches from the accessory transformer before I blow out the electronics on the MTH locos
“especially with non Lionel loco’s.” “only when a non Lionel loco approached it”
Could Lionel have designed this switch that way? Talk about desperate!!! [;)] [:-^] [:D]
Swipesy, See the linked thread http://www.trains.com/TRC/CS/forums/766858/ShowPost.aspx where I described how I fixed (dealt with) a similar problem to my satisfaction.
Roland
Roland, you have identified my problem exactly. My engine looks like your picture and the sparking and arcing are exactly as you have pictured it. I bought some liquid electical tape today and I am going to “tape” out where your arrows show and if that doesn’t cure it then I will "tape out the entire both sides of the frog as suggested earlier.
Thanks for yours and everyones help on this issue. It is a shame that it even has to be dealt with. My Atlas of 54 switches are flawless.
John
Thanks to all who responded to my request on the Lionel switch issue. I used the liquid electical tape on the switches as suggested and that has cured the problem. Spending $6.00 was sure a lot cheaper than $600.00 for better switches.
John
The k-line switches fitted the lionel footprint
Glad to hear that liquid electrical tape worked for your problem.
I had to replace my Lionel 6-23010 switches as these just kept getting worse!! I even tried the cure mentioned in O Gauge Train magazine, all that did was get my SD-45’s thru the switch without derailing.
Lee F.