Made in China O22 Switches

Replace.  PW 022 switches are the best. 

I have not found a p/w switch that I couldn't make work like new.

I'm with the replies above!

Get rid of the China made junk and install the postwar 022 switches. I also have refurbished the postwar 022 switches, some of these looked like crap and once cleaned up will look and work better then new! These things are bulletproof!

OK    -  On 2 of the switches I soldered brass strips on top of the tin foil contacts under the sliding contacts.  I glued in a piece of styrene at the end of the brass so the sliding contact has a place to park.   Polished up the contacts with emery paper.  The moving contacts slide back and forth quite nicely.   Put the switch back together and it works quite well.  Non-derailing rails work as they should.   

I still plan to pick up some PW O22 when I go to Denver next week.

Steve

I had some newer 022 style switches, part number 6-23010 & 23011. What a bunch of duds they were! Lionel would not even stand behind them, I called customer service and they claimed they never heard of any problem with those switches so I got rid of them quickly. My 6-23010 & 23011 were electrical nightmares; one started to act like a flashing bulb on a Christmas tree as the power to it went on and off repeatedly, another just dudded out(nothing worked). Also they would act up when a Williams engine got within 3 track sections of one, no other engines would make the switch act up.

Since then I have gone to Gargraves switches and now am going to Ross switches. Also I don't buy much Lionel after those switches(6-23010) and Lionel customer service!

Lee Fritz

It's not only the turnouts, it's some of the engines too!

Makes you wonder how much longer these manufacturers are going to put up with this junk from China?

I did not follow up on my O-22 switch problem.

I wound up ordering 3 Switches from TimMan 3 Rail.com    Pulled out the Junk Chinese switches and replaced them.  It was a pain to do.  Had to pull up several sections of track each side if the switches, then re-place the ties and ballast.    But it was worth the effort.   The switches have not shown any problems after being replaced.

Steve

I have learned my lesson with switches. It's either the Lionel post war 022's(real 022 switches and not knock-offs) or Ross Custom Switches. Also have some Gargraves switches I bought a while back and I am using them with my Williams trains.

I just bought 4 new Ross Custom switches with DZ-1000 switch machines on them, very good compared to the new junk from Lionel. Don't have to worry about being compatible with any make or model of engine, Ross works with all brands of model trains in O gauge.

Lee Fritz

Modelrailroader posted:

It's not only the turnouts, it's some of the engines too!

Makes you wonder how much longer these manufacturers are going to put up with this junk from China?

 

It's called Profit!! There is more profit with selling junk from China and then don't stand behind it.

Lee Fritz

I found one "huge" problem with PW  022 switches that can't be fixed...  You can't run the good stuff around 0-31 curves. It makes them practically useless on most layouts... 

Joe