MTH Crossing Gate questions, and seeking suggestions

Just to make sure you're covering all the bases, I'd take a look at the crossing gates and optical detection systems from Z-Stuff For Trains.

They are a forum sponsor and make some really neat products.

Jeff, you're correct. The first picture is what you get with MTH.

I've got the Z-stuff gates, and sensors and have had no problems.

You can check with our mutual friend , George, he bought the MTH, for info on how they've worked for him

After having a set of Lionel gates that failed after 5 years. My suggestion.....forego gates, and just use a set of crossing flashers.

IMO sooner or later, the gates are bound to fail,no matter what brand, too many moving parts. The gates go up and down dozens of times during an operating session.

I recall seeing a complaint on the forum of MTH gate failures.

I put a set of the MTH 30-11014 crossing flashers with sound on my layout. They may be a tad oversized, but they flash in a nice realistic slow manner and the bell sound out of the separate speaker is great.

Most shops show these on backorder, but Sidetrack Hobbies had them in stock a month ago when I purchased mine.

Do the lights flash at the same time or back and forth?

Thanks all.  RICKO, I actually have those somewhere around here.  Got them very long ago!  I may use them.  I like those a lot.  If I get gates, I will probably just put them on a button or toggle switch so they aren't constantly going up and down.  Thanks again! 

 The MTH gates I have sitting here are older ones. Here's a pic of them. I think they have extended crossing arms included in the box.

The second pic is the main gate of the Z-stuff set (w/ control panels)

I have a couple of sets.   Wiring is key.  Can be wired with an additional ITAD control or an isolated rail section.   Long term they can be an issue.  A small plastic gear, lower base area would break/or split loose from the drive shaft. 

Requires track or accessory power.   Red and Black.

White, Blue, and Yellow activate and move the gate.  The lights flash on down.

Blue and Yellows the gate powers down.

Blue and White the gate powers up.    There are limit switches in the gate for up and down adjustment.  There was additional longer gates as part of the two gate package that I purchased.  

@Mike CT Thank you for the pictures, but how can we hook the gate activation wires to an ITAD and have it function like you have shown us?

Hi PENNSY484,

I believe the second picture is of the crossing gates made by NJ International. 

I use the MTH crossings and for the most part they work fine. It is true that as many times as the train passes the grade crossing, there is wear and tear. I have had to replace one of them, but I believe that is because something got in the base after ballasting the track around it. That big base is one thing I don't care for about them and clearly will need to cleverly "hide" those. Also I have had to reinforce the black rubber gear inside the base with super glue so that it doesn't slip. After doing that, I have had no problems with the gates going up and down.

Dave

Maxrailroad posted:

@Mike CT Thank you for the pictures, but how can we hook the gate activation wires to an ITAD and have it function like you have shown us?

The ITAD will hook to the Blue, Yellow, and White wires (Picture bottom of the relay board). .  I use an isolated rail section relay board.   Old but they work well.    Best wishes with your project.

Top Down

Brown  AC Track/and accessory common  ( Very important that Track and Accessory common are wired together).

Red AC Accessory power to the board,   12 volts.

Green  Insulated/Isolated outside rail section somewhere near the approach to the gate.  Isolated Rail should be long enough, to accommodate two axles of a car, (one front truck/one back truck at the same time).

(Alternate ITAD connections)    Also positioned near the approach to the gate.

Blue    (C) Gate common wire

Yellow  (NO) Gate normally open wire

White  (NC) Gate normally closed wire.

Prone to failure. I have 1 out of 4 that has failed so far. Noisy, slow, poor plastic gear. Never again. Wasted time with ITADS as well, lighting has to be a certain way or operation is spotty at best. Work well in my subway tunnels.

SIRT posted:

Prone to failure. I have 1 out of 4 that has failed so far. Noisy, slow, poor plastic gear. Never again. Wasted time with ITADS as well, lighting has to be a certain way or operation is spotty at best. Work well in my subway tunnels.

 

 

 

I didn't want to be negative, but also have had failures.  Noisy operation, as mentioned.  The plastic gear has to go.   Without the ITAD another relay has to be used, (note my previous post).

Refer to this post about a metal-gear replacement for the plastic one...as well as other useful info on gate operation.

I have connected sensors for activation on mine  yet. 

Mike CT posted:

SIRT posted:

Prone to failure. I have 1 out of 4 that has failed so far. Noisy, slow, poor plastic gear. Never again. Wasted time with ITADS as well, lighting has to be a certain way or operation is spotty at best. Work well in my subway tunnels.

I didn't want to be negative, but also have had failures.  Noisy operation, as mentioned.  The plastic gear has to go.   Without the ITAD another relay has to be used, (note my previous post).

I haven't connected sensors to mine yet. I'm considering one of the offerings from Azatrax the" D2T Xing"

Less expensive than itads from Lionel and MTH and can "see" across a double mainline. Two pairs of sensors do the work of 4 itads and a relay.

http://www.azatrax.com/controller.html Scroll down to the D2T XING. Its recommended for use with MTH crossing signals.

GVDobler posted:

Do the lights flash at the same time or back and forth?

 Heres shaky demo video. I need to sink these in the layout. I'm not sure if I will for the  "ease of maintenance" aspect of leaving them on top. In case they ever were to fail.

Good topic,  Stan2004, thanks very much for providing the link to the thread about gear replacement and other operational issues.   I'll know where to go if and when my MTH gates start having issues. 

Yesterday I wired up one of the signals. I did it correctly, with the wires going to where I have been told to put them, but the signal now is stuck in the down position. My recommendation, go with Z-Stuff!