Pot war 022 switch issue, engine stalling on switch turn

It seems to be derailing from the photographs.

Yup, looks like it is derailed, is this the only engine that does this???

Marty

I had that problem with a similar 623 switcher on one of my 022 switches as well.  The front of that engine is very light and pushes off switches easily.  Could be a few things.  Check the roller arm in the front of the engine, if it is a little crooked it could derail.  Check the switch to make sure it is sitting flat on the table, you may even need to shim one side up a bit.  Those were the issues with mine.  Otherwise you could just install a rare earth magnet in the front truck to help hold it to the track better.

Andy

Jerry: This comment applies if the engine is NOT derailing entering the divergent turnout route; if the switcher (or any other engine as well) is actually stopping, it is likely due to the fact it is not getting electricity from an actual electrical circuit.

022 (at least the good Postwar units...) turnouts use a metal stamping as the center rail electrical conduit under the base of the turnout. The center rails were typically soldered to this conduit. Over many years of usage, these solder joint have been known to break resulting in an incomplete circuit. SO, if no engine runs through that path of the turnout, I'd suspect and inspect that area as a possible cause. This does necessitate removal of the turnout from the layout and removal of the bottom sheet metal cover plate held on by several small screws.

Thanks for your replies. The 6220 was not derailing. Actually it ran fine over the turnout area of the track. It seems like the culprit is a Lionel TMCC Norfolk and Western issued by Lionel about 10 years ago as part of a iron horse coal train . It is the one that was stopping at the tutn out. Do have any idea if these type engines are a problem?

Again thanks, Jerry

Could easily be the engine's center rail roller spacing. If the engine has traction tires it could be losing the outside rail power instead of the center power. See if you can add a truck with center rail roller behind the engine and wire in the center rail power with a wire for temporary use. Or use the common or ground from a trailing truck assembly and see if that helps with power to the frame of the engine.

Sometimes there is an engine that just won't go through a switch without some major work done to it. That engine should be set aside for either a straight run of track without switches or be used as a shelf item.

Lee Fritz.

Loco stalling on O22 switch:

Is it just one loco stalling on one switch?

Check that the switch has electrical continuity all the way through all the metal rails like it's supposed to have. Perhaps most effectively done with a test light (drawing an amp or more) and track voltage turned up. A voltmeter alone doesn't apply a significant load; an electrical load will help show a high-resistance connection.

Check that the loco has good electrical pickup from all wheels and center-rail rollers. Sometimes weak springs on the center-rail pickups cause elusive intermittent problems.

Some of the larger locos may cause a short circuit from the backs of the wheels touching the center-rail blob as they go through the curved leg of the switch. Look closely. Check that the loco wheels are properly gauged. You can eyeball them against other known-good wheels. Sometimes I have applied small strips of electrical tape at strategic places on the center-rail 'blob' (near the switch frog) to prevent certain locos from short-circuiting.

Older O22 switches have a number of mechanical connections to carry power, which may become unreliable with age. There are other posts with details about overhauling the switches and soldering the internal connections to restore reliability.

I noted in one of your pictures that there is a switch machine hanging over the edge of the table.  Did you know that these switch machines can be moved to the other side where they work just as well.  However, there is sometimes not enough room on the other side to do this.

Bill

Much thanks for all your replies I really appreciate it. The notice which machine hanging over the side is the only way I can put it as there's no room on the other side. Thank you very much again for all your comments I will look into all.

Best to all, Jerry 

Jerry,

Do a Google search for "022/721 switch operating pblms" and you will find a long thread telling you how to repair virtually every problem an 022 switch can have.  I wrote this thread several years while I was overhauling 150 022 switches.  I think I found every problem.

Haks, will look it up!

Jerry 

Hi servery

I tried a Google but can't find anything. Could you please send me something to my email which is jba435@gmail.com. appreciate it.

Jerry 

servoguy posted:

Jerry,

Do a Google search for "022/721 switch operating pblms" and you will find a long thread telling you how to repair virtually every problem an 022 switch can have.  I wrote this thread several years while I was overhauling 150 022 switches.  I think I found every problem.

If you find it hang on to it. I purchased several O22 switches from him a few years back and they all work flawlessly.

Mike

I hope that I can get a copy because I have around 45 switches on my layout, 072  and 022  Lionel. 

Jerry 

Jerry A posted:

Hi servery

I tried a Google but can't find anything. Could you please send me something to my email which is jba435@gmail.com. appreciate it.

Jerry 

It was hard to find, it's on another forum. Lots of description but no photos.

http://cs.trains.com/ctt/f/95/t/164691.aspx

http://cs.trains.com/ctt/f/95/t/164691.aspx

I misspelled prblms.  It should have been 022/711 switch operating prblms

I should make a separate thread about mine.

I have a polar express engine from 6-31960 that stalls with my o22 right hand switch track. It goes into neutral. I have a second rhs track and it is fine with the engine.

Same rhs track, i have an mth ps2 30-1164 that has its front pivoting wheels consistently derail to the right when it runs straight through the switch track opposite of the turnout.