MTH Operating Station Platforms Solenoid

Are you operating it with at least 16 volts?  The load or passengers won't go up without that much voltage.

All MTH parts personnel were furloughed, so there will be no replies until the State allows personnel to return  to work.  As for the platform, check the output of the controller.  The controller sends power to the platform via the leads depending on the position of the switch.  It is common for the traces in the controller to burn up if the solenoid is overloaded.  The traces can be jumpered.  The solenoid has limit switches that kill power to the coil when it reaches full extension (up or down).  If the solenoid has difficultly operating at the desire voltage, there are a few tricks that can be tried.  Wiring is important because the surge current is quite high and small gauge wire will limit current.

Ron Arndt and Jon G, thank you for your replies and suggestions. I will definitely take them all into consideration. Jon, in case the solenoid is bad, do you know if they are still available from MTH? I believe I heard somewhere the part has been discontinued. Jerry Johnson

I think I know where a few are hidden at MTH.

Hello Jon G, have 2 of these passenger platforms and sometimes have operating issues; didn't know that there was a possible fix. Will the micro switches, spring adjuster, and spring be available once MTH parts personnel return?

Thanks!

Ron

I have had a chance to check the station further by doing a continuity check. Here are the results. With passengers down, I get continuity between terminals D and B and open between terminals D and C. With passengers up I get open between terminals D and B and open between terminals D and C. This would seem to indicate the solenoid is bad, but then I'm wondering if it could be something else such as you suggested Jon G. Also, I'm wondering if the modification is still available. My station is a 1999 model. Thanks again for your assistance. Jerry Johnson

So to be clear, your platform will snap the passengers from Down to Up....but NOT Up to Down?

Take a look at Jon G's photo and troubleshooting tips from this earlier OGR thread:

Obviously you'll need to open it up if you're going to make the low-voltage modification in any event.  Note instructions he provides earlier in this thread on which screws to remove to get to this point.  You can see the 2 wires from 2 solenoids.  The two wires in the center are joined.  It looks like there's a 3-terminal connector.  In any case I'd think you can put your meter between the common terminal and each side to test each solenoid coil.

If that looks good, then as Jon says, manually slide the mechanism back and forth and confirm the microswitches "click" and "unclick".  And check the switch terminals with the meter to confirm continuity follows the switch action.

Thank you stan2004 for the additional information on troubleshooting tips. I will open it up to access the solenoid mechanism and perform the procedures outlined. 

Here's a much clearer file on the mods, the pictures should help.

MTH 30-9103 Passenger Platform Modifications.pdf

Much better photos in color no less!  

So now it's clear that is indeed a 3-terminal connector at the solenoid...and can even be popped off to expose the 3 pins (center is common) right at the solenoid.  Or follow the 3 wires to find suitable points to attach the meter probes to verify the two solenoid coils.

As for those microswitches; perhaps obvious but Jon G comments on the "pivot" side.  That will be the COM terminal side.  It looks from the photo that MTH uses only the 2 outer terminals (NC and COM) of each switch(?).  So probing the COM and NC terminals of the switch, you should get continuity when the switch is open (lever is out)...and no continuity when switch is closed (lever is down/pressed). 

Also be-on-the-lookout for a crisp sounding mechanical "click" when the lever switch opens and closes....though if/when you transition to the low-force "Zippy" switch the "click" will no doubt be less pronounced.

gunrunnerjohn, the file and pictures are much clearer. Thank you. Is there anyway to tell if the modification has been made to a station? I just acquired mine (I believe it is a 1999 model) and have no way of knowing if it has been modified. Thanks again. Jerry Johnson 

Well, if it's a factory original, I suspect it's... well... original.   you can take a close look at the parts and see if they look like the upgraded parts.  I don't know exactly how you'd recognize the difference in the switches, but that little spring adjuster with the three holes is new for the upgrade it looks like.  Note that it's not in the original unmodified design.

stan2004, thanks for the additional photo and comments about the microswitches. This should all prove useful in solving my problem. Jerry Johnson

Jerry, did you look at the PDF I posted.  The photos are all in that with the description of the upgrade.

If your platform was working in just the one direction, could you reliably operate it if you turned the voltage down to 12V or whatever?  I understand it might not be easy to configure your transformers or wiring if this would be an experiment.

As for the switch, note how the microswitch in the photo I just posted has the brand name "ZIPPY" embossed on the side housing.  The photo from Jon G  shows a switch with RAINBOW stamped on the side.  I just captured a random ZIPPY switch photo so not sure all their switches are labeled as such; OTOH I don't think MTH would use the term "ZIPPY" in their modification instructions if the original switches were also ZIPPY!

gunrunnerjohn, yes I did look at the pdf you posted. Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. They will also help. Thanks for the info. Jerry Johnson