Atlas O-54 switch problems

Mike.....I assume you have tested the power on the middle rail and it's fine on both sides. The "no power" gap is only 2.5"........

Does it happen at slow speeds, fast speeds or both.?

Are switches back to back causing a perfect storm....2 "no power" areas at the perfect distance from each other that all the pick-ups are in them at the same time?  It doesn't sound like this is the problem from your description.

These are just a few thoughts.......good luck.......I have a problem at slow speeds with a scale  Hudson.....the switches are far enough apart that the pick ups are in "no power" zones at the same time.

Peter

i had a similar issue today...so the switch is fed from both sides,,,good,,,,at the heel of the frog you may find a small space where it joins the center rail if so i use a small piece of copper or a piece of wire..jam it in there and it will energise the frog. hope were on the same page....conrail john

Putnam Division posted:

Mike.....I assume you have tested the power on the middle rail and it's fine on both sides. The "no power" gap is only 2.5"........

Does it happen at slow speeds, fast speeds or both.?

Are switches back to back causing a perfect storm....2 "no power" areas at the perfect distance from each other that all the pick-ups are in them at the same time?  It doesn't sound like this is the problem from your description.

These are just a few thoughts.......good luck.......I have a problem at slow speeds with a scale  Hudson.....the switches are far enough apart that the pick ups are in "no power" zones at the same time.

Peter

Peter,

It happens at fast and slow speeds. The switch is by its self not back to back.  As for power to the middle rail I have to check. 

Thank you Mike

john f penca jr posted:

i had a similar issue today...so the switch is fed from both sides,,,good,,,,at the heel of the frog you may find a small space where it joins the center rail if so i use a small piece of copper or a piece of wire..jam it in there and it will energise the frog. hope were on the same page....conrail john

John

I will try to join the center rail with a small piece of wire to see if it works this afternoon

Thank you

Mike

it seems the wiring on older atlas switches sometimes was too light a guage and would burn up and break, losing power to the frog. i used just yesterday the centering copper spring ,its not a spring per say .but i cut a small strip and slid it in the gap so both the frog and center rail made contact and presto !!! you can use most any thing that conducts electricity. some would say to solder the space but if it works i like to keep my options open. should do it for you !  john

john f penca jr posted:

it seems the wiring on older atlas switches sometimes was too light a guage and would burn up and break, losing power to the frog. i used just yesterday the centering copper spring ,its not a spring per say .but i cut a small strip and slid it in the gap so both the frog and center rail made contact and presto !!! you can use most any thing that conducts electricity. some would say to solder the space but if it works i like to keep my options open. should do it for you !  john

John

I tried what you said but it did not work. Unless I placed it in the wrong spot.  The steam engines will not go through the switch straight or curved. I am at wits end. 

Mike

ok...check for continuity with a power tester..or two wires and a small 14v 16v light bulb..touch outside rail and center rail and frog all over the switch coming in going thru and going out all combinations , there must be a piece of dead rail..when you find it jumper a wire to it.....if this un covers nothing there is a rail in the middle of the switch which has to remain unpowered because the rollers would short out....in this case its the spacing of the rollers and not much you can do about that. Do your other 054s work ok ?...i appologise if my trouble shooting techniques are rather elementary. i dont mean to insult anyones inteligence. I do however need to learn how to spell !!!!!

john f penca jr posted:

ok...check for continuity with a power tester..or two wires and a small 14v 16v light bulb..touch outside rail and center rail and frog all over the switch coming in going thru and going out all combinations , there must be a piece of dead rail..when you find it jumper a wire to it.....if this un covers nothing there is a rail in the middle of the switch which has to remain unpowered because the rollers would short out....in this case its the spacing of the rollers and not much you can do about that. Do your other 054s work ok ?...i appologise if my trouble shooting techniques are rather elementary. i dont mean to insult anyones inteligence. I do however need to learn how to spell !!!!!

John,

Since I am a novice, It took a while but I figured it out with your help John. I ended up following your idea and found I had two dead rails. Simple connection of wires and we are back in business. Thanks for the help much appreciated. 

Thanks again

Mike

Alright Mike !! glad i could help. im a bit of a novice too but have done alot of fixing up atlas problems, i put wires together if they smoke i try another combination.....good for you enjoy those trains !! conrail john