"Chattering" K-Line O42 switch

Does the attached help?

Sounds like you are missing an insulating pin or 2 in the control rails.

Chris

LVHR

RichardVB:

Thanks for offering the K-Line switch instructions. I'll delve into that info with the hope of finding the solution for "chattering."

Mike M.    LCCA 12394

@lehighline posted:

Sounds like you are missing an insulating pin or 2 in the control rails.

Chris

LVHR

Chris

Thanks for that tip.  I checked the placement of the insulating pins in the two control rails, and they were OK.

That switch location on my layout has a bit of history; I thought there might be an issue there. The existing older-style K-Line O42 is a recent replacement for a Lionel low-profile O42 switch that required a matching LEFT-HANDED  controller. I removed that Lionel O42 switch because it was jammed, but I left its switch controller in place on the control panel.

As a test, I temporarily removed that Lionel "left-handedness" switch controller from the circuit and temporarily hooked up an older-style K-Line switch controller without the "handedness" feature. Presto!  The K-Line O42 switch now works as it should. The "handedness" feature of the modern Lionel O42 switch controller was not compatible with the older K-Line O42 switch. Candidly, I wasn't aware that the "handedness" mattered.

I have two options:
1) Replace the Lionel O42 left-handed version of the switch controller with an appropriately matched old-style K-Line O42 switch controller. I have one on hand.

2) Replace the currently-installed old-style K-Line O42 switch with a modern Lionel O42 switch that can "talk" to the LH-ness switch controller in place at the control panel. Fortunately, I have a modern Lionel  O42 switch on hand.

Option #1 would require an under-the-table wiring change from the control panel to the switch location -- about 14 feet away. At 82 years young, I'm not as agile as I once was, so option #2 would be easier -- all the work would be done above the table surface.

During testing and diagnosis, I noticed that the old-style K-Line O42 switch (with its matching switch controller temporarily wired to it) did not "fully close" like it should.  Its swivel rail does not fit snugly against the indent in the rail of the switch body when set to the STRAIGHT path. Is there an adjustment for that?  Or does it mean the switch isn't getting enough fixed voltage at 14v?

Still tinkering ...

Mike M.   LCCA 12394

Wow! You learn something new everyday. I did not know about "handedness" with Lionel switch controllers either. Time to start asking questions and increase my knowledge base.

Chris

LVHR

@lehighline posted:

I did not know about "handedness" with Lionel switch controllers either...

This only applies to the K-Line engineered/designed low profile motor driven switches with LED indicators, including SuperSnap, RMT, & O-Line Reproductions.

I have these low profile switches and have a question about the controller "handness"

Can I use a LH controller unit with a RH switch by changing the wiring? and if so how?

Thanks, Bob

You should be able to, but the route indicators will be reversed.

Thanks Rob

I will try it out.  Nice looking switches. Hope they work well.