Cutting Down Lionel 022 Switches

Very interesting thread.

By coincidence, just yesterday I was fooling with a broken O27 profile O42 Lionel switch and cut the straight length down by 3 1/2 inches, to the crotch of the switch. Putting a O42 curve track here, and a straight on the curved part of the switch, would make a siding with parallel tracks 3 inched apart.

Riggzie posted:

but if you remove the light house.. how do you remote switch it?

 With the 23010/23011 switches, you can cut off the lantern and still have full function, both manual and automatic.  They're designed to allow you to cut at the red line to remove the lantern for yard switches.

im reading all over the web and here that those switches are a hit or miss...

And they are correct.  Truthfully, while they do have their issues, so do O22 switches, I fixed plenty of those!  The biggest issue I had with the 23010/23011 switches was the switch rail was too thick and would sometimes pick a wheel coming into the switch.  I ground a small depression in the fixed rail and slimmed the switch rail end a bit, problem solved.  They were perfect for the yard, small and allowed close track spacing.

This is an outstanding thread. My question is: Has anyone altered the housing on the O22 to allow for use with 18” or larger cars?

Thanks,

Jay

@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:

This is an outstanding thread. My question is: Has anyone altered the housing on the O22 to allow for use with 18” or larger cars?

Thanks,

Jay

Jay, no reason that couldn’t be done. I have modded the housing on a few of mine to clear the hatch mechanisms on large hopper cars such as the Weaver ACF’s. It’s quite easy to do since the bakelite cuts easily with a hacksaw. Then I simply cover the resulting opening with a piece of black tape. Not fancy, but it works and its barely noticeable.

i think it depends a lot on how much you need to take off. If its major surgery then it might make more sense to design a new cover and 3D print it.
Rod

Whew!  Once I switched to Ross Custom I left the 022s behind in a box somewhere.

If you want some for FREE; you pay postage they're yours.

let me know by email and I'll try to find them.

Hopefully, they haven't been tossed.

Sure I'll take them off your hands; just to have some for spare!

Rod

^^^ hope my email reachef him first.... lol 😁

Having limited space, Lionel's 23010/23011 switches were a lifesaver for me. I've had mine in service for years with no issues. No mods were necessary.

Don, nice, looks great! We all wish we had two or three times the space we actually have. Just the way it is.

That almost looks like a Daylight cabforward running in the fore ground?

Rod

You're correct Rod - a recent LionChief offering from Lionel. Obviously a "dream" paint scheme, but a great one.

My wife will be jealous that I communicated with Rod Stewart!

Rod, thank you very much, once again, for the insight. I need to remove 1/4 to a 1/2 inch. The black tape is an excellent idea.

Jay