Fastrack Highway Crossing w/Operating Gates and Flashers

I did, and Lionel replaced it. I am also having the tame issue with a separate crossing gate. The gearbox design is fragile...and i don't see any gearboxes in Lionel's parts listing.

Thanks cjack.  I just sent a message off to Lionel.  We'll see what comes back.  I bought it off a Local Lionel Dealer.  

Dale---it was working fine when I first started using it about 6 months ago.  Then it got a funny streak where it would go down and stay down.  Then while it was down when the train would go thru it; it would "bobble" while it was in the down position.  It wouldn't return to the up right position.

Mine did the same thing. The first run of these gates had an issue with the gear box that lowers the gate.

The latest run of these gate have been redesigned and operate better. You can tell the redesign by the gate - it has a larger more rounded connection point at the gearbox.

Guess I won't be buying and more Lionel "China" JUNK!!!!!   Lionel won't do anything about it!!!!

TT,

  Its a shame Lionel will not get their head out of there butts, over stuff like this.

PCRR/Dave

I've had a Lionel Legacy 990 on order since Nov.  (they've changed the date on at least twice now)  I'm canceling that order!!!  After hearing on this forum of the problems they are having with it!!!

Well...Legacy works really well. There were some issues with the battery charging on some and signal issues depending on the layout. But all were solved to great satisfaction. I assume the new 990s coming out will have ok charging for the batteries.

As to the crossing gate, had you had it a long time? Is Lionel's response a result of "out of warranty" time? I would think since they have had a known problem with these gear boxes, they would be more helpful than that. I would call them again and get somebody with enough authority to make a proper correction. When I first called, the girl tried to tell me how to grease the gears...I insisted that was not the problem, that it just bounced up and down on the down position and grease was not going to help anything. She then told me to send it in and I got a new one in about a few weeks. It still works. If we don't hold their feet to the coals, we won't help things for our selves and the hobby.

Thanks cjack---I've had it just about 14 months now.  But I bought it when I was constructing my layout.  So, I didn't complete the layout until about 4-5 months ago.  That's when I really started using it.  I might give them a call or take it into the dealer I bought it from.  

Thanks a Million cjack!!!!!  I called and they will take it back once I get the RA Number!!!!!  I told them I bought it 14 months ago; but I actually didn't start using it until about 5 months ago!!!  Many Thanks Again for your advise!!!  TT

Picture?

Sorry to bring up an old thread. I have a set of these gates and after 7 years one arm has been acting up. The motor continues to run a few seconds after its all the way up grinding the gears.

I was debating on selling this crossing when it still worked and getting another set without the arms, I figure the moving parts work doomed to fail given they go up and down some much during every operating session.

 Since its out of warranty and not worth anything on selling it "broke", I simply ran the gates to the down positon and removed power. I removed the covers on the bottom underneath each gate and simply unsoldered the hot wire going to each gate motor.

The gates are down all the time, but I can still get the use out of the lights and bell which work fine.

Not "fixed" persay, but at least they're usable and theres no need to worry about the gates failing anymore.

We've encountered a similar problem with the 6-14098 gates.  Same Lionel solution: none.

I've not delved into the guts of the issue myself, but it sounds like something that Northwest Shortline, the primo gear folks, may be able to help with.  On the other hand, it may not be something that the faint-of-heart would want to tackle, anyway.

I sometimes think that fragile gizmos like this piece of notoriety are 'the price we pay' for expecting so much out of so little.  IOW, we keep pushing for prototypical scale, function, sound.  But, eventually, the packaging and relative reliability of this in a product line that is still purveyed as a 'toy' catches up to reality....and disappointment/frustration. 

Yep, it's a neat accessory.  Yep, it's destined to fail.  Yep, we'll be disappointed.

Yep.

KD

Its important to let Lionel know even if they turn down afix after 7years...and u never know. They might just help u out.

Good point, personally I almost like them better now, the "zzzzzzz" going up and the "zzzzzzz" going back down gets old after awhile.