Issue with American Flyer 17B Transformer?

Hi,  not sure what a 17b looks like, but my 30b has two handles and I have to lift the handle to get it to cycle. That was the first transformer I had for my Marx and Lionel so many years ago. Hope this helps,

Bob

@Lionelski - lucky you!  My AF 15B doesn’t power down even With the arm lifted!  I plan to take it apart and repair at some point - but it appears this is normal, 5V at “0” speed.

That handle was called a "dead man's control" in Gilbert's catalogs. Power is only interrupted to the track when the handle is lifted. I kind of like that style transformer and used 15B's and 19B's to operate the layout.

@AmFlyer posted:

That handle was called a "dead man's control" in Gilbert's catalogs. Power is only interrupted to the track when the handle is lifted. I kind of like that style transformer and used 15B's and 19B's to operate the layout.

That is correct, the deadmans handle was made so the reverse unit would not cycle till you lift the handle. You could pull into the station and stop and not have to cycle the reverse unit before pulling out.

Ray

From the '53 catalog

Thanks for the info guys - looks like my 17B is working like it was intended but, for me, lifting the throttle out of its lock to reverse, etc. is a PITA.

I'm gonna replace it with a Lionel transformer again. The ZW was overkill for my loop, I'll probably use a LW.

Thanks for the catalog pic FlyerRich. For information purposes, the 17B looks just like the pic of the 19B but without the center toggle switch

The 17B was made in 1952 only. It is not common and has the volt and ammeters.

Here is the 1952 catalog cut.

Why not learn to run the control as it was "meant" to (my opinion), as a dead man control? Keep your hand on the throttle with enough pressure on the handle so power is applied to the track but not down in the keeper clip. If there's trouble on the rails up ahead, just relief pressure on the handle and everything stops in an instant. Pulling the handle out of the keeper clip takes more effort and time in an "emergency". Yes, putting the handle secured in the keeper clip allows for running a train unattended but is that "legal"?

The 15B has the same/similar setup; I don't find it being too much of a "PITA" to use...🙂

Mark in Oregon

John,

If you want to use the 15b as transformer's you are accustomed to, you can take the top off the transformer and put a piece of electrical tape on the end of the winding. If you change your mind later it's no big deal to remove it.

Ray

@Rayin"S" posted:

John,

If you want to use the 15b as transformer's you are accustomed to, you can take the top off the transformer and put a piece of electrical tape on the end of the winding. If you change your mind later it's no big deal to remove it.

Ray

Perfect solution Ray - Thank you!

So, I bought a Lionel #80 control button to solve this "problem". This button interrupts the current to activate the E-unit.

Good one, what ever works for you, they are your trains, enjoy them!

Ray

@Lionelski posted:

So, I bought a Lionel #80 control button to solve this "problem". This button interrupts the current to activate the E-unit.

I know this a bit late, but what I call the idle voltage actually performs the same function as the Lionel Stop Stations. The Stop Station drops the voltage low enough to stop the train but not so low as to cycle the E-unit. So as the nichrome gadget starts to feed voltage again the train will move in the same direction as when it pulled in.

Frank