Lionel #18351 S 1 Electric and Z 1000 Switch machines

I had the problem with several engines, ES44AC's  Milwaukee Rd new steam engine.  My solution was to move the switch machine out and bend a new wire out of guitar wire,#15 or 16.  If you have other questions email me I can send you some photos.  It is actually very easy.  It only did it on certain switches.

Buzz

Thanks Buzz. I thought about moving the machine back, but I know from past experience that there is not much room to move the switch machine without causing problems with the spring and points. Please send me a picture of the springs you made. I can at least put them on the main line switches.

 

I looked in you profile for an eamil address, but I did not see it, more then likely I am not nooking in the correct place. My email is in my profile.

Thanks,

 

Richard

Just got an S1 today. Have the S2 also.
First time around I had a similar issue with an 0-42 k-line switch.
No problem with S 2.
Closer look turned out that the single screw holding the simulated pickup was loose and the pickup was moving and too low. 
Just took it them off temporarily till I get a chance to adjust properly this weekend.
Worth checking before modifying your switches.

MTH girder bridges also have clearance issue with these.

Mine sparks when it hits a Fastrack switch and throws the power brick fuse, but this doesnot happen on my other Fastrack switches.

Supposedly some earlier units got bent in shipping. 
Later units were packed better.
Seems like easy fix. Some of my locos have very low clearances between the pilot/ cow catcher.  Uneven grade transitions right before the switches caused most of the issues with sparking. Or a switch that is not secure to road bed will twist/flex and lift just enough to short.

The locos got bent or the switches in shipping?

Yep, there is a very slight grade there too.

A little vague wasn't I?

The third rail pickups. The a cast pieces held on by only one screw.
And not much to keep it in place.

The ones on my s-2 I gently bent while still on the truck.
Since they come off so easy, I will use a vise with soft jaws and a little more finesse on my S-1.

Thanks,

 

I will look at the screws mounting the third rail pick up on my S1. The thought of making 51 new springs for my Z1000 swith machines is just out of the question.

 

Richard

Attached is a pic of mine with the front pickups removed. Hardly noticeable but then again, I do not count rivets. At least not all of them

But I will adjust and put them back on this weekend.

Oddly the S-1 cruise is much smoother than the S-2 which Lionel says was improved in the catalog. They also advertised a cab light which it doesn't have either.

But I likestill like them both.

I took mine off as well.

Dont feel like having to risk damage due to poor Lionel design and quality control.

Does Lionel test these things?

 

Chipset,

 

Good point. You would think manufactures would conduct  "opperational testing" on their products to ensure that prototype engines would work on all major track systems and clear obstical such as swich machines.

 

I have an Atlas 0 6 0 switcher that will not make it accross a lionel UCS track or a Gargraves un coupling track. The bottom of the engins catches on the magnets and just sits there and spins, I have to push it in order to get the engine to move on.

 

Richard