Lionel 445

@Roeschs1 posted:

The light operates fine on the fixed 14 Volt tap on the back of my KW,

Try it again on B-U or A-U, raising the voltage until you get good operation, and report back.

You can use C-D on the KW to test these accessories or use a contactor, but not to operate them from an insulated rail easily as only 6 volts or 20 volts is available using "U" as common when running trains.

I used the U and B posts.  I had to move the handle to the 16 volt position for the tower to start working.  The linkage that connect the plunger to the rotating arm is dragging on the coil plate and leaving black marks.  The position of the linkage of the linkage seems to be a bad idea to me.  I would expect the linkage to be on top or held off of the plate.  I am wondering whether it is creating drag.  What are your thoughts?

@Roeschs1 posted:

@Roeschs1 posted:

It operated fine at 18 volts.    I am thinking that the old coil has started to breakdown.   Do you agree?  If so, does anybody know where I can get a replacement coil & plate assembly (Lionel P/N 445-10) or a re-wound coil assembly?

  I had to move the handle to the 16 volt position for the tower to start working. 

Was this issue ever resolved? My 445 Switch Tower is like yours - sluggish at 14V AC and better at 18V AC. Is it ok to operate it at 18V in the long run? I don't want to damage this sentimental (to me) accessory.

Did you ever find a replacement coil?

Bob

I actually ended up rebuilding / replacing some other parts of the tower that I got from The Train Tender.  The biggest improvement was to install a brass bushing where the rope passes through the side wall of the tower.  My tower is now actuated by push button instead of the Lionel track pressure switch and a 14 vac landscaping power supply instead of track power.

When I rebuilt my tower, I did move the linkage to the top.  It helped.  Train Tender knows a person that can rewind a coil.  I have a lot of animation and lights on my layout.  The fixed voltage terminals on my transformer could not provide enough power.  The dedicated landscape transformer helped a great deal, because it could provide more amps.

@Roeschs1 posted:

  The dedicated landscape transformer helped a great deal, because it could provide more amps.

Maybe that's the key, more amps. I will try a dedicated power source - just have to find one.

Bob

I got my landscape transformer that outputs 14 vac from lowes.