LionMaster Challenger And Fastrack 036 Switches

MOPAC01, I had the same problem with the latest release of the new legacy lionmaster challenger,  the tender kept shorting out the layout.  Every time the engine would traverse my O-60 fastrack switches it would short out,  the tenders floating wheels would catch the very edge of the deverging routes center rail.  I fixed the problem by placing a small piece of black electrical tape on the center rail.  This worked like a champ and have had no problems since.  Note after installing the electrical tape I dabbed a small amount of clear silicone adhesive to the sides of the center rail to keep the tape down permanently.  Here is a pick of the fix.

That's a very well done fix.  I would have to play with this some more before I commit to silicone over it.  It's under the Christmas tree and not as easy to get to as I'd like for the moment.  It's no longer shorting and the 2 engines I'm running seem to have no problems. But I'd want to try to whittle the tape down a little more so I had absolutely the minimum amount of non conductive rail to avoid future trains stalling for lack of power before I made it permanent.   I'm just happy that the arcing left me tell tale sign of where the problem was.  I could see plenty of sparks but because of how low that tender is and how close all those wheels are together, without the blackening from the arcing it would have taken a lot longer to find the problem spot.

Appreciate the post. I have one siding that does this and I will definitely try this fix.

Thanks for sharing and posting it.

Larry

Gentlemen,

   I have no 036 FT CC Switches all my FT CC Switches are 048 and bigger, and I never have the shorting problems you gentlemen seem to be having.  If you can fit them into your layout go 048 and bigger with your FT Switches.

PCRR/Dave