Mth imperial steam problem

I'm afraid you are not going to find much help here.

Imperials will do O-31 but not O-22, it's a much tighter curve.

Switches are worse than curves so you have two steps in the red to overcome.

You could try finding a 2rail pair of wheels the same size but it's a shot in the dark.

I'm not sure even that would help as you need a set of wheels isolated from the frame. 2 rail normally isolates one wheel from the other but I don't know about isolation from the frame.

I was under the impression that O22 switches were 031 dia. just like standard tubular 031 curve track.

Thus, the loco should work.

However, there are certain combinations that will give issue like you are experiencing. 

I have a Lionel 2-8-0 that won't travel through the curved portion of Fastrack 036 turnouts without shorting. 

I'd try applying some small pieces of electrical tape to the problem area of the frog to see of that provides any improvement.

Russell,

Lionel O22 switch tracks are, indeed, rated as O31 curves.

However, MTH, like any manufacture of track systems, test and rates their locos only for their own brands of track.

It stands to reason that, occasionally, one manufacturer's engine may not work properly with another manufacturer's switch track, even though the curve diameters are the same.

Further, not all track system curve diameters are measured the same way. Some manufacturers measure from the center railing some from the outside rail.

As Barry mentioned, MTH (and Lionel) makes sure that their items work on their brand of track.

This may or may not help in your case as I don't own any O22 switches.  I did have a similar issue with a Williams by Bachmann E7's blind drivers and a FasTrack switch.  The pic below shows where the blind driver crossed the frog and arced.  Solution was a piece of electrical tape across that area of the frog.  The tape has held up for many years and never gave any other loco a problem.

This is exactly what is happening thanks for the idea I will try today see what happens

Ok...that might help then.  To minimize the amount of the frog I covered, I just put a piece a black electrical tape following the arc line, with enough overlap to keep it from happening again.  I had thought I would need to replace it on a regular basis or find a better solution, but as I said, the tape has held up for several years.

True but it would be nice if MTH and Williams tested on the type of track that is still very prevalent in the O gauge community.  I've had Williams locos and one MTH loco short the frogs on Lionel O22s as well and it is the kind of thing that can be avoided if the manufacturers spent a little time testing these things.  As I said, it is not as if tubular (and O22 switchers) are some sort of oddball track system. 

Consider it a suggestion from a purchaser and fan of MTH products.

Ok it worked.

U know it's weird, it only does this on two left hand turns the right hand it's fine .

Eventually, tape usually comes off.  GRJ uses a liquid insulator.  I wonder how that holds up.

Ray,

As I said, it is not as if tubular (and O22 switchers) are some sort of oddball track system. 

Are O22 switch tracks even manufactured any more? I though they stopped being made many years ago.