new to lionel 022 switches

Pin placement is critical to 022 operation.  Study this manual carefully and place all pins in their intended positions, report back if there are still problems.

Hi,

  I have not connected the throw switches yet as I need to replace the wiring, does that matter or should I still be able to run the trains anyway?

   Thanks,

          Kevin

Kevin; The turnouts will operate off track power without the throw levers attached. Be advised the fixed-power pins/plugs come in two different flavors-the ones for the newer MPC/LTI/Lionel LLC turnouts have a slightly different size power pin than the ones installed in the Lionel Postwar 0-22's.

 External wires do not matter, put the insulating pins in their proper spots and tell us if the center rail is dead or one of the outer rails is dead then perhaps we can help with a solution. The three center rails are all hooked together and should all be live to your track common, the straight thru common rail, the inner common rail without the plastic pin with the flat piece that goes thru the frog, and the outer curved common half without the plastic pin should all be live with the center rail with power applied to the track

FWIW, almost every 022 switch that I acquire needs some TLC before it's 100%, before I ever consider using them I do a refurbishing step.