Postwar O22 Switch Problems

Überstationmeister posted:

Although other problems can arise, it is usually the "traces" on the underside of the switch that cause these problems. First take off the bottom. The chattering ones need to be properly insulated so that the traces do not touch the bottom (or just leave the bottom off). On the switch that does not anti-derail, solder the trace back to the underside of the rail.

Thanks for the help! All the switches have paper seperating the base from the traces, I will remove the bases tomorrow though and see if that changes anything. I will also examine the other switch to see where I need to resolder. 

Remove the bases and paper insulator if there. There is a solder point near the frog that is for the non-derail feature, this is usually separated. Simply resolder. Remove the motor. There are two contact pins located there. Where they make contact clean those surfaces and all other contact surfaces. Lightly lubricate moving joints. That should take care of most O22 issues sans a broken wire.

Tin

A problem I ran into is inside the switch housing, where the solenoid mounts to the base. Take the solenoid off and clean the contacts under the solenoid, the copper strips can get dirty and cause poor contact that cause problems.

Lee Fritz

Gentlemen,

   Just remember unless these particular 022 switches mean something to you, there are now many early Lionel 022 switches, in great shape, available at the Trains Shows, for more than reasonable money.  If you have a newer one that needs repaired, it pays to just pick up and older 022 Lionel Switch at a train show, and use the troubled ones for spare parts.

PCRR/Dave

UPDATE: All the switches are working properly again! The one that wouldn't activate the non-derailing feature did indeed have a broken sauder point (never would've noticed it if I hadn't known what to look for). The other two that were staying in one position were both resolved by adding a new layer of paper to insulate from the base, must've been shorting somewhere! Thanks for all the help!