Power loss while crossing MTH RealTrax switch

Check the spacing on the pickup rollers, you may see that rollers are on dead spots in the switches

Mort

Thank you.  I will definitely check that.  I so appreciate any help here.  I will add that two different engines do the same thing and they do not do anything on any of my other 4 switches.  It is very odd.  I hate to replace a switch, just to have this continue to happen.  My thoughts (likely uninformed) were directed toward some kind of issue that is internal to the switch.  But the same thing happens with both of the switches that are connected to one another.  The issue only happens from the left to the right, never when travel is from right to left.

You don't mention what engines you're talking about, so this is just general advice.  On many small steamers or even larger ones with only two pickups, I frequently add a roller to the tender (or locomotive if they're on the tender), to solve those problems.  This can happen to diesels as well.

I have had issues where the center rail plate in the middle of the switch looses it's electrical continuity due to expanded crimped connections. I have never found anyone who repaired this, just bought new switches. I still keep the old ones in case I run into someone can repair them.

That is good to know.  I am just building this layout for maybe 6 months and the switches are new.  But one never knows.  I welcome all advice and I thank you.

i have several o 72 switches never had a problem but my locos are long scale version does the ps3 have a capacitor in it ? that might be the issue, the loco running and pick it off the track and see how long it takes to shut down  hope this helps

Are they losing the common due to insulated rails and rubber tires?

looks like it is time to do switch surgery

Put a voltmeter on the center rail at various points on the crossover, other lead on an outside rail.  Realtrax switches use a printed circuit under the swivel rails to transfer power from the points side center rail to the frog side center rails.  A lockon on one side of the switch and a derailment on the other side will fry a trace on the circuit board powering the center rails.

Thank you.  I will try that.  Thanks for the advice.

I want to sincerely thank everyone who responded to my issue regarding power loss while going trough a Realtrax switch.  It drove me nuts.  I finally gave in and bought a new switch and things now look OK.  By the way, I had a hard time finding a witch.  MTH products seem to be disappearing.  I am really sorry to see that.

You should still jump power across turnouts rather than through on most turnouts since prewar Lionel.

Then the small traces or other contacts, only have a heavy draw on them for a split second. Wire does a much better job than steel, rivets, etc., at passing power; so let it pass around and tap for it vs thru

As is, you seem to have addressed a problem, but not the cause or prevention