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Discussion Boards => General Discussion => Topic started by: pennsy6193 on January 24, 2012, 09:09:50 PM

Title: switches shorting out
Post by: pennsy6193 on January 24, 2012, 09:09:50 PM
I recently bought Mth scaletrax. Well to make a long story short all six switches I bought short out. Everytime a engine or passenger car goes over it, I get sparks and it shorts out. I'm about ready to return all the track. Has anyone else had this problem? I have contacted Mth but have gotten no reply. Can anyone help?
Title: Re: switches shorting out
Post by: richg on January 24, 2012, 09:17:57 PM
Get your NMRA gauge out and check the turnouts.
Check the wheels.

Most probably the turnouts. Never assume the wheels and turnouts are properly gauged.

Rich
Title: Re: switches shorting out
Post by: phillyreading on January 25, 2012, 03:28:46 PM
You may get better results over on Classic Toy Train forum.
From what I read on other forums about the MTH switches in question, get rid of the switches as they are trash.
Also Lionel had a bad run of switches as well, in O gauge 6-23010 & 23011 were duds from the word go!! The more I used a 6-23010 series switch the more problems that happened, first it was the switch throw going crazy, then the power to the switch died and I was using constant voltage hook-up to the switch.

Lee F.
Title: Re: switches shorting out
Post by: richg on January 25, 2012, 03:43:28 PM
Quote from: phillyreading on January 25, 2012, 03:28:46 PM
You may get better results over on Classic Toy Train forum.
From what I read on other forums about the MTH switches in question, get rid of the switches as they are trash.
Also Lionel had a bad run of switches as well, in O gauge 6-23010 & 23011 were duds from the word go!! The more I used a 6-23010 series switch the more problems that happened, first it was the switch throw going crazy, then the power to the switch died and I was using constant voltage hook-up to the switch.

Lee F.

I did a little searching. THere is a lot to look at but some seem to have a similar problem.

http://tinyurl.com/7r2bl5b

Rich

Title: Re: switches shorting out
Post by: pennsy6193 on January 25, 2012, 06:30:14 PM
Thanks everyone for the help and answers.