Six months ago you all helped me thru some beginner issues as I reentered the Marklin world. Have figured out most complications along the way, but a signal issue so far has me mystified.

One part of my analog operating system is a track with a turnout, and 7039 signals to allow two trains running in opposite directions to alternate on the loop. For extended periods it works just fine. Then a signal will stick in the green position, usually when someone is visiting, of course. It has produced a few spectacular collisions.

The 5146/5147 control tracks seems to be working well, and I have carefully cleaned and tightened the signals.

The currently offending signal is not broken, it just sticks in an open (green) position from time to time. Is this something I ultimately just have to live with as long as I stay analog, or do those of you with extended analog experience have a solution? The Marklin service manual and other sources have helped with a lot of issues, but not this one.

Thank you.

Hi Bill, welcome back to the Marklin wonderland. You do not say whether the 7039 signal is new or used. I will assume that it is used. I was extremely fortunate just recently. I discovered a firm which was selling the 7188 Light Home Signal. It operates the same way with the solenoid action. I was able to buy 31 of these signals and they were all brand new. What is more, I paid only 9.90 Euros each for them. 30 years ago, I paid at least 35 DeutscheMarks for them. Thirty of them worked perfectly. The remaining signal had a fault. I live in Scotland and it was not worth returning the signal to Germany where I had bought it.

Anyway, the bit that will interest you. I traced the problem down to the sliding contacts on the side of the signal. One of the contacts was not providing enough pressure to guarantee a decent contact. Therefore, although the signal in my case would show a red light, it would allow the train to pass as though it were set at Green.

Remove the cover and check that all these slider contacts are in fact providing sufficient pressure. There are four, two on each side. A little bit of bending of the slider is all that is needed to increase it and hopefully, it should cure the problem.

Take a look at page 7 of the Marklin Signals Manual (I can't remember the catalogue number offhand, so follow the link http://www.marklin.com/tech/ and see the Signal Manual on the right hand side iof the screen below the loco. I hope this helps. Alan