Hi all,
I have been working on a possible solution to this 5207 ground problems with small loco's.
As most might already know, there are 2 versions of this switch:
Old version, with the polarity switching center metal bars.
And the newer, unfortunatly much more common version, which has problems with the ground contact on small loco's.
I have been testing with my Marklin 5214 3-way switch.
Going straight here, does not have the same problems I have when going straight on the 5207 crossing.
That must be because the 3-way switch has longer, and fully parallel "strips" for Ground contact
So I was trying to re-create that on the 5207, without buying the old model 5207 somewhere and having to butcher my layout in order the replace them.
I have some old 5207's, rusted and stripped for inner parts laying around.
From those, I have extracted the metal diamond shaped metal from the switch.
Cut them at the
Red lines and using the long parts, at the
Blue line.
Those
Blue parts, are the exact same shape to be placed as follow:
Note, this is just a test switch. It is rusted, it has solder marks and doesn't even work, but for loco's contact test, it's perfect to experiment on.
Since the extra strips rest on the plastic inlay of the switch, they can be glued to it. I wouldn't recommend soldering, since it would need so much heat, all plastic around it will melt, before the solder does.
Ground contact now is even larger than the old version 5207 solution, but it still relies on flange wheel contact.
I still have to test this further, but initially it does seem to give small loco's the much needed ground contact to be able to cross over at slow speeds.
And this can be applied directly on the layout, without removing the switch.
I have no idea, if this has been done before and or people have experience with this. Of have even better ideas
I just wanted to share this with you.
