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Can K switches be refurbished? - K switch problems
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Offline FastEddie  
#1 Posted : 19 January 2025 18:36:22(UTC)
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FastEddie

United States   
Joined: 09/07/2023(UTC)
Posts: 37
Location: Delaware, Long Neck
Members,
My Marklin analog train layout includes 27 K switches. Most are standard 2261s with a set of switches requiring the addition of switch lights, some are the older 2261 switch sets which have built in lights. The older 2261s dont look very prototype at all but are very reliable. The newer K track switches seem to be prone to failure after a number of years of service and will switch in one direction but only partially switch in the other. Can they be lubricated or cleaned to allow a return to original operating effectiveness or must I throw away the old motors and replace them with new motors? Any advice?
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Offline Goofy  
#2 Posted : 19 January 2025 19:10:51(UTC)
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Goofy


Joined: 12/08/2006(UTC)
Posts: 9,273
Did you checked if the switch arm are okey too?
Märklin new turnout are different and if you have bad luck the switch arm cannot be fixed.
Also turnout motor with movable mechanism for the switch arm can be worn out.
H0
DCC = Digital Command Control
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Offline Kiko  
#3 Posted : 19 January 2025 19:20:21(UTC)
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Kiko

Canada   
Joined: 13/02/2017(UTC)
Posts: 159
Location: Ottawa, ON
Originally Posted by: FastEddie Go to Quoted Post
My Marklin analog train layout includes 27 K switches. ... Can they be lubricated or cleaned to allow a return to original operating effectiveness or must I throw away the old motors and replace them with new motors? Any advice?

Hello FastEddie,

You are correct in your statement. After a few years, the Marklin switches become unreliable and even stop working. There are numerous temporary solutions that you can find on the web. However, after years in this hobby, I found that replacing the coil switches with something more reliable is the only way to go. I have replaced all coil mechanisms (over 70) with Tortoises. These provide very reliable operations, are very quiet, and are slow moving (more prototypical). Also, since they have a stall mechanism, they keep the switch points tightly closed and prevent derailments.

Just my thoughts on this subject. Cheers,
Andry
// Marklin HO K track; ECoS; TrainController Gold; Marklin & ESU decoders; Arduino controlled Switches, Semaphores & Accessories (DCC); Win 11 //
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Offline Bill L  
#4 Posted : 20 January 2025 02:36:56(UTC)
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Bill L

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Joined: 08/12/2021(UTC)
Posts: 140
Location: California, Sonoma County
Andry: Can you give us the name of the manufacturer of these tortoises and their catalog number. Thanks.

FastEddie: Half the time you can make the 7549 work again, with an extremely fine sandpaper and place it under the top and bottom copper contacts that move to make electrical contact. This only helps for a couple of months, but they eventually will fail, but I do have some that continue to work fine. Some times you need to use tweezers to bend the moving copper strip to increase the tension on the electrical contacts. When they work, you have saved about US$ 20.00 for each one.
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Offline Kiko  
#5 Posted : 20 January 2025 05:48:25(UTC)
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Kiko

Canada   
Joined: 13/02/2017(UTC)
Posts: 159
Location: Ottawa, ON
Originally Posted by: Bill L Go to Quoted Post
Andry: Can you give us the name of the manufacturer of these tortoises and their catalog number.

Hello Bill,

The tortoise switch machines are made by Circuitron. Each one is about the same cost as a Marklin coil, but once you buy it, there's no more worry that it'll fail. Mine have been operating for years. To me, layout reliability is key. I just hate it when trains stall or derail -- it drives me crazy. However, not everyone is like that.

Cheers,
Andry
// Marklin HO K track; ECoS; TrainController Gold; Marklin & ESU decoders; Arduino controlled Switches, Semaphores & Accessories (DCC); Win 11 //
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thanks 1 user liked this useful post by Kiko
Offline FastEddie  
#6 Posted : 20 January 2025 14:25:43(UTC)
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FastEddie

United States   
Joined: 09/07/2023(UTC)
Posts: 37
Location: Delaware, Long Neck
Originally Posted by: Bill L Go to Quoted Post
Andry: Can you give us the name of the manufacturer of these tortoises and their catalog number. Thanks.

FastEddie: Half the time you can make the 7549 work again, with an extremely fine sandpaper and place it under the top and bottom copper contacts that move to make electrical contact. This only helps for a couple of months, but they eventually will fail, but I do have some that continue to work fine. Some times you need to use tweezers to bend the moving copper strip to increase the tension on the electrical contacts. When they work, you have saved about US$ 20.00 for each one.[/q

Your suggestions sound reasonable as plan A. I have purchased and replaced the switch motors in the past as my solution, but they are the same as the motors that failed so I doubt that is the solution long term.
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Offline FastEddie  
#7 Posted : 20 January 2025 14:30:30(UTC)
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FastEddie

United States   
Joined: 09/07/2023(UTC)
Posts: 37
Location: Delaware, Long Neck
Originally Posted by: Kiko Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: Bill L Go to Quoted Post
Andry: Can you give us the name of the manufacturer of these tortoises and their catalog number.

Hello Bill,

The tortoise switch machines are made by Circuitron. Each one is about the same cost as a Marklin coil, but once you buy it, there's no more worry that it'll fail. Mine have been operating for years. To me, layout reliability is key. I just hate it when trains stall or derail -- it drives me crazy. However, not everyone is like that.

Cheers,


Kiko: Tortoise machines will be my plan B if I can't get the switches motors to work. I assume based on the suggestions here, that placing a drop of oil on the shaft that goes through the coil when it is activated is NOT a good idea or an effective solution.
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Offline Kiko  
#8 Posted : 20 January 2025 15:45:14(UTC)
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Kiko

Canada   
Joined: 13/02/2017(UTC)
Posts: 159
Location: Ottawa, ON
Originally Posted by: FastEddie Go to Quoted Post
... placing a drop of oil on the shaft that goes through the coil when it is activated is NOT a good idea or an effective solution.

You are correct -- no oil inside the switches. Oil will be a magnet for lint, dust, etc. and will definitely shorten the operational reliability of the switch. If you plan to have switches in unaccessible or hard-to-reach places, then I would seriously consider a more robust turnout switch. As per "Mr. Murphy", these will be the first switches to go bad and cause you problems.

Cheers,

Andry
// Marklin HO K track; ECoS; TrainController Gold; Marklin & ESU decoders; Arduino controlled Switches, Semaphores & Accessories (DCC); Win 11 //
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