I recently pulled out a set of Lionel trains that my uncle gave me many years ago. I bought a power supply, but I cannot get the set to work. I realize there are many possibilities, but let's start with this - how do I hook the power supply up to the tracks?
thanks!
Posted by Jesse (Member # 486) on :
What you will need to do this is lock - on clips and doorbell wire. Clips are pretty cheap to buy. You will need 1 clip per every 5-8 tracks - depending on the size of your layout. They're some what easy to put on and only suppose to touch one outside rail and the middle rail. After you place the clips on the track you take the doorbell wire (usually 1 strand with 2 wires wrapped together) and connect the two little wires to the poles on the clips. Make sure the wires are the same on every clip. You'll probably have to figure out a wiring system so that you can use 1 big strand and connect all the clips together and back to the power supply with out having to make a lot of cuts. When you're done with that, you'll have to figure out where to place the wires on the transformer poles (Test). Hope this isn't more confusing than helpful. Any more questions regarding to this or need more detail - give me another reply.
Posted by Shay2 (Member # 553) on :
Is your power supply AC or DC?
Rich
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Posted by chadw (Member # 612) on :
Well, that worked! thanks! Now on to maintenance - how do I keep them properly lubed, etc. to ensure the motors don't burn up?
Posted by Jesse (Member # 486) on :
Lionel sells lubrication kits. Get one of those and I think it comes with instructions and things to clean track and engine parts with as well. I'm not sure if it's on their website or not, you'll have to check. (www.Lionel.com) Also if you want, you can request one of their (free) catalogs - there's more stuff in it than on the website - it's also easier to view the products......by the way, what scale do you have?
Posted by chadw (Member # 612) on :
I don't exactly know what scale it is (obviously 0 or 0-27). I have this straight piece of track that has something that looks like the red spot of jupiter on the middle rail. The red "eye" is plastic and underneath is a wire connecting it to one of the outer rails. Does anyone know what this is? If so, how do I hook it up?
Thanks,
Chad
Posted by Santa Fe All the Way (Member # 526) on :
The "Red Spot" track is an automatic uncoupling track. To hook it up you need an uncoupler botton from Lionel. I'm not familiar as how to hook it up but I'm pretty sure you dont't need to hook it up to a power pack as it gets power through the track.
Posted by Jesse (Member # 486) on :
Actually you do need to hook it up. The un-coupling unit in the middle of the track works separate from the whole track (layout) and you need to run 1 wire from it to the transformer. You'll need a control (uncoupler) button for this. It's a small rectangle with a red button in the middle. There's two screws on each end and you cut the 1 wire in two.... hook part of it from the uncoupler track to one screw....the other wire goes to the other screw and then to the transformer. This activates the button that controls the track...you can uncouple cars from the other side of your layout without having to get up. Hopefully this isn't too confusing.
What type of transformer do you have? Volts? Watts? Lionel?
Posted by chadw (Member # 612) on :
My power supply is a Tech II 027, and it is running these things great! I can't believe after ten years or more being in this box (not to mention the torture we put them through even before that) these trains are still running strong, although one of the locomotives needs a major tune-up.
l8r
chad
Posted by JMH (Member # 331) on :
I believe you can get reprints of the operating manuals for older Lionel and Flyer. This would cover all of the accessories and maintanance