Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

Today, I acquired my first crossing bell and was told that it works. I am in the process of minor disassembly to clean out the cobwebs and spiders and checking things over. Anything I need to be particularly aware of as far as electrical connections? Is connecting the contacts with a 12 volt battery the best way to tell if it does work?

What is the best way to display this device? If more information is needed such as ID numbers, I can get these tomorrow.

Thanks,
Roland

RolandLHainey wrote:Today, I acquired my first crossing bell and was told that it works. I am in the process of minor disassembly to clean out the cobwebs and spiders and checking things over. Anything I need to be particularly aware of as far as electrical connections? Is connecting the contacts with a 12 volt battery the best way to tell if it does work?

What is the best way to display this device? If more information is needed such as ID numbers, I can get these tomorrow.

Thanks,
Roland

be nice to see some pictures
but most saftran bells work off 8-12 VDC use a standard car battery and hook it up

I have a 12 volt battery and once it get the bell cleaned up, I'll check it to see if it works. I'll get some photos and try to post them on here.

Crossing bell update;

The bell cleaned up rather nicely and found no problems, or so I thought. After wire brushing all of the fasteners and oil lubing the moving parts, I began reassembly. I had a 12 vdc battery at hand and some wire and energized the posts as per the schematic. The striker pendulum was working but the gong wasn't ringing. Well, it appears that someone had removed the gong, it's shroud, and bent the striker piece with the metal ball into the shape of a C. There was no way the gong was going to ring. Why would someone go to the effort of removing the gong and it's shroud to bend this this way? Needed something to do?
Anyway, the adjustment was made and the crossing bell rings loudly and like normal.

Pictures? Well, it's a 9-15 vdc, 12" gong, aluminum cased Safetran Safety Systems crossing bell; with a 4-5" adaptable base.
May have photos later.

I have a Safetran bell.

Maybe you need to adjust the contact screw. Maybe it's too far over, and needs to be moved. My Safetran "clicks" when the contact screw isn't in the correct place.