My Twilight Zone has a solenoid that won't "stroke" reliably unless the plunger is pressed in just a little, just a tiny bit. So my "just get it working" solution is to put in a small plastic washer on top of the plunger, to keep the plunger from extending too far. Which is working 100%.
But I'd like to understand what's going on. This is the solenoid for the TZ cage/bridge diverter. As far as I can tell, there's no EOS switch or anything like that.
When the solenoid doesn't plunge, you can still hear a hum, so it seems like there's power going to the solenoid.
Is there something internal to the solenoid that keeps it from moving if the plunger isn't in exactly the right position? The plunger is not binding, and pressing the plunger in (by just the thickness of a washer) makes the solenoid work flawlessly...
TIA!
Which plunger assembly?
Does the plunger look like it is original? A plunger that is slightly
too short could easily account for the problem.
Is there a rubber bumper at the end where the plunger and link rest?
Perhaps it is missing or worn down...
Which plunger assembly?
It's the solenoid for the cage/bridge diverter on a Twilight Zone.
Does the plunger look like it is original? A plunger that is slightly
too short could easily account for the problem.
As far as I can tell, everything is original.
Is there a rubber bumper at the end where the plunger and link rest?
Perhaps it is missing or worn down...
The manual calls out a washer (around the wire to the cage) between the end of the plunger
and the metal barcket/plate "above" the solenoid. I didn't see a washer there when I went
to replace the wire, and it was totally by luck that I figured out that slightly pressing on the
plunger made the solenoid "plunge" reliably.
Any Idea why the initial position of the plunger would make it more/less reliable?
I could see where it might decrease plunge strength slightly, but in this case it's "all or nothing"
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