I have a Spectrum ten wheeler that stalls on some turnouts. I am using Atlas #4 snap switches. I know the insulated frog can create a dead spot but I suspect the real problem is with the wheel base of the tender (which is where the current is picked up) Not much I can do to shorten or lengthen that, so does anyone have any ideas of how I can fix this? If I run the loco fast enough for momentum to carry it through, I’m at derailing speed. I have a cheap 0-4-0 and a Proto 2000 SW9/1200 that run perfectly through with nary a hiccup. It’s a very nice little loco and I’d much rather use it than convert it to a shelf piece.[banghead][:(]
sailor38,
Sorry, but “you gets what you paid for”. Cheap turnouts are no bargain, and the Atlas snaps are some of the worst. With the variations by builders of how the power is picked up by the engine/tender, some of these will work just fine, while others don’t work at all. The only true fix is a good, full contact (fully powered) turnout with no dead spots. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Mark C.
I’ve found the frog to be a little high on Atlas TO. It may be taking your loco out of contact. The fix is file the frog till it’s the same height of the adjoining rail.
it sounds like the problem is with the point rails where they meet the closure rails…there are rivets in this location of the turnout that may be losing contact with the contact plates under the point rails…try to gently ping the rivet with a punch so that it makes contact again also, clean the plates under the rail…a grain of ballast, paint, or loose rivets can make the point rail loose contact with the plate under the rail…I don’t use the snap turnouts but use the custom line turnouts…they have metal frogs that can be powered…
I agree with “mstein”: The first thing I’d do would be to check that the frog is level with the adjacent rails. If it is, or if filing it level doesn’t help, my next suggestion would be to power the frog, which is easiest to do if the turnout itself is powered (operated by a switch motor or switch machine.) See page 32 of my book, “Easy Model Railroad Wiring” (Second Edition) , available on the “Shopping” section of this Web site.
So long,
Andy
So the Peco “Insulated frog” turnouts are not very good for the smaller engines? I am seriously considering a set of these due to the shorter lengths than Atlas switches; disregarding the rather high price.
I too have the 4-6-0 from spectrum and I would think it will need to have the frog powered.
it is a good idea to use turnouts that are capable of being wired for powered frogs especially if you are going to use short locomotives…this is why I use the Atlas mark III type turnout…they have metal frogs that can be powered with a relay or even with a manual toggle switch…the snap track turnouts are the cheapest turnouts Atlas makes and they have plastic frogs that cannot be powered…the reason I posted the above post was that I use Atlas turnouts extensively and have came across the problem of the point rail not making contact with the plate at the closure rail and at the points themselves…I cleaned them, realigned the stamped rail, tighened the rivet a bit ,and it took care of the problem…I don’t power my frogs because i don’t use short locomotives and have never had problems with loss of power at the frog, but in the event that I do someday, the turnouts are equipped for me to do so…Chuck
I have a P2K GP9 and a Spectrum GP-30 that stall in some turnouts and not others. The wheels are shorting where the rails come together like this < or like this> near the frog. I have tried nail polish, black paint, etc. to cut down on the problem and it has helped. The best solution may be to replace my Atlas #6 turnouts with ones from Micro Engineering or Shinohara. An Athearn SD9 just plows on through without a hitch. This is a problem that shows up more in DCC than on DC. The decoder, which is in reality a “little computer” hiccups when the two rails are shorted by the wheel and has to “reboot”. In DC the locos would probably just shove on through. Anyone of this forum have experience with the new snap action Micro Engineering turnouts. They look great! How well do they work in day in day out service?
To all who have taken the time to respond to this topic, thanks! Your comments and suggestions are informative and helpful.
To Mark C: I quite agree that you get what you pay for, but in this case I paid for what I got. The nearest hobby shop is 150 mi. round trip and Atlas is what they had in stock at the time I was there. (Wasn’t aware of online ordering capability then.) Next layout will be of higher quality components, assuming I develop the skill and patience by then.
To Chuck C: Your suggestions are being heeded. I’ve checked the rivets and under the turnouts, but I don’t think the integrity of the electrical circuit is in question as my other two locos do not have the problem.
To Dr. Sperendeo: Your input is most welcome. I will grind down the tops of the plastic but won’t be able to test for a few days as I have just installed ten grade crossings and have a lot of Hydrocal to clean out of flangeways, etc.
before I can run anything. I’ve been eyeballing your new book on yards (my next big project) and now it appears I need to get your book on wiring. The first thing I have to do is wire around the Chancellor of the Exchequer since I just squandered my allowance on Walthers’ December catalog. Oh, well, we model RRers are a “creative” lot, if nothing else.[;)]
Again, thanks to all![bow]
i have 1 atlas remote control turnout and 3 like-like remote control turnouts- on one of the L-L ones there is a dead spot that sometimes stops the train for a second and other times it’s doesn’t- it doen’t happen w/ any of the other switches- any ideas?
How do you power the frogs
I put wipers under the points this increases reliability.
I have a “what I did” at:
http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/atlas_switch_wipers/
Before I am putting down new turnouts I am doing this:
at:
http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/track/83_switches/
Thanks it you visit
Harold
On some of my older Atlast TOs, I wired around the points, so the point rails weren’t dependent on the rivits for power.
Nick