Using Micro Eng. Code 83 #6 turnouts. I removed the tension spring that holds the points against the rail as I am installing tortoise slow mo machines. When I went to mount the turnout I noticed the points had slid back just a hair and came out ot the rail joiners of the point rails. Seems the spring not only holds tension of points to the sides but also to the rail joiner. Can’t slide the rail joiner back a little as (per M.E.) the joiners are stamped in place. I haven’t read anyone else having this problem. Per M.E. they have had other calls on this problem but no solution. Thinking of mounting the tortoise a little forward of center to apply a little forward tension on the throw bar.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions
Joe
Joe,
I solder the ponts to the closure rail as standard practice before I mount the turnouts on the layout. This seems to take care of the problem of the points slipping off of the closure rail at the joiners. Make sure that you hold the points straight against the closure rail that you are soldering to avoid soldering in a kink…
This fix requires decent soldering skills. I use a hot iron and get in and out quick to avoid melting ties. Good flux helps this process go quickly. Rinse the flux off the switch in the sink before mounting on the layout. Good luck.
Guy
Guy
Thanks, I’ll give it a try.I also just picked up some .025, .032, .039 and .047 piano wire. Going to experiment with mounting the tortoise a little forward to put some tension on the rails. Won’t be getting to it for a week or so but I’ll let you know if it works.
Been using rosin core solder (.032) to attach my feeders to the rails and solder my rail joiners on my curves. Never had to use any additional flux and don’t seem to have any problems. However, I never cleaned off the flux. Hardly see any. I do clean the top of the rails first with a damp cloth and then follow up with an alcohol wipe. What problems does leaving the flux cause?
Last layout I did was a 4x8 40 years ago. Going all out this time filling a 11x 29 room.
Joe
Putting tension on the Tortoise throw link will probably do the job. It shouldn’t take much. OTOH, solder that is frequently subjected to bending stress will eventually fail. If the points are connected by a throwbar, a couple of microspikes should hold the throwbar and points in position. Leave the spikes loose enough to allow normal lateral motion.
It isn’t necessary to clean rosin flux off the rails. The, `Clean the rails,’ bit was started by the FastTracks owner, who also advocates acid flux! (NO!! - not only NO but **** NO!)
I have a module built in 1980 (and operated almost continuously ever since) that still has rosin flux residue on the, `Soldered up from raw rail,’ specialwork. If I ever want to paint the rail I guess I’ll have to clean it off. It certainly hasn’t done any damage to either the rail or the solder.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Reason to clean flux, Couldn’t get the paint to adhere…
Guy