MicroEngineering Rail Joiners HO

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I am trying to use ME’s NISi code 83 rail joiners (ho) but they are very small…cannot seem to fit them either on ME flextrack or Atlas track code 83…they are low profile…almost look like N scale…either I am a total moron or something is amiss. Am I missing something? Thanks

2

Compared to the Walther’s code 83, etc they are much smaller. A few hints from my experience in working with the code 70 versions. First, ME rail joiners will not work with Atlas code 83 and maybe not Walthers code 83 - one vendor even warns about this (Micro Mark I think). Generally, I found them a bit too tight to begin with and use a small flat screw driver blade to pry them open a bit more. Slide them on and then they can be crimped a bit to tighten. A bit of a pain, but they work ok that way. BTW, I 've found that the Walthers code 83 rail joiners work very well with Atlas code 83.

Charles

3

Thank you Charles. Much Appreciated

Howard

4

Howard, I use nothing but ME rail joiners (layout is code 83 Atlas). Like a previous poster mentioned, they ARE a tight fit. I made a tool from a short piece of rail. Using a bench sander, I grind one end to a point. Then I start the joiner on the tool, holding the tool with a pair of pliers. I have a small piece of 1x2 with slots cut in it. The slots are the same width as a piece of code 83 rail. I press the tool into the slot and the joiner slides up the tool spreading the joiner. They’re still snug when I’m done.

5

Using Code 70 here and I don’t do anything to the rail joiners. I do however file the rails with a needle file lightly to remove any burs from cutting. The joiners then slip on without a lot of effort.

6

Thank you for the ideas.

Howard

7

Thanks Kelly

8

I have been using Atlas N Scale Code 80 joiners on my HO Scale Code 83 track. Like Medina1128, I use piece of rail with the very end filed slightly smaller to “size” the ends of the joiners only. I don’t push the joiners all the way onto the rail so as not to loosen them too much. The joiners then slide onto the rails quite snuggly and they are soooooo much smaller than the HO Scale joiners!