I’m using a couple of peco 3way turnouts on my layout. I found some info on the internet somewheres that said to weaken the spring attached to the throwbar so that they would work better. I tried it and loosened the spring on one of the throwbars. Now when I throw the switch to the left track the points don’t quite make contact with the stock rail and therefore I don’t get power down that route. Does anyone have any ideas how to fix this problem, preferably without having to pull the switch off the layout. Any and all ideas are welcome. I’m also using pl10e switch machines so don’t have the option to do power routing through the switch machine. Thanks for your feedback.
You need to put the over center spring back in the turnout. The Peco switch motors work in conjunction with the over center spring. Unless your using the power routing for block control adding feeders after the turnout will help in sending the power to the routes.
Pete
Hi, and welcome to the forum.
The Peco switch magnets work well with the over-centre spring in place. The long, very stiff shaft of the magnet assy makes that possible. The spring ensures that the point rail will stay in contact with the stock rail, as the magnets are only energized for a split second. The magnets are not designed to be continuously under power. Weakening the spring is normally only required if you use something like a Tortoise switch motor that has a flexible wire that drives the points assy. If you do not get the required tight contact between the point rail and its stock rail, there will be stalling of locos and derailments.
If you want really good electrical power on the point rail, take a look at Peco PL-13 switch assy that glues to the underside of the PL-10 or PL-10E magnet assy. This SPDT switch is also useful for indicator circuits.
A quick observation: the stiff magnet shaft may need to be trimmed, depending on how the magnet is installed, so it doesn’t protrude too high into the path of coupler trip wires and loco bottoms. I trim mine with a Dremel tool, and the cutoff disc causes a lot of heat that will deform the hole in the plastic throwbar. So, cut it in short bursts, and allow it to cool between them.
Have fun, George
For Contact issues I’d wire all routes with a feeder, even if the turnout was making contact. Over time they’ll start getting dirty and make less contact anyhow
If these are “electrofrog” turnouts, you don’t want to put feeders on the frog end unless you insulate the inner rails that lead to the frogs. “Insulfrogs” are fine with feeders.
I agree about the spring. It needs to be full-strength. The switch machines move the points over, but once they are de-energized they won’t hold the points by themselves.
Another thing to check is the clearance around the switch machine. If the hole isn’t large enough or some debris has fallen into it, common with 2-inch foam installations, there may be some obstruction that keeps the machine from moving freely. Also, the Peco machine need a good “kick” when you push the button, so a capacitive discharge circuit is usually recommended in the power feed to your switch machines. A CD circuit, which can be built for a few dollars in Radio $hack parts, is one of the best investments you can make if you use Peco or Atlas switch machines.
If the spring is really weak, you might consider throwing those points with a Tortoise. That will hold the points in place. You may have to get creative with installation, depending on your real estate, but Tortoises are very flexible in that regard. And you can leave the turnout in place.
Rick Krall