I am having a problem with mp15 and SW switchers on my atlas turnouts. I am new here first post. I model in N scale and use code 80 track. I use peco turnouts on mainline and Atlas in the yard. I do this to save on cost as PECO turnouts are more expensive. The problem I am having is on the atlas turnouts. My mp15 and sw switchers do the classic front wheels follow the correct position rear wheels follow the wrong position when they go through the turnout. I am not having this problem with the larger switchers (GP18 and Rs2)
Any adjustments I need to make to the Atlas turnouts to prevent this? or is this problem in the locos? The Mp15 is con cor and the sw a life like. Do I need to suck it up and use PECO everywhere?
The problem I am having is on the atlas turnouts. My mp15 and sw switchers do the classic front wheels follow the correct position rear wheels follow the wrong position when they go through the turnout.
First there could be 2 things working against you.
1.Is the switch completely closing? If not check to see if there is any obstruction such as ballast keeping it from closing.
2.Check the wheel gauge on your locomotives with a N Scale NMRA Gauge.
I had the same problem with one loco and two cars. After you check Brakie’s suggestions I’ll expand on situation one. With me it was a sloppy switch pivot on an older Atlas switch. On one loco and two cars and for some reason only those, and not every time, the front trucks pushed,(or jarred) the movable rail just far enough to give the slightest gap between where the movable rail presses against the staionary rail allowing the wheel flanges of the trailing trucks forward wheels to cut into the gap and travel “the wrong route”. My solution was to replace the switch with, in my case, a newer style where the movable rail was recessed into a cutout in the stationary rail. And of course the pivots were tighter with no slack. Why this only happened with only those 3, ???. Very, and I mean very little gap was all that was required to put a loco or car sideways on the track. I’m not sure if this is the case with you but it’s worth a check even with a new turnout. I did some head scatching for a while trying to figure out what was wrong with the loco and two cars. [banghead] Hope it helps.
I agree with the other two posts here and you need to check these out and also check to see if the engines and cars in question have an easy pivot to the trucks. In other words do the trucks swing from side to side (pivot) easily and far enough? There could be wires up inside the engines holding the trucks from pivoting properly and this could cause the trouble.
I like the one post about the sloppy switch points moving away from the stock rail when the front truck passes over it and thus making a gap that the rear truck wheel flange will pick up and head down the other route.
Thanks, to all for the feedback, these are newer turnouts (#6), but I think your on track with the lose pivots, and wheel sets. I corrected on one of the turnouts last night. Seems roadbed underneth the bar was preventing it from snaping completely over and as front wheels passed they were jarring and creating a gap. Didn’t get a chance to investigate the other turnout, or the older like like loco.