I had a problem with locomotives stopping on one block - my first thought was dirty track, but cleaning did not help. I then remembered a post about gaps between rails (mine are not soldered) so I tightened the rail joiners in that block - voila, the problem was solved. This (MR) is a constant learning experience.
BH -
Just as a counterpoint (for N scale any way, been a while since I worked in HO). I’ve generally not found tightening joiners to be any kind of fix (or at least I haven’t figured out how to tighten them yet). If there’s a problem with loose joiner - just replace then with NEW ones. Also make sure your track is secure so it doesn’t shift as the train rolls by and thus loosening the joiner again. If there’s a real trouble spot, then a little soldering may be in order. Lastly, if you can’t or won’t solder another idea OVER a single gap is to connect the tracks on each side with a separate feed or lash to the neighboring gaps with terminal rail joiners creating a by-pass or fail-safe circuit or sorts.
Archer
tighhtening rail joiners can be a temporary fix… I think soldering rails together in sections and more feeder is a better perement fix, But then again i have quite a few sections where i do the same as you do.
I understand that you are of the impression that you tightened the joiners, and maybe you did achieve that to some degree. However, I believe it is more likely that you simply displaced some ‘crud’, mostly corrosion or some other contaminant, impedent, that prevents good connectivity at that joint.
So, it’ll come back.
You should really consider soldering that one joint, and if another pops up, do that one, too. If nothing else, you’ll be running trains, and training yourself to solder joiners, which, on another layout, you will then know to do up front. [:D] Most of them, especially on curves, but not all of them.
-Crandell
You don’t have to go to all that trouble to solder. Take a small piece of wire and there is usually a gap between the rail and the joint on the side. Put the wire in bent and that will tighten the joint. I have also used this to tap on to a rail joint for power and lights.
Bob
Thanks for all the comments - I was not aware of the problems of a loose or corroded rail joiner - guess I thought if the rails were joined that they were joined for good. Live and learn.