Center Rollers getting stuck in O-72 Switches and #5 Switches

Assuming your model is a Lionel (you didn't say), I've had the same issue with the few Lionel steam locomotive models I own. Thus, I changed-out all the pick-up rollers, which are way too narrow in my opinion. I up-graded my Lionel steam models to Sunset/3rd Rail pick-up roller assemblies, which a slightly wider and tapered at the outer edges. Not more problems on any of our Atlas turnouts.

Yes indeed it is Lionel. I had the model number in the original post, but I deleted and rewrote the whole thing, I must forgot to put the model number back in, just for future reference it is Item #6-82808.

What seemed really strange to me is only did it going backwards, going forward it worked just fine.

Just a quick question to get the pick-up roller assemblies from Sunset/3rd Rail as you recommend do I just contact them, or is there something else to do for that.

Atlas"O" supplies a plastic "roller ramp" that sits between the diverging center rails to aid center roller travel through the turnout; are you using them and still having trouble?

While I don't have the locomotive in question, I have many Lionel scale steam locos and haven't had this issue with my Atlas turnouts.

The switches I have had them already installed. It only seems to happen in this particular spot circled in red, the ramp looks to be installed in the circled in green area (I just took the switch image from the internet, areas circled in paint).

tcochran posted:

The switches I have had them already installed. It only seems to happen in this particular spot circled in red, the ramp looks to be installed in the circled in green area (I just took the switch image from the internet, areas circled in paint).

with some engines the ramp is not long enough.  your engine is getting caught just to the left of the red circle.

also check for a miss-aligned pick up roller.  they some times get turned and will not track straight,

I have several engines that the forward facing rollers will occasionally get out of alignment and drop into the switches, and it's Atlas switches that I have the issues with.  I had one with such a problem that I removed that roller and just tied the pickups of the locomotive and tender together for reliability, problem solved.

How does one check the alignment of the pick-up rollers?

Eyeballs.  They should be dead center between the wheels.

I had the same exact problem with a Lionel B&O EM1. I actually have 3, my first was the earlier TMCC model never a problem through the switches. The second was the Legacy version. Would short out backing through my Atlas High Speed Turnouts. I tried everything to adjust the switches to no avail. Only after I purchased my third EM1, an eBay deal too hard to pass up, and ran it through my switches without problems, did I check the rollers on the second engine. Checking the rollers revealed, the screws were loose and the roller would shift, falling below the top of the center rail when reversing through the switch, causing a short. I center eye balled the rollers, tightened the screws, problem solved!

Whenever I oil up a new engine or do basic maintenance, I check for loose screws.

Joe

Had the same issue with a K-Line E-8 set years ago, on a friend's layout (he uses Atlas, I use GG). Didn't matter as they were just visiting his layout.

Try fixing the switch before you mess with the loco, I'd say.

Screws aren't meant to be loose, are they?

Maybe you could make your own ramp with a GarGraves wood tie...??  It should be about the right thickness. If not grab a file.

I've noticed some of my newer Atlas switches have a wider and better designed center rail to eliminate needing to add the ramps.

Yea had a problem with a K-line Switch with roller on some engines getting stuck. Used a piece of GarGraves wood tie in the switch.

ironman1 posted:

Screws aren't meant to be loose, are they?

nope...

ironman1 posted:

Screws aren't meant to be loose, are they?

There's a joke in there somewhere...

exactly