when placing fastrack sections together i noticed that some track sections are higher causing not only more noise but the train to bump as well. any suggestions on how to flaten the high spots without grinding? thank you.
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Have not noticed this problem ever.
Can you be more specific?
Which piece or pieces? In what configuration?
Rod
Can you be more specific?
Which piece or pieces? In what configuration?
Rod
when two pieces of track are put together somerimes one side of the track will be higher, in effect causing a "bump". the train will roll and the wheels when hitting the bump are more noisey.
quote:Originally posted by Rod Stewart:
Have not noticed this problem ever.
Can you be more specific?
Which piece or pieces? In what configuration?
Rod
i have new fastrack and fastrack 6 or 7 years old. lionel has cheapened the track up. the newer pieces are lighter and don't lock as well. i'm not surprised if there are uneven pieces, though i haven't noticed. i do know that i have a crossing piece and trains derail/staul out on it.
Gentlemen,
This must be a problem that is going on with the newer track, my track is older even have some of the original black third rail stuff that we still use.
Not one piece is higher than another, and I have lots & lots of track for the 5 level layout.
PCRR
I love FasTrack, but if the new stuff is having problems like this everyone needs to know about it.
This must be a problem that is going on with the newer track, my track is older even have some of the original black third rail stuff that we still use.
Not one piece is higher than another, and I have lots & lots of track for the 5 level layout.
PCRR
I love FasTrack, but if the new stuff is having problems like this everyone needs to know about it.
I have an extensive collection of old and new Fastrack..all silver center rail.
i haven't seen this issue
i haven't seen this issue
it is true, the fastrack is a recent purchase. i am going to file the high rail at the joint then finish with a fine stone and dremel.
Sounds like they got new molds or the old ones are getting worn... I have a lot of FasTrack and they all fit and lock without problem.
RJ,
I would not due it, I would return the track and have them replace it with correctly made FasTrack.
PCRR
I would not due it, I would return the track and have them replace it with correctly made FasTrack.
PCRR
I have a few pieces like this myself. The roadbed is level and even with the neighboring piece, but the rail on one piece is just a little bit higher than the other. Strange thing is it's only on one end of the piece of track, but not the other. I have pieces where the center rail is like this, and pieces where the outer rail is like this, but i dont mind, i actually like the noise the car wheels make going over it, but that's just me. I can understand how someone would be annoyed by it though. Here is a picture of one of the pieces on my layout.
Adam
Adam
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Interesting. Thanks for the pic. Is it possible the rail isn't fully seated?
Or, if it is, it looks like possibly the mold for the plastic road bed may be the issue. It might be possible to grind the plastic down.
Removing the rail is very easy.
Or, if it is, it looks like possibly the mold for the plastic road bed may be the issue. It might be possible to grind the plastic down.
Removing the rail is very easy.
thank you ar75 thats the problem! this also wears traction tires and other wheels besides the "bump and grind" noise.
QUOTE]Originally posted by AR75:
I have a few pieces like this myself. The roadbed is level and even with the neighboring piece, but the rail on one piece is just a little bit higher than the other. Strange thing is it's only on one end of the piece of track, but not the other. I have pieces where the center rail is like this, and pieces where the outer rail is like this, but i dont mind, i actually like the noise the car wheels make going over it, but that's just me. I can understand how someone would be annoyed by it though. Here is a picture of one of the pieces on my layout.
Adam [/QUOTE]
QUOTE]Originally posted by AR75:
I have a few pieces like this myself. The roadbed is level and even with the neighboring piece, but the rail on one piece is just a little bit higher than the other. Strange thing is it's only on one end of the piece of track, but not the other. I have pieces where the center rail is like this, and pieces where the outer rail is like this, but i dont mind, i actually like the noise the car wheels make going over it, but that's just me. I can understand how someone would be annoyed by it though. Here is a picture of one of the pieces on my layout.
Adam
[/QUOTE]quote:Originally posted by EscapeRocks:
Interesting. Thanks for the pic. Is it possible the rail isn't fully seated?
Or, if it is, it looks like possibly the mold for the plastic road bed may be the issue. It might be possible to grind the plastic down.
Removing the rail is very easy.
I took the piece apart and re connected it and it still seems to be high. It's almost as though the machine they use to bend the rail sections is different maybe? The piece on the right seems to have more a smooth U shape to it, while the piece on the left looks more squared off. I just find it odd that on the opposite end of the piece it mates up perfect with the other piece it's mated to. weird..
Probably just a manufacturing fluke? how many others have ran across this?
AR,
Is this a 3' section or a single short track? If you only have one section of track like this the track is faulty for sure.
PCRR/Dave
Is this a 3' section or a single short track? If you only have one section of track like this the track is faulty for sure.
PCRR/Dave
From a manufacturing standpoint, it's more likely to be the rails than the roadbed.
Since the roadbed is molded, the piece size should be uniform, unless something is going om with the plastic formula. The pictures show the roadbed to be OK in this example.
It's much more likely that the rail is the problem - either how it was made or how it was inserted into the molded roadbed.
The rail could have been stamped incorrectly. The rail sides before curving onto the roadbed may not be parallel, giving a rail that is higher on one end than the other.
Or the rail could have just been stamped too wide and sitting too high.
All things that are fixable in the factory, once they get the word and have incentive to do something about it.
For the track you already have, some things, like assembly errors, can be fixed and some like improperly stamped rails, cannot.
I hope this thread generates interest, because it would be good to find a solution.
Since the roadbed is molded, the piece size should be uniform, unless something is going om with the plastic formula. The pictures show the roadbed to be OK in this example.
It's much more likely that the rail is the problem - either how it was made or how it was inserted into the molded roadbed.
The rail could have been stamped incorrectly. The rail sides before curving onto the roadbed may not be parallel, giving a rail that is higher on one end than the other.
Or the rail could have just been stamped too wide and sitting too high.
All things that are fixable in the factory, once they get the word and have incentive to do something about it.
For the track you already have, some things, like assembly errors, can be fixed and some like improperly stamped rails, cannot.
I hope this thread generates interest, because it would be good to find a solution.
I have the same problem. Has this been a problem since you first purchased the track or did you adjust the rail connection for a tighter fit like I did as explained below?
I had carefully and slightly pinched the end of rail with a needle nose plier for a tighter fit to solve a conductivity connection problem. I think this caused the rail to slightly rise at the same time. Do you think that this might be the problem? I love the sound of the wheels on it, but I worry about the traction tires.
I had carefully and slightly pinched the end of rail with a needle nose plier for a tighter fit to solve a conductivity connection problem. I think this caused the rail to slightly rise at the same time. Do you think that this might be the problem? I love the sound of the wheels on it, but I worry about the traction tires.
my tracks were all purchased new within the last month.
quote:Originally posted by luvtrains:
I have the same problem. Has this been a problem since you first purchased the track or did you adjust the rail connection for a tighter fit like I did as explained below?
I had carefully and slightly pinched the end of rail with a needle nose plier for a tighter fit to solve a conductivity connection problem. I think this caused the rail to slightly rise at the same time. Do you think that this might be the problem? I love the sound of the wheels on it, but I worry about the traction tires.
I got one on my layout. It looks like the rail was not seated fully before the tabs were bent. When I get ready to spend a night under the table working on the wiring, I ill pop that one out and reseat the rail.
I had a piece do this on my Christmas layout. It was the first section of a grade. I attribute the rail popping up on the fact that I did not have enough support at the joint where the flat piece of track connected to the incline and over time it caused the rail on the incline to pop loose. Sitting on white quilt batting on top of carpet was not exactly a rigid base. A little coaxing from a pair of channel locks seemed to have fixed the issue.
