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Fastrack Switches Locking/Stuck?

J jpcantonOGR Forum Member

Hi everyone,

 

I'm busy preparing my floor layout for christmas, and I came across an issue with a brand new fastrack turnout. It is literally new in the box, and when I powered it up for the first time it flipped 2-3 times then locked up. Unable to turn it manually, I pulled the back off the switch but it seems to keep turning one way then locking. (always the same direction)

 

Is this a common problem? Anyone know what the fix might be? I didn't see anything obvious,  but its a much more complicated switch than I thought so I decided to post here before really digging into it.

 

Any advice is appreciated! I bought it from a dealer that is now out of business, so I can't just go swap it out for a new one.

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cjackcjackOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
Originally Posted by jpcanton:

Hi everyone,

 

I'm busy preparing my floor layout for christmas, and I came across an issue with a brand new fastrack turnout. It is literally new in the box, and when I powered it up for the first time it flipped 2-3 times then locked up. Unable to turn it manually, I pulled the back off the switch but it seems to keep turning one way then locking. (always the same direction)

 

Is this a common problem? Anyone know what the fix might be? I didn't see anything obvious,  but its a much more complicated switch than I thought so I decided to post here before really digging into it.

 

Any advice is appreciated! I bought it from a dealer that is now out of business, so I can't just go swap it out for a new one.h

I had one that locked up and it turned out to be the pinion getting jammed on the rack...it's hard to see. It's caused by a little too much play of the pinion.

J jpcantonOGR Forum Member

Update: looks like the little DC motor that roatates the switchgear (actually flipping the switch) would get to one end and the gears would lock. I rigged it by loosening all its points just a hair to leave some play, but I'll need a better fix (or a return) once it goes to put back in the box after xmas.

 

Thanks for the help! 

cjackcjackOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Right...on mine, I determined that the pinion on the motor got tooth to tooth with the rack gear...like there was too much play or the end limits allowed the pinion to continue to drive itself under the rack.

As a quick fix, I rapped the switch with the handle of a soft handled screwdriver and it would release...until I took it apart later and rearranged things.

KT Kevin ThompsonOGR Forum Member

Un packed a new 072 left fastrack switch stuck jammed right out of the box, I cut the control wire to extend it 8 feet long, my layout is 11×16. So it was to late to exchange it, I took off the back and found 3 problems. 1st. Was a double track tab under the black triangle geared piece, it was to high rubbing on the triangle, repaired that by folding it over and flattened it out, 2nd. Motor mount was to tight, sanded the u groove in motor mount with a paper nail file, 3rd. A small raised nub on the gray plastic slid or ride that that black triangle slids on used a paper nail file on that. All sanded/filed areas was done ever so slightly and easy going on that kind of stuff for a little at a time is always better than to much. You can never go back if you remove to much of anything. But you can always continue forward. Remember a little at a time. Good luck. All this was a quick fix did it in 15mins at 4:30AM before I went to work. AKA : Plumbing contractor

KT Kevin ThompsonOGR Forum Member

Un packed a new 072 left fastrack switch stuck jammed right out of the box, I cut the control wire to extend it 8 feet long, my layout is 11×16. So it was to late to exchange it, I took off the back and found 3 problems. 1st. Was a double track tab under the black triangle geared piece, it was to high rubbing on the triangle, repaired that by folding it over and flattened it out, 2nd. Motor mount was to tight, sanded the u groove in motor mount with a paper nail file, 3rd. A small raised nub on the gray plastic slid or ride that that black triangle slids on used a paper nail file on that. All sanded/filed areas was done ever so slightly and easy going on that kind of stuff for a little at a time is always better than to much. You can never go back if you remove to much of anything. But you can always continue forward. Remember a little at a time. Good luck. All this was a quick fix did it in 15mins at 4:30AM before I went to work. AKA : Plumbing contractor

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