Micro Engineering turnout fix? Darned thing is borken at the points...

Odd. The one turnout with the #5 in the photo two posts ago, the point rails are sometimes popping out of the connectors that hold them to the turnout after a couple of quick clicks with the blue point. It just started so I'm thinking that maybe the connectors have slid back a little but I'm not sure. Of course this started happening right after I did ballast work, so removing it would be a royal pain as everything is soldered together (and besides, it's not exactly broken as such).

Anyone have an idea how to fix that? Would sliding those connectors just a little bit toward the end points likely fix this?

Sorry, no blue point...but maybe...

  I think this post did inspire me to finally fab my own 2 curve turnout from a couple extra B.mann 18" roadbed curves just to see how hard it was. I used rail connectors at the point rails pivots. The bar holds the rails in place. The rest hardly applies for you, pretty /scale were not on the agenda, only function, and only 2ft long max. leading to a mine portal.

   I'm confident enough now, to no longer hesitate on a "small track" hand build. Losing the roadbed would only make it easier IMO.(if the track doesn't fall apart) It went fairly smoothly and took only a few hours counting the glue drying. (JBw & Gorilla gel super)

Thanks for the inspiration, and I sure hope you get this licked Lee.

   Did you consider rebuilding one of the "junkers" over time to a higher standard for future use should one fail?

p51 posted:

Odd. The one turnout with the #5 in the photo two posts ago, the point rails are sometimes popping out of the connectors that hold them to the turnout after a couple of quick clicks with the blue point. It just started so I'm thinking that maybe the connectors have slid back a little but I'm not sure. Of course this started happening right after I did ballast work, so removing it would be a royal pain as everything is soldered together (and besides, it's not exactly broken as such).

Anyone have an idea how to fix that? Would sliding those connectors just a little bit toward the end points likely fix this?

P51,

I've encountered the same problem - after ballasting just like you...  I was able to use a small screw driver to move the connectors (rail joiners) back into the proper position.  I now check all new ME turnouts to make sure they are in proper position before installing.  ME turnouts sure require a lot of effort to "get right" but  work fine afterwards.  Mine get a lot of use...

I figured it out yesterday right before my op session. I took some small needle-nose pliers as the connectors looked to be in the exact same position as the other turnouts.

So, I squeezed them a little once I popped the rails out. Then, with a lot of swearing under my breath (and praying I wasn't above the rip the rails right off the ties), they both went into place and aren't moving further.

So, if it happens again, I know where to go.

Thanks for the advice, everyone!

I would suggest a video camera set up close-range to watch as the cars go over the turn-out at various speeds. Then review the footage to determine the exact problem. Do this from several angles.

It's all good now. I just know these are reasonably fragile turnouts. If I had to do it again, I think I'd have used Peco track. That stuff is practically bulletproof.

Didn't stop me from putting this on my website, though:

You might want to consider Custom Trax http://custmtrax.com/ if you are changing track vendors. It looks great and comes mounted on roadbed and pre-ballasted.

I looked into them at one point but wasn't familiar with their products.

Going back and swapping out all the track (which was ballasted and painted a while back) wouldn't be practical even for a small layout. Just saying that if I'd had it to do again, for durability, I would have gone with Peco track products.

borken?

You need an expert on the bork, bork, bork!!!

I always figured he was singing borsch borsch borscht?

Still funny, still a fav.

Ye vor de hum de hum de flip flip mit de trackies...

Trackie go da snap and hur de hum de hum de broken und de soldera de snip snip!

Hi Lee,  I know this may not be what you would like to do, however, you might want to try Fast Tracks jigs, they are fantastic.  www.handlaidtrack.com.    Their jigs are the best I've ever seen and their turnouts are tremendous.  I have two of the jigs, one for Sn3 and the other for On30.  ME turnouts are I believe about $25 to $30 each and not always available unless things have changed at ME.  The upfront cost of the FT jigs is a little steep but once you get the hang of it, you can whip out a turnout in less than 20 minutes.  I have friend that turned me on to them and he can make them in under 15 minutes.  Here is another nice thing about them, when you build the switch, the cost is less than $5, which to me is a huge plus.  You buy the rail, switch ties, PCB ties and solder in bulk and then your costs are kept very low as compared to ME costs.

They have an instructional video that comes with the starter set if I remember correctly and it explains and shows you everything you need to know.  The first few are a little hairy as you are making them up but once you get the hang of it, they go very quickly.  You can also send them an e-mail and they will get back to you super quick  please check out their web site, it is amazing.  They also have a huge amount of of over-lays to help you in your planning stages.  Find the ones you want and print them out and lay them on your track route.

I don't work for them, just a super satisfied customer and user, or if you will, A Happy Camper.

We have 40 plus ME #5 turnouts.  The way we got them to work reliably was to replace ALL of the throw tiebars with slightly wider pc board tiebars.  We did not gap them right exactly in the middle.  This leaves a little copper for the throw wire to run and adds to the strength of the hole.  The gap doesn't care where it is so we just gapped them close to one of the running rails.  They ALL work smoothly now.  

For the rail joiner / point problem we moved them into place and then a little CA on the end towards the frog.  They now stay in place.  Russ

J. Motts posted:

Hi Lee,  I know this may not be what you would like to do, however, you might want to try Fast Tracks jigs, they are fantastic.  www.handlaidtrack.com.     

No slam on you or the others still responding to this, but I'm not sure some folks are aware that I'd originally posted this over 18 months ago. The turnouts have been repaired and ballasted and I have long since moved on, on this subject...