I have Atlas 3 rail O gauge track which the some of the metal rails have come loose or disconnected from the plastic base and wanted to know the best way to secure the rail back onto the base?
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Push back into the little "spikes" on the tie. Usually, the rail will snap in.
Alternatively, you can use some super glue to hold the rail against the tie.
In either case, just make sure the rail is level.
Atlas 21st Century track has a tendency to do this if handled roughly (Which I have done numerous times). Sometimes as RT says you can snap it back in, most of the time it will not. A solution is to try gluing but instead of gluing track ties to the rail at the ends cut the plastic and remove, then add their replacement ends by sliding on. Works great! The ends are about the last 3 ties with the fastener for connecting to adjoining section. They are actually made for Flex track or when you cut a section and lose the plastic connector on the ties for the next section. If you need a part number let me know.
Curtis
"Ride the rails and hope they don't touch each other or you will be DERAILED"
Has anyone tried Gorilla glue?
Best way to fix it is replace it with Ross/gargraves
I have heard people have used straight pins and cut them down to size and superglue them in place. Kind of like making your own RR spikes for repair. It goes into plastic so I don't see where there would be a ground issue or anything. And I'm sure nobody is really going to see it! Good Luck
rad400 posted:Has anyone tried Gorilla glue?
Urethane Gorilla glue expands greatly and will ooze out of the joint an without opposition pressure will raise the rail or depress the tie depending on which is free to move.
Their super glue does not do any expansion, it is like other super glues.
I like to use either HO or O gauge spikes and super glue.
Bogie
stubbsO posted:I have heard people have used straight pins and cut them down to size and superglue them in place. Kind of like making your own RR spikes for repair. It goes into plastic so I don't see where there would be a ground issue or anything. And I'm sure nobody is really going to see it! Good Luck
Why not just purchased a small bag of long O Scale spikes, then glue it back into place with Gorilla SUPER Glue, and finish off with the spikes?
Once the rail pulls away from the spikes, it is near impossible to re-seat the rail. The plastic spike gets in the way. I cut off the plastic spike head and replace it with HO spikes.
The tie with the screw has 5 HO spikes. I drilled a hole where the molded-in spike broke off, put a dab of super glue over the hole, and pushed the spike in with needle nose pliers.
Bob
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Thank all for the suggestions. I will try using spikes & super glue
Pull the rail from the section where it is loose and the push back in to the plastic "spike heads". CA the rail to the loosened spike heads. If that does not work, cut out the broken spike heads and CA the rail back on WITH a track gauge or you will have derailments. In either case, check the gauge with care !!!!! When connected to the adjacent section, the rail should hold its gauge.
I’ve removed up to half the ties on many tracks and reseated the rails in the plastic spikes with nearly a 100% success rate. Cut the plastic joints on the bottom, slide the ties off and back on again then hit the bottom of the rails with a drop of CA glue where a tie meets and away you go. The replacement end pieces are great for replacing the busted ends as mentioned before.
Hot Water posted:stubbsO posted:I have heard people have used straight pins and cut them down to size and superglue them in place. Kind of like making your own RR spikes for repair. It goes into plastic so I don't see where there would be a ground issue or anything. And I'm sure nobody is really going to see it! Good Luck
Why not just purchased a small bag of long O Scale spikes, then glue it back into place with Gorilla SUPER Glue, and finish off with the spikes?
Agreed! As stated above, once the plastic spikes fail, you can's snap the rails back in. I have done many a tutorial on how to repair Atlas O track with HO spikes, super glue and metal sheers[ HO spikes are very long and will go past the plastic Atlas O tie.
Take a looksie!
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Atlas track screw just below my thumb. There is a second screw other side of the rail.
