ScaleTrax Switches

I am not familiar with ScaleTrax, but a fairly common problem with all switches/engines (or combinations of the two) at some time or another is the spacing of the engines pick up rollers. When going at a higher speed they make it through, but at slower speeds, not enough momentum and they stall out.

rtr12 posted:

I am not familiar with ScaleTrax, but a fairly common problem with all switches/engines (or combinations of the two) at some time or another is the spacing of the engines pick up rollers. When going at a higher speed they make it through, but at slower speeds, not enough momentum and they stall out.

Thanks for your reply RTR12. I have not been able to find anyone that is familiar with MTH Scale Trax switches so I stopped by the Roundhouse South and the owner told me the problem is likely the rollers shorting from the center rail to the guard rail. I am going to take several of my PS2 engines in and have him replace the rollers. Hopefully that works. Does anyone know if the newer PS3 engines have those issues?

Your most welcome. Since it is ALL of your engines that have the problem I would highly suspect the switch(s) myself. Unless all of your engines are the exact same engine, model, design or what ever you call it (having the same setup with their pick up rollers is what I mean here). I would guess that the PS3 engines have the same pick up roller as the PS2 engines of their same types? Engines not offered in PS2 and new to PS3 might be different?

Dave Hikel has posted here somewhere on the OGR forum a bunch of tips for using the Scaletrax switches. They have had some problems. He probably knows as much (or more) about the Scaletrax stuff than anyone and he has at least a couple of posts around here describing problems. He has also worked with MTH to correct the problems and also posted the fixes here on the forum. Might try looking for Dave's posts here and see what he has to say. I would offer a link, but I don't recall the threads they were in? If I do find them I'll post a link.

I believe the newer Scaletrax switches (last year or so) are said to have all of the fixes Dave recommended. If that is the case then maybe Dave's posts won't be of much help? Probably still worth reading though, he's a very informative guy. I have Atlas track and Scaletrax is the only track type my LHS doesn't carry. I have never even seen a piece of it in the flesh.  

Eric Hall posted:

I have all older PS2 engines and just bought some ScaleTrax for my layout. Problem is all the engines stall and shut down at slow speeds over both O-31 switches. I charged the batteries overnight just in case that was the issue. No change. The engines will clear the switches at higher speeds but spark and shut down at slower speeds. Anyone else experience this. I have written MTH twice but no response.

 

You might want to do a search on Scaletrax and Ted Hikel or Dave Hikel.   They have posted many items regarding Scaletrax switches and troubleshooting.  

I attached a quick list of things to check by Dave.