WEAK HANDS

maybe you could find some long handled pliers, and squeeze together the two pieces of plastic that are on the ends of the fastrack.  I have not tried it my self, but I think it would work.

Needle nose pliers with a 90 degree bend might help.

It might help to use rubber-palm work gloves to get a better grip, and slide the pieces together on a slick surface.

Sonny, congradulations for jumping into this adventure at this point in life! 

I remember seeing an add in OGR, I believe, showing a device shoving two pieces of tubular track together.

It looks like you position two pieces of track end to end then attach one of two clamping arms to each end. 

Then there is what looks like an over center cam lever which when flipped end for end draws the two pieces of track together.

The name Moodog (sp?) sticks in my head.

RRers are usually very friendy and most would love to be able to lend a hand.  I know if you were in the Delaware Valley area, dozens of guys would offer their help.   tt

That tool to put track together is called "T-Tracker". It is about 125.00! What helped me was to put on some mechanics type work gloves. Helps with grip and pain.

Rob

Hi Sonny,

If you are using the Lionel FasTrack (with the roadbed), I found the start of a tool. Find a set of 8" dividers.

I used a set of 8 inch dividers. I placed the track on a flat surface, started the connectors and then placed the divider points into the pre-drilled screw holes and squeezed the dividers closed. It connected the track nicely.

Problem: I placed the dividers into the holes and pulled to disconnect the track pieces. It took extra effort and then the pieces launched apart.

Still working on an idea...

Thanks ever so much people for your reply. If only the whold world was Train formum what a wonderful place we would have.  Moonman I have one quertion what is a divider?  I will try to look it up before you  answer me.  Best of health to you all.   Sonny

A divider is a carpenters or machinists tool that looks like a compass

Ok Part#2

Snap ring pliers would do the job. Mine are too small. I'll take a trip to Harbor Freight and check out their selection this afternoon.

Sonny,

where do you live? I am sure a member on this board including myself would be more then happy to come over to your house and help you out. 

Please let us help if we can.

dave

Dave, I just have to answer your help, But at my age 88 soon 89 I just have to do this myself. Believe me when I say THANK YOU for your reply,  I live about 40 miles north of AC, NJ.  Again Thanks but I am going to home depot and get and try the snap ring pliers, that may just do the trick.  Will let you all know  Best of health too all.  Sonny

Sonny,

Since you prefer not to accept help, perhaps you should consider strengthening your hands.  Get a rubber ball and start squeezing it.  Carry the ball with you all the time.  When you sit to watch tv, squeeze the ball.  Whenever you are not engaged in something, squeeze the ball.  You get the picture.  Your hand strength will increase and maybe you can do it yourself without special tools.

Best of luck,

Ed

Sonny,

hey, I am going to check out Harbor freight for you on the snap ring pliers. They are $3.99 and say that they will work on 2", which is the width needed or more. You'll pay way too much at the Depot.

I wanted to test it for you to be sure it worked for disassembly.

I'll let you know anyway, as I like how it will work.

Going on 89 and starting out in the hobby, that's a great story. 

The screw holes are diagonal across the rails, but you could drill another small hole in line with the existing one to make it easier.

With the holes that are in line, I'd consider a modification of a clamp with a couple of steel pins to pull them together.  Maybe something like this could be modified with a couple of steel pins sticking out to bring them together.  There may be a better type of clamp that would work as well.

Sonny

   I believe you are from N.J. if so you should be able to find someone to help.

Bill 

A different style clamp will work both ways, like this clamp/spreader.

Clamp/Spreader

Sonny,

Don't feel too bad.  I'll be 62 at the end of the month and have some trouble getting track together, mainly with lining up the 3 pins while assembling 2 pieces of track.  I guess over the years I've used my hands as pliers, vise grips, and hammers so often that I'm sure they ache because of it (broken fingers didn't help either).

I wonder if spraying the pins with WD-40 or some other lube/conductive grease would make them go together easier?  I've never done it and it might be too messy.

Sonny, I feel your pain....

When I tore my left Bicep, I had a hard time connecting track for months after recovery. I still do even now.

89 years young! Keep it up!

Hey! Have fun. I'm 70, everything still works but not as well as when I was younger. Congratulations on almost 89. At our age getting older is better than your other choice.  Don

I like this as a start. 

It appears there is enough 'beef' to the two arms that you might be able to drill a hole in the tip of the two arms into which you could CA glue a length of steel rod to engage the holes in the FT base.  Or, you could tap the hole for a threaded rod...or screw, clipping off the head after inserting.  Or even a self-tapping screw...as long as it would be small enough in diameter to engage the FT base holes.

Anyhow, it's a start.  Looks like it has some definite possibilities.

And it probably won't cost $125 when all said and done.

This is sure to be a common problem in search of a handy affordable solution.  This is where forumites can meet the challenge!!

KD

Of course, when all else fails I have a 'blue list' of incantations and expressions which, having no force in and of themselves, nonetheless seem to help when muttered...and cause Millie and Daisy (our Goldens) to move to another room.  Hey, it's what geezers do at our age!

Sonny, something to consider.  For any of us coming over to your place to assemble some track, it would be an absolute pleasure.  In fact a true joy.  Besides at your described location I would wager that dozens of RRers live within a short drive.

We all need a helping hand at times. tt

Hi Sonny, try putting the first section of track in place with screws, or tacs. Once that is secure line up your second section of track and using a wooden drift placed at the far end of track # 2 tap it home with a small hammer. Be careful not to damage any of your pins.

When you are happy with your layout you can fasten the track in place with screws or nails. Don't worry about doing every hole one fastener every four or five sections. This should work fine unles you are bulding grades or something like that.

Fast-Track is a good, sturdy product and with a little care this should work for you just fine.

Have fun and please don't be to proud to ask for help to get started. We all love playing with trains and we usally don't care where.

Hi Sonny,

I know how you feel you should do it yourself! I am handicapped and can only use one hand so, I have a little different problem than you do only my left hand grips so unless I want to rip up my remaining hand (and I don't) I use a  glove with grip pads when I want to take track apart but when I want to put it together that is a little harder. What I do is I line up the male and female pieces of the fastrac so that they abut each other and push them together from underneath with needle nose pliers with a little persistence if it doesn't work on the first try usually by the third or fourth- voila!

That you try a new hobby at the tender young age of 88 is laudible, keep it up! Take all the time you need, you can do it! Ataboy!

Mike Maurice

It took me two months to put together my 5 X 9 ping pong size layout but once I did MAN! what a sense of satisfaction! Exercise as one poster said with a rubber ball you'll get your hand strength back in no time!

Sorry it took me so long to reply too all you wonderful people,but a high curb droped me down, no broken bones but thin skin in a couple of places made me bleed.  But all is not bad an I'm back in the hobby.  By the way I have been in the hobby for a lot of years, Had it in the living room.  Then torn it down and built it in the garage. Then the heart attack an time too get back to work.  That is when I found out I couldn't put track together. Can now do thanks to you all using those pliers, an drilling too small holes close to center track. I works like a charm.  My layout is 7 ft wide x 16 ft long, and I have three levels, each with two sepert tracks. Third level I get up on the table by the way of ladder. Luck I  only weight 125 lbs. You wonderful people have for many years been my help and you all are.  May you all have the best of health for  MANNY years too come.   Sonny

I forgot sometime, youall not not  off the hook yet. I am now starting to wire everything too dcs.  So you wonderful people are not rid of me yet.  Sonny

Sonny We all enjoy your company. So keep the questions coming, you will get the answers you need, there is someone who knows the answers your looking for. Plush it will help others looking for the same answers.    SCOT.

We love reading your post Sonny. It sounds like you have alot to offer us as well.

A hundred and twenty-five pounds, what a coincidence I weigh the same thing, in my left leg.

We all have our issues brother, I'm working on losing weight because I'm starting to have artheritis issues in my knees. I went for the injections and they helped but I am also going to Nova Care for PT. The tech ask me how my knees felt I told him they are fine, it's everything else that hurts now.

Oh well all good things come with a price!

In any case have fun buddy and don't let DCS trouble you we have people here and on the DCS section that are realy up on it.

Have fun!

Interesting predicament I had not considered.  I recently was teaching my grandson how to assemble Lionel Fastrack, and while generally successful, he required my assistance at times.  Maybe I will require his assistance some day if I am as long-lived as Sonny.

gg1man, I'm very sorry to hear of your pain, an sometimes we have to be so careful what we may take too soften the pain.  I have good luck not too be in pain, a little weak but that's all.  Again thanks for the reply all of you.  O.K. back up the ladder just two steps (I think)