Atlas code 55 #5 turnout issue

[Erik W]

After 5 years with no problems, one of my #5s had a point come loose.  Unfortunately the turnout is in a freshly ballasted and sceniced area so I'm hoping to repair it in place. 

Does anyone have any ideas as far as how to re attach the point without pulling the turnout off the layout?  It appears the "peg" that is at the pivot point of the point rail could have it's head mushroomed and be reattached.  Anyone try this?

Thanks,
Erik

[u18b]

It's always tricky to repair a turnout once it is down.

Ron Bearden

[wazzou]

I would hope that you would withdraw your request.

No matter how you cut it, asking someone to copy an article from an issue that is for sale is stealing revenue from the owner- Pamela Clapp

Unbelievable.    :

[sirenwerks]

But if you have that issue and all Peco track, thus no need for the article, it would be considered recycling to make sure the article found a good home where it is read and used, right. Recycling's a good thing! You know, like Hundman used to do all the time.

[John]

After 5 years with no problems, one of my #5s had a point come loose.  Unfortunately the turnout is in a freshly ballasted and sceniced area so I'm hoping to repair it in place. 

Does anyone have any ideas as far as how to re attach the point without pulling the turnout off the layout?  It appears the "peg" that is at the pivot point of the point rail could have it's head mushroomed and be reattached.  Anyone try this?

Yea ... solder some fine stranded wire between the point rail and the frog rail, on both sides of the rail .. this should keep it from coming up, and give you the electrical connectivity.

I used to do this with Peco turnouts all the time.

[Sokramiketes]

Yeah, don't bother with the article (or the magazine for that matter, I left it on the newstand this month)  Do the wire thing like John mentioned, or do the small dab of liquid nails or other flexible adhesive one tie in from the pivot point (so as not to hamper electrical pickup through the pivot) like Jamie's been doing to Modutrak turnouts with the same issue.

[Erik W]

Yeah, don't bother with the article (or the magazine for that matter, I left it on the newstand this month)  Do the wire thing like John mentioned, or do the small dab of liquid nails or other flexible adhesive one tie in from the pivot point (so as not to hamper electrical pickup through the pivot) like Jamie's been doing to Modutrak turnouts with the same issue.

Mike,

That's a good idea.  I think the rail popped out when I got a piece of ballast under it.  When I threw the turnout after gluing the ballast down, the piece of ballast acted as a lever and forced the rail to pop out.  I think I'll try a small dab of flexible adhesive one tie from the pivot point like you suggested, which will address the issue with the rail popping out again.  If I have electrical pickup issues after that, I'll follow John's suggestion with the soldered wire.

Erik

[ljudice]

Or do what I did. Rip out all of the Atlas Code 55 and put Peco back down, which I should never have abandonned in the first place.

My Peco turnouts, even after being glued down and ripped up are stil 100% functional and intact - and are ALL being re-used - in comparison with my Atlas turnouts - half of which were out of gauge and the other half practically explode small parts in every direction when you look at them the wrong way.

Ok, got that out of my system!    ;D

[Mark5]

Lou,

You're not gonna pull a "U boat" on us eh?

Mark

[Erik W]

Or do what I did. Rip out all of the Atlas Code 55 and put Peco back down, which I should never have abandonned in the first place.

My Peco turnouts, even after being glued down and ripped up are stil 100% functional and intact - and are ALL being re-used - in comparison with my Atlas turnouts - half of which were out of gauge and the other half practically explode small parts in every direction when you look at them the wrong way.

Ok, got that out of my system!    ;D

Quit beatin' around the bush.  What are you trying to say.   ;D

I've heard the horror stories about Atlas code 55 turnouts.  I've had 38 of them, mostly #5s on my layout for close to 5 years with no problems what so ever.  I think the problem with this turnout stems from careless ballasting on my part.  I'll fix the turnout rather than rip up almost 40 turnouts and 150 feet of track. That seems like less of a headache in my case.   

[Chris333]

Uhh if you run the flange way gauge through a Peco turnout I doubt it would line up. Peco's are the only turnouts I've ever had repeated problems with.

[lashedup]

Like mike said, I use a dab of clear liquid nails on the ties and it stays flexible enough to hold it in place while still functioning properly.

Overall we have had good experiences with Atlas code 55 turnouts. The point rails popping off has happened on a few of them and we've had the nickel plating wear off in a few places where we lightly sanded (1200 grit) to remove off the tops of the rails. Otherwise they work fine and everything we have (which are running low profile metal wheel sets (usually Fox Valley) runs through them without a snag or problem (unless sloppy ballast or a twisted/torqued installation screws it up).

Bill Denton has Peco turnouts on his modules and other than having to shim some of them, I believe the have been relatively free of problems. Occasionally a turnout will get picked and derail something but some minor adjustments usually clears the problem.

We are going to need close to 80 turnouts for our yard modules and have decided to hand lay them. We'll see how that goes (other than slow!).

- Jamie

[wm3798]

I love my Atlas c55's... 5 years and counting...

Lee

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I love my Atlas c55's... 5 years and counting...

Lee

And numerous beatings with much abuse

[Ali Kenneth]

I am just starting to change from Peco to Atlas, i just do not like the way the Peco turnouts look!

To be honest though, i was considering #7 as the minimum size to use as the appearance is, in my book, stunning when done well.

Alasdair