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Author Topic: Having a Problem with Kato Unitrack #4 Turnout Not Always Switching.  (Read 5039 times)

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Kisatchie

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Having a Problem with Kato Unitrack #4 Turnout Not Always Switching.
« on: May 28, 2016, 05:44:12 PM »
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I just started having trouble with a Kato #4 turnout. When I throw the switch, it usually doesn't. I was going to send it back to MB Klein for a replacement, but I looked in my records and saw I purchased it 3 months ago (March 3). Tough luck for me, Kato's warranty is only 60 days. I'm really annoyed about this, because I need 8 to 12 more #4s.

I unscrewed the bottom cover and checked the thin wire that actually moves the switch and didn't see anything unusual. I did notice that the wire could be moved to a second indent(? - don't know what to call it) in the little plastic piece that shifts the turnout, but it didn't help. RATZ!

I'm not expecting miracles, but any suggestions as to what to do next?


Hmm... throw it in the
trash...






« Last Edit: May 28, 2016, 06:30:58 PM by GaryHinshaw »
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brill27mcb

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Re: Having a Problem with Kato Unitrack #4 Turnout Not Always Switching.
« Reply #1 on: May 29, 2016, 05:59:13 PM »
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You are using DC power to the switches, right?

Rich K.
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Dave V

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Re: Having a Problem with Kato Unitrack #4 Turnout Not Always Switching.
« Reply #2 on: May 29, 2016, 06:25:26 PM »
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Kiz, are you planning to start a layout engineering thread?  You may want to consolidate your questions into a layout thread...folks will visit those often enough that you'll get your questions answered and they'll all be in one place in case you need to refer back to them later.
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Kisatchie

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Re: Having a Problem with Kato Unitrack #4 Turnout Not Always Switching.
« Reply #3 on: May 29, 2016, 06:26:03 PM »
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Quote from: brill27mcb on May 29, 2016, 05:59:13 PM
You are using DC power to the switches, right?

I'm using manual switching since the layout will be 10x9' (10' x 2.5' shelf connected to a sheet of 4x8 plywood to make a lopsided U shape.


Hmm... I hate doing
anything manual...

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Two scientists create a teleportation ray, and they try it out on a cricket. They put the cricket on one of the two teleportation pads in the room, and they turn the ray on.
The cricket jumps across the room onto the other pad.
"It works! It works!"

Kisatchie

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Re: Having a Problem with Kato Unitrack #4 Turnout Not Always Switching.
« Reply #4 on: May 29, 2016, 06:31:14 PM »
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Quote from: Dave Vollmer on May 29, 2016, 06:25:26 PM
Kiz, are you planning to start a layout engineering thread?  You may want to consolidate your questions into a layout thread...folks will visit those often enough that you'll get your questions answered and they'll all be in one place in case you need to refer back to them later.

I already started a layout thread, but since I don't have any layout yet, it died out.


Hmm... much like Kiz's
brain cells...

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Two scientists create a teleportation ray, and they try it out on a cricket. They put the cricket on one of the two teleportation pads in the room, and they turn the ray on.
The cricket jumps across the room onto the other pad.
"It works! It works!"

Missaberoad

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Re: Having a Problem with Kato Unitrack #4 Turnout Not Always Switching.
« Reply #5 on: May 29, 2016, 07:23:14 PM »
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Could you take a picture of the underside of the turnout?

I'm looking at mine and I'm not understanding your second indent comment, but my turnout is older and could be different.  :|

Is the wire moving when you slide the black throw mechanism with the magnets attached to it?

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Kisatchie

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Re: Having a Problem with Kato Unitrack #4 Turnout Not Always Switching.
« Reply #6 on: May 29, 2016, 07:50:35 PM »
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Quote from: Missaberoad on May 29, 2016, 07:23:14 PM
Could you take a picture of the underside of the turnout?

I'm looking at mine and I'm not understanding your second indent comment, but my turnout is older and could be different.  :|

Is the wire moving when you slide the black throw mechanism with the magnets attached to it?


The tiny plastic bar that the wire connects too is too small for my camera. Sorry


There are three "nubs"? a, b and c:       wire goes here at X or Y
                                                           |       |
                                                    |a|  x |b|  y  |c|
                                            =================  -  plastic bar


The wire moves sometimes, but usually not enough to move the plastic bar that connects to the rails. The wire always moves enough to throw the switch to the curved track. Trying to get it to throw the switch to the straight track is the problem.


Hmm... Kiz needs a good
drawing program...








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Two scientists create a teleportation ray, and they try it out on a cricket. They put the cricket on one of the two teleportation pads in the room, and they turn the ray on.
The cricket jumps across the room onto the other pad.
"It works! It works!"

Missaberoad

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Re: Having a Problem with Kato Unitrack #4 Turnout Not Always Switching.
« Reply #7 on: May 29, 2016, 08:00:33 PM »
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Okay... I think we're on the same page now, If yours is like mine the Nub you have marked B should have a hole for the wire to go through...



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Kisatchie

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Re: Having a Problem with Kato Unitrack #4 Turnout Not Always Switching.
« Reply #8 on: May 29, 2016, 08:34:37 PM »
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I just took off the base plate and I see my memory was off... there are 4 nubs, with 3 slots where the wire can fit... the wire does not go through one of the nubs as in yours, since I can easily shift the wire around. Looks like Kato engineered a design fault into my turnouts LOL.


Hmm... was I right about
Kiz's brain cells or what...?

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Two scientists create a teleportation ray, and they try it out on a cricket. They put the cricket on one of the two teleportation pads in the room, and they turn the ray on.
The cricket jumps across the room onto the other pad.
"It works! It works!"

Missaberoad

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Re: Having a Problem with Kato Unitrack #4 Turnout Not Always Switching.
« Reply #9 on: May 29, 2016, 08:40:43 PM »
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And here I thought it would be easy  :D

Like I said mine is really old stock (90s likely) so they must have changed the design...

sorry I couldn't be more help :)
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Kisatchie

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Re: Having a Problem with Kato Unitrack #4 Turnout Not Always Switching.
« Reply #10 on: May 29, 2016, 08:43:14 PM »
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I went through my unopened #4 turnouts and found another one that doesn't work properly. The switch almost closes, but cars derail on it. This one is less than 6 weeks old and just opened, so it's going back to MB Klein for a credit. I'm done with #4 turnouts... I'll get #6s from now on.


Hmm... what'll Kiz do if
the #6 turnouts don't
work properly...?

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Two scientists create a teleportation ray, and they try it out on a cricket. They put the cricket on one of the two teleportation pads in the room, and they turn the ray on.
The cricket jumps across the room onto the other pad.
"It works! It works!"

robert3985

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Re: Having a Problem with Kato Unitrack #4 Turnout Not Always Switching.
« Reply #11 on: May 30, 2016, 04:17:28 AM »
+1
WHAT??????????????????  WHAT??????????????????????  After everybody everywhere has told me (and everybody else) that Kato Unitrack turnouts and track products are "BULLETPROOF"????????

What's this world coming to anyway???

 :trollface:  :D  :ashat:

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore
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Chris333

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Re: Having a Problem with Kato Unitrack #4 Turnout Not Always Switching.
« Reply #12 on: May 30, 2016, 05:37:02 AM »
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Don't forget the #4's have no notch in the stock rails for the points to rest into:
http://www.pbase.com/atsf_arizona/kato_4_turnout_tuning&page=1
http://good.afternoonrobot.co.uk/resolving-derailments-on-n-gauge-kato-number-4-turnouts-slash-points

I don't know if maybe it's not throwing all the way because it can't?
« Last Edit: May 30, 2016, 05:40:02 AM by Chris333 »
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Kisatchie

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Re: Having a Problem with Kato Unitrack #4 Turnout Not Always Switching.
« Reply #13 on: May 30, 2016, 10:54:11 AM »
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Quote from: Chris333 on May 30, 2016, 05:37:02 AM
Don't forget the #4's have no notch in the stock rails for the points to rest into:

I don't know if maybe it's not throwing all the way because it can't?

I don't know if Kato redesigned the rails, but I have no derailments at all when the switches actually work.

It seems to me that the switches don't move/throw all the way because there is too much friction between the plastic bar which the wire is attached to and the underside of the turnout. If I manually move the rails to their proper switched positions, there is no problem with derailments...


Hmm... I'd hit the turnout
with a brick a few times...

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Two scientists create a teleportation ray, and they try it out on a cricket. They put the cricket on one of the two teleportation pads in the room, and they turn the ray on.
The cricket jumps across the room onto the other pad.
"It works! It works!"

arbomambo

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Re: Having a Problem with Kato Unitrack #4 Turnout Not Always Switching.
« Reply #14 on: May 30, 2016, 05:51:24 PM »
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I have no issue with mine....
I always make this simple adjustment (learned from the links above)

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