06-16-2015, 09:44 AM
Hi guys,
thanks for all the advice. Sorry about not getting back to you sooner, but working for a Class 1 railroad and trying to raise a family, doesn't leave me much time for myself. Anyway, great advise leads to great results. Here's the update. First cid, I again cleaned those switches to the best that I could (I swear I'm going to have the shiniest switches anybody has ever seen! I found a small glob of Matte Medium stuck on the bottom of both switches (that explains why they wouldn't throw over to the adjoining rail very well (grr), not to mention the stalling on the switch. Next up - BR 60103, I tried your advice and I placed a wire ahead of and behind a single unit. I found that leading up to and just past the switch points I had power, but at the frog and beyond - nothing. I'd move the wires closer to the unit as you suggested...nothing. I again thoroughly cleaned the switches (points, frog, guardrails) and I noticed that this time, the engine moved over all three areas smoothly, then went dead. Hmm I thought.. ngauger when I "cleaned" the switch, I used my version of a LORAM RailGrinder - a sheet of P320 sandpaper (extra fine grit). My last attempt at cleaning the rails I used a washcloth with rubbing alcohol - it made the track look nice but as I found out, except for polishing the Matte Medium, it doesn't work well. Before using the sandpaper this time, my thought was "hell, if this doesn't clean the rail - nothing will." Next torikoos this is where your advice comes in. I double (O.K. - honestly triple checked) the switches that I'm using. All of my switches are Walthers Shinohara. I've debated on replacing them with Peco, but for the amount of money I have stuck into them (not to mention the amount of money I would loose probably trying to resell them, I've decided to stick with them. They are all insulated so it cuts back on the amount of wiring needed. So as it turns out, Matte Medium will get anyplace and everyplace you don't want it to go, and making sure I do some Railgrinding after I ballast takes away all the headache. Now, my units are running nice and smooth
Now with maybe 1% of my layout done, I feel the need to build.
Once again, Thanks everybody
FYI - I'll be going out and buying a voltmeter this afternoon
thanks for all the advice. Sorry about not getting back to you sooner, but working for a Class 1 railroad and trying to raise a family, doesn't leave me much time for myself. Anyway, great advise leads to great results. Here's the update. First cid, I again cleaned those switches to the best that I could (I swear I'm going to have the shiniest switches anybody has ever seen! I found a small glob of Matte Medium stuck on the bottom of both switches (that explains why they wouldn't throw over to the adjoining rail very well (grr), not to mention the stalling on the switch. Next up - BR 60103, I tried your advice and I placed a wire ahead of and behind a single unit. I found that leading up to and just past the switch points I had power, but at the frog and beyond - nothing. I'd move the wires closer to the unit as you suggested...nothing. I again thoroughly cleaned the switches (points, frog, guardrails) and I noticed that this time, the engine moved over all three areas smoothly, then went dead. Hmm I thought.. ngauger when I "cleaned" the switch, I used my version of a LORAM RailGrinder - a sheet of P320 sandpaper (extra fine grit). My last attempt at cleaning the rails I used a washcloth with rubbing alcohol - it made the track look nice but as I found out, except for polishing the Matte Medium, it doesn't work well. Before using the sandpaper this time, my thought was "hell, if this doesn't clean the rail - nothing will." Next torikoos this is where your advice comes in. I double (O.K. - honestly triple checked) the switches that I'm using. All of my switches are Walthers Shinohara. I've debated on replacing them with Peco, but for the amount of money I have stuck into them (not to mention the amount of money I would loose probably trying to resell them, I've decided to stick with them. They are all insulated so it cuts back on the amount of wiring needed. So as it turns out, Matte Medium will get anyplace and everyplace you don't want it to go, and making sure I do some Railgrinding after I ballast takes away all the headache. Now, my units are running nice and smooth
Now with maybe 1% of my layout done, I feel the need to build. Once again, Thanks everybody
FYI - I'll be going out and buying a voltmeter this afternoon