06-12-2011, 01:09 PM
The problem with your turnouts is probably due to the fact that the NMRA standards are rather vague on Turnout dimensions. In addition, there are manufacturing tolerances that can "stack up." The only turnouts that meet NMRA standards of conformance are those built by Fast Tracks jigs or those from the Proto87 stores. 100% of the turnouts manufactured by other manufacturers miss somewhere! Furthermore, even if the turnouts should meet mechanical standards, unless you solder a drop to each of the points to carry power, and tie the points into the appropriate stock rail, you end up with your electrical connection entirely dependant on a tiny tip of the very end of the points making contact with the stock rail to power the points. The least little bit of corrosion, dirt, or lack of contact at a spot of minimal contact surface will result in the switch being dead on one side from the points all the way through the frog!