|
|
Post by arsenix2001 on Mar 31, 2018 16:59:38 GMT -5
So ive finally moved my 44x72 layout from the garage to its final resting place in my spare bedroom. Most of the scenery is finished with the exceptions of pouring the river and finishing touches here and there. Basically the dirty work is done. Heres the problem. From ballasting, heat and continually storing the layout vertically many of my turnouts especially the ones for my sidings that are split to run off one powered switch are now sticky. Sometimes they will work, other times hung halfway, others the throw switch will move while the track itself wont. I was thinking of doing a major cleaning with a dental pic and vacuum, some compressed air and finally a soakdown with rubbing alcohol and working it back and forth to flush everything out. Everything was ballasted with woodland scenics scenery solution. Any thoughts? Is the rubbing alc ok to use? And should I go with 70 or 91? Thanks in advance. Hope to get some pictures up in the next few weeks. Picking back uo the hobby after a 3-4 month lull lol.
|
|
|
|
Post by modelwarships on Apr 5, 2018 11:10:53 GMT -5
I learned the hard way about ballast and turnouts. The thinned glue I used seems to like to wick up into the mechanism thru capillary action even when I think I am staying far away. I ended up taking them apart and cleaning them. When I reinstalled them I taped the bottom off and used thick plaster to blend the scenery into the ballast. I brush undiluted white glue around the turnout and apply ballast over that. I stay well away from the points of the turnouts.
BTW, they are not that hard to clean out.
|
|
|
|
Post by arsenix2001 on Apr 7, 2018 9:56:50 GMT -5
Thanks for the info and encouragement. Id say I have 5-6 turnouts hung up and yes you are right, external cleaning is not effective. I plan on de ballasting and pulling them up/dissasembling as you reccomended. Glad to hear you were successful and thanks for the tip about the tape. I will be super carefull re ballasting this time believe me!
|
|
|
|
Post by boxcarwilly on Apr 15, 2018 16:00:39 GMT -5
I have Marklin turnouts in my sorting yard and I've been applying ballast and I have come up against the same problem with the turnouts sticking. I have two ways of solving this problem.
1: Before ballasting, I cut pieces of clear plastic into strips about 1/2" to 3/4" wide and as long as the switch machine on the turnout is. I do this for the front and back. With an sharp hobby knife, I make a slit in the base as close to the turnout as possible. After doing that, I insert the plastic strip into it. Then I apply a little bit of diluted white glue and then ballast. This allows me to ballast the outside of the turnout right up to the mechanism casing.
2; If I should happen to get glue under the turnout as you described above, then I use undiluted rubbing alcohol and with the aid of an eye dropper, I put a few drops on the point slider, the pivot, and the manual use knob. I let this soak in for a few minutes, then I work the switch either manually or electrically and observe the action. If sticking still persists, I apply more alcohol until the points move freely. This whole process also works for MTL switches both manual and electrical. I would think it would work for Rokuhan and Atlas as well.
Here's a helpful hint. If none of the above works effectively and you really don't want to remove the switch to clean and repair, use a small jeweller's screw driver and pry the entire switch up from whatever is supporting it. In my case, they are supported with cork. Then apply a generous coating of alcohol to the cork and put the switch back down. I have never had to use this process, but I've heard that it works very well when used in conjunction with one of the two methods above. Of course, whatever works for you is dandy.
|
|
|
|
Post by arsenix2001 on Apr 28, 2018 10:46:51 GMT -5
Thanks for the advise. Mine were so far gone even heavy cleaning wouldnt do the trick. Amazing how sensitive they are. Still ran into issue with the new ones I replaced. I found that applying labelle 108 then dropping 90% rubbing alcohol to disperse and dilute it seems to work well to help with sticking.
|
|
|
|
Post by arsenix2001 on May 1, 2018 8:45:51 GMT -5
Well to my dismay, even with being ultra carefull. Brushing white glue to the sides, sealing the bottoms etc. even my brand new turnouts have succumb to sticking. If i apply 90% rubbing alcohol to the entire switch it immediatly frees up and works remotely. Problem it once the alcohol dries, its back to square one till its re applied it seems. Anyone have any miricle solutions to try short of ripping everything up again? Have 2-3 that are troubling me now.
|
|
|
|
Post by Greg Elmassian on May 15, 2018 1:16:49 GMT -5
apply the alcohol, let soak a bit, and then blow out with canned air... I think your issue is you soften the glue temporarily but it stays in the switch
|
|
