Lionel fastrack 0-72 switch problem

[Berk 8624]

I am using Lionel Fastrack on my layout and have purchased several 0-72 switches.  I am having trouble with my steam locomotives "picking" the switches or derailing when backing through the switches.  Diesel locomotives seem to work well.  Any solutions?

[servoguy]

 I bought a pair of FasTrack O-60 switches about a year ago, and I had to return one of them as the points were out of adjustment and the engine would always derail going through the switch.  I took the switch back to the shop where I bought it because it was new, and I didn't want to do anything to it for fear of voiding the warranty.  IMHO, the design of these switches is not as good as it could be.  The 022 switches have a notch in the outside rails that keeps the engine from derailing.  The FasTrack switches don't have this notch.  I have a 23 car train running on the O-60 track, and sometimes it does not back through the switches very well.  I suggest you make sure the points are as close to the outside rails as possible.  You can bend them with needle nose pliers, but be gentle and make small adjustments. 

I have considered making a notch in the outside rail, but I haven't done it yet.

Bruce Baker

[USNRol]

servoguy

I suggest you make sure the points are as close to the outside rails as possible.  You can bend them with needle nose pliers, but be gentle and make small adjustments. 

+1.  I have permanently solved this same problem with my FasTrack switches 072's and 060's using needle nose and due diligence.  The trailing truck wheels on my PE Berk had such sharp flanges they would get right between outside rail and points.

Roland

[Berk 8624]

Thanks for the info!  I'll try and make the adjustment to see if that solves the problem.

Thanks again!

[Berk 8624]

Regarding your thought of adding a notch...are you thinking of the points going behind the notch, as in adding something to the inside of the track that the point would go behind or a notch that would allow the point to go into?

[servoguy]

 I was thinking of notching the outside rail so that the points could go into a notch in the rail.  This is the way the 022 switches are made, and they work very well.  You would have to slightly bend the tip of the switch point so it would go into the notch.  The switch point is very thin, so you wouldn't need much of a notch.

 Bruce Baker

[LocoPops]

 Bruce,

I guess you can't win.  I have the Lionel tubular O-72 switches.  My Lionel engines have no problems.  However my MTH engine hits the notch on one particular switch very hard (on the straight thru when closed), sometimes derailing.   The notch does look more pronounced on that switch.

[servoguy]

 I am not sure which direction the engine is going when it derails, but you should be able to slightly bend the rail at the notch so that there is nothing sticking out beyond the points.  Go easy because of you go to far, you may have to take the rail off of the switch to bend it back. 

 I have one O-72 manual switch, and it does not have notches in the outside rails.  I have thought about converting it to an electric switch, but I only have one, and I don't have a use for it.

Bruce Baker

[luther_stanton]

I have done a lot of work on the O-48 and O-36 switches - I cannot specifically comment on the O-60 or O-72 switches, so my findings may be different.

Check the gauge of the wheels in question - it is easier to adjust gauge than modify the point!

FasTrack rail is hollow - trying to notch may cause an issue if you go through the thin wall of the rail.

On the O-36 and O-48 switches there is a small bulge on the inside of the rail at the end of the points which should drive the flange outward.  I believe that this is in lieu of a notch as in theory it drives the flange away from the point.  It did not do its job for my switches - I still had issues.

If you do notch the rail, you will need to put a pretty good bend in as the points will not throw any further to move further into the notch. 

Be very careful on bending the points - I strongly suggest removing the points and bending from the middle (length wise) of the point.  The tip is fragile and breaks easily.  If it tip breaks you are out of luck and will need to order a new point.

Ensure that the flange is in fact going between the point and the rail.  My situation had the truck riding up on the point and coming down the other (wrong) side thereby picking the switch.  There was also a thud or click sound as the wheel did this.  I fixed the problem by disassembling the switch and tapering  the point - narrowing and rounding the top of about 1/3 the length of the point.  Looking at the end of the point, the rail profile is squarer - I made it triangular.  Anything to stop the wheel from getting a grip and climbing the rail.  I also "sharpened" the end of the point and polished it with a Dremel.

I have been rather disappointed with the quality of the FasTrack switches out of the box.  After working through the issues, they have performed as expected for me.