Lionel FastTrack quality issues

[hayman]

Got a new train set (lionel steam Santa Fe starter set) with fast track as a Christmas present for my grandson age 3.  Went with Lionel based on past quality.  We have added the fig 8 opt and two sets of switches, one manual, one electronic, and two operating cars-logs and coal and one operating track. 

The engine was defective and was replaced by the store.  the first operating track operated very sporatically.  The second does better but the uncouple button both uncouples and dumps while the second button does not dump.  The cars dump when going across the fig 8 90 degree crossover.  One of the electronic switches works well each and every time, the other works great and then does not, then does again.

Am I missing something or is this a common experience?  It is all made in China so who knows.   Hayman

 

[Kooljock1]

Which operating cars do you have?  Are they plastic or die-cast?  The mechanisms are different.  On the plastic, you must use the "Uncouple" button on the controller.

Regarding the FasTrack Automatic Switches, there have been reports of bad "cold-solder" joints inside some of them.  You can either fix or return to your LHS.

Jon

[Floridaguy]

I just bought the polar express for my 3 year old grandson and have had problems with the track too - the  2 fastrack remote switches - left and right -- the right one does not work

I set it up for alternate power

The instructions say to remove the track jumper and connect the red lead from the accessory side of my \GW80 transformer to the middle connection underneath the switch and the black lead to the ground

I saw a video on YT AND THE MAN SAID TO JUST connect the red lead to the middle connection

I tried both settings and the left switch  worked with the one red lead from accessories side to THE Middle post on the switch  ( no black AUX ground ) FROM transformer BUT the right switch STILL does not work

Am I doing something wrong -- or is the right switch just a lemon ---

I built a 8x8 BOARD that folds up against a wall on out patio / lania ( IN FLORIDA )

[hayman]

Funny-the switch that is tempromental is the right remote switch.  Just ran the train to see if I could duplicate the problem and no problems except the coal dump car which is an Ill. Cent Lion#37042.  It trips everywhere and needs to go to the train scrap pile.  The Seaborg Log dump car Lion#37042 seems to work most of the time and picking up 6 logs is much faster than a load of fake coal.  As for the remote switches and the fiscal cliff, you would think that for a $100 they could guarentee the solder job, but then grown men we elect to talk to each other can not communicate.  h