Harry Potter train set problem.

[Tom Jardine]

I am having an unusual problem with my recently purchases Harry Potter locomotive.  My Fastrack layout is about 7 feet by 11 feet, and has a number of fastrack switched (all curves and switches are 036).  I have several engines, I have several engines from 0-6-0 SP&S dockside to  a 4-8-4 Northern Pacific steam engine.  All will run on the layout I have tho a 90 degree crossing causes some to lose electrical contact and stop (I am going to remove or change the crossing).  But the 5972 'Hogwarts Castle' while going around right hand switches fine, the fron truck derailes every time I travers a left hand switch (through the curved portion) unless I am at a crawl speed.  Examination of the engine reveals no apparent problems, drive train is un bent, the front truck moves freely (almost a bit too much movement allowed), the front wheels rotate freely though I added a drop of silicon dry lube to them as the axels pass through the truck metal frame.  I love the locomotive and set, am a huge Harry Potter fan, and will keep the set and run it on the oval lportion of my lay out, but will be restricted to no left hand swith turns (grin).  Any one have any ideas/  I am thinking of contacting a near Lionel sevice center (I live on the Space Coast in Florida).

[8ntruck]

Take a close look at the moving part of the switch.  I've found a slight gap in a couple of my Fastrack switches when it was set in the curve position.  Some of my locomotives made the curve, some did not. 

I fixed it by slightly bending the end of the moving part of the switch so it fit tightly against the curved rail when the switch was set in the curved position.

Good luck.

[sir james I]

Re-exam the front truck while on the switch, 036 is the sharpest curve the HP engine can run on. Sometimes the front truck catches on the engine body.

[Tom Jardine]

Much delayed replys to posts with help.  Thanks for the replys, I tried all, still was not able to get the engine to navigate all my left hand switches.  I even tired the video tip that Lionel has on the problem, still no luck, bvut I got the engine to traverse one of the left switches in my loop back, so I can use it, just only one way.  I think it may be in the switch construction.  Thanks again to all.

[tinplatacis]

I would take off the pilot truck.

[VICTOR L ERICKSON]

I had the same issue with fastrack switches. If you look closely at the rail directly in front of the frog, there is a small "bump" molded into the rail. What I did was add some 5 minute epoxy to the bump to enlarge it. This forces the lead truck wheels over just enough so it will not "pick" the switch.