Help with O-27 track.....

[drums1427]

I just got a new O-27 Lionel set & I'm having a problem. I'm having a hard time pulling out the 3 connector pins at the end of the track so that I can place them on the other end. I'm trying to do this to do a S-type curve.

I remember watching my dad doing this with a pair of plyers when I was little. It that still the way to do it? I was able to get one off, but the other 2 are not moving at all. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

[otftch]

Get a pair of diagonal cutters.Place the flat end of the jaws on the pin and against the rail end with the handles below the track.Now while holding the pin tight pu***he pliers towards and under the rail.This will work the pin out.
Ed

[cnw1995]

Or use a flat-head screwdriver - insert in the bottom 'slit' of each track tube and twist just a tad and you'll loosen it enough to slide out easily - don't pull with pliers before doing this, you might break the pin.

[ben10ben]

The method that Ed describes is the best method I have found for pulling pins in any type of track.

I generally use the cutting blade of needle-nosed pliers, but the idea is the same.

[waltrapp]

I don't have much luck with any method other than doing what Doug described. The track is pinched in right where the indentation on the pin is. This makes a straight pullout very, very difficult.

I find that O27 pins bend very easily too, as compared to O pins.

The down side to opening up the rail is that you have to make sure that you close it well. To do that I use long nose pliers to squeeze the rail bottom closed. Most times it closes the hole too far, which is exactly what I want. I then open it back up to pin size by pounding a pin back in.

I wi***he manufacturers would quit pinching the pin in as that's the cause of the whole problem. Older track did not have this crimp.

- walt