Question about tube track pliers

[lionelsoni]

I have an old pair of tongs that I got in Japan in 1952 that are just perfect for squeezing O27 rails back together and for adjusting rail ends before soldering. It also has a handy screwdriver tip at the end of one handle for opening up the rails!

[Birds]

Thanks for the replies and sharing of experience!

Birds

[Big_Boy_4005]

I agree, no special pliers required. Any good "lineman's" pliers will do all the tasks you need, including pulling, inserting and crimping. If you want a pin to stay in place, just use the corner of the pliers and crimp the rail into the groove of the pin.

[sulafool]

Some do and some don't. The ad will usually specify if it has the crimp-creating nub or not. I have both types, and have found no advantage to the nub, and it gets in the way in most cases. It's hard to locate it over the narrow part of the pin, and even if you do get it right there's no guarantee the pin will be tight-- it may not pull out easily, but can still be loose around the circumference of the pin. They won't crimp and re-form the rail at the same time, if that's what you're after.
A nice pair of diagonal cutters used to close up the rail just underneath the pin can't be beat, and if you are careful you can gently squeeze a crimp over the pin as well if you think it's necessary. I don't as my setups are always temporary and I have to be pulling pins here and there anyway.

[phillyreading]

Can't tell you about tube track pliers, I use needle nose pliers to tighten the rails again, test fit a track pin if it goes in easily keep tightening the track with the needle nose pliers, have not found a need for tube track pliers. Use a pair of electricians pliers(commonly called kliens) to remove the track pins from O gauge track after enlarging the hole a bit by inserting a flat tip screwdriver next to the pin I want to remove and moving from side to side to loosen the pin. The electricians pliers can also be used to tighten the rails at the cross ties on Lionel tubelar track. If it don't hold try soldering the pin in place but only as a last resort. I like the tubelar track because you can cut it and make it fit better than Fastrac or Realtrac.
Lee in West Palm Beach FL

[Birds]

Recently I came across a reference to Lionel track pliers. Searching the web I came up with general O-gauge track pliers that appear to do the same thing.

Do folks use these, and if so do they work well?

In addition to needing to recrimp so tube track, I have a problem with some of the rails on my track not being dimpled enough to hold the pin in place. Can these pliers create that dimple around the pin so the pins stay in place?

Thanks,
Birds