I have two interesting problems with new Walthers No. 6 DCC friendly turnouts at the frog. In one situation I have found that wheels passing through the frog will dip just before the frog point. Depending upon speed the cars/engines will sometimes derail. I'm thinking of shimming this area up with some very thing styrene - does this seem reasonable.
The other problem is a bit confounding as it seems to be limited to a specific engine. As an Atlas RSD-5 passes through the turnout from the points end, the third wheel set in each truck gets lifted just before the frog point (I've been able to mark the location) and the engine stops as it looses electrical contact. Its as if there is something causing it to lift or the gauge is too tight. Any ideas what to look for?
thanks
Charles
Building up the flange-way by about 0.015" should help you as you are suggesting. You'll need to be careful with the leading edges of the insert so that the transtion onto it (them) are as smooth as possible...otherwise the flanges will force the leading wheel to buck abruptly, thus negatiing the advantages of the insert.
The second axle in your sixes is forcing the trailing axle in each truck up off the rails when it meets the frog points, but this is just a guess. I don't see why gauge should be a problem for only the third axle, unless it happens that both rear axles have wheels out of gauge or displaced toward one side of the axle. You can check for that. In any event, I also don't understand why the third axle lifting should force a break of contact with powered rail by at least one other axle during the travers of the frog.
I would try thin shims in the frog's flange-way, and see if that doesn't tone things down a bit for you.
Selector -- thanks for the ideas.... Adding some shims to the one miscreant frog solved its problems handily. On the other hand the interaction between the RSD-5 and the other frog is still there [though I will go back again and double check flange way depth,etc ]. In looking for mechanical interplay at this location I did note that the first wheel set in the truck has more lateral motion freedom, whereas trucks 2 & 3 are tied together with a side rod so the trouble starts at the 2nd wheel but just manifests itself at the third. Micht be a burr that I can't see someplace...