I have some track that popped loose. It was initially installed using caulk, but it would be difficult to try and get caulk underneath. Would diluted white glue work? If has not been ballasted yet.
Richard
My first thought was, why did it pop loose? Is it due to the track expanding or too tight on a curve? You might want to figure that out before trying to fix.
Sectional or flex track?
Next thing is what is under the track; foam, cork roadbed, foam roadbed or plywood?
As for a fix, caulk could be worked under the track with a small putty knife or artist palate knife. If you choose glue, I think I would use it full strength rather than diluted. If you have plywood a track nail should help.
Good luck,
Okay, truth be told, I was responsible for it popping up. The bend was a little to sharp for my taste so I wanted to make it a little more gradual. It is Peco flex track on top of cork roadbed (on top of 1" foam, on top of 1/4" plywood). I am not moving the roadbed, just the track. (I have some room to play with the way the roadbed was laid.) I will try to work a little caulk in using a putty knife.
I use WS foam roadbed on top of pink foam. When it comes time to fasten the track down, I get out a box of paper clips and use a pair of pliers to straighten them out into a U shape. I push this elongated U down over a single tie, through the roadbed and into the foam. This gives me a solid but still removeable track positioning. I have left my track like this for months, sometimes even years, before I got around to ballasting. Normally I pick it up and white glue it down, but sometimes I just ballast the pinned track in place, and finally pull up the paper clips U's. It works fine.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Putting down the ballast then the diluted white glue should hold it in place. For better holding, drill a small pilot through a tie or two and force a slightly larger brad or pin through it and into your base. The second option works well if there is plywood under there somewhere.
LION tacked track directly to the pink foam. Well nobody told him that it would not hold nails, but him found that out soon enough. But LION is a smart beast, and him figures nails do not need to hold the track down (gravity can do that), all the nails need to do is to keep the track from sliding around, and that it did do for more than five years, until the LION mounted magnets on the bottom of his trains to work the reed switch detectors. Then all of the nails came out.
LION then took a bottle of Elmer's glue ran a bead down the middle of the tracks, being sure to put a spot of glue on each (remaining) nail head. Worked purrfectly.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
RideOnRoad Okay, truth be told, I was responsible for it popping up. The bend was a little to sharp for my taste so I wanted to make it a little more gradual. It is Peco flex track on top of cork roadbed (on top of 1" foam, on top of 1/4" plywood). I am not moving the roadbed, just the track. (I have some room to play with the way the roadbed was laid.) I will try to work a little caulk in using a putty knife.
rrebell . . .Just ACC it. . .
. . .Just ACC it. . .
Okay, novice question: ACC?
RideOnRoad rrebell . . .Just ACC it. . . Okay, novice question: ACC?
CA, super glue. Many different consistenties and set-up times. (Older designation, alpha cyanoacrylate cement, ACC)
WP Lives
Krazy glue.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Ah, "CA" I knew, "ACC" was new to me.
RideOnRoad Ah, "CA" I knew, "ACC" was new to me.
If movement underneath popped things loose, the CA may also break loose over time. It's rigid when set.
I use a product called E-6000 that works well for gluing track down that is just setting there. Much of my hidden track is held down with it, as it's just a lot easier than spiking it. E-6000 is somewhat self leveling, so it tends to spread nicely to engulf around the ties; just don't put down too much at once, because it levels so much then its viscosity keeps it from getting thinner.
I have hidden track down for well over a decade now and had zero issues with it. It bonds well to cork. You'd have to test it on foam, but I suspect it's not foam safe. Really needs a day or more to set up, so plenty of working time to adjust the track, but you'll need to pin it in place sometimes, as the E-6000 doesn't grab immediately. Best thing is that it stays flexible, which is a good property to have over cork in any case.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Homasote and spikes.
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
I figured I should report back in. For the first time, I did not directly follow the advice received from the more experienced, and decided to venture out on my own. I used some diluted white glue, diluted just enough to be able to use a brush to apply it below the track. I used some full soda cans to weigh down the track while the glue dried completely and, lo and behold, it worked! I do not plan to make a habit of ignoring your counsel, but on this rare occasion, I got lucky.
Richard, that is, indeed, a creative solution. I have often considered a diluted matte medium mix as an alternative to caulk to hold down track. If you need to remove it, simply apply some isopropyl alcohol.
Rich
Alton Junction
RideOnRoad I figured I should report back in. For the first time, I did not directly follow the advice received from the more experienced, and decided to venture out on my own. I used some diluted white glue, diluted just enough to be able to use a brush to apply it below the track. I used some full soda cans to weigh down the track while the glue dried completely and, lo and behold, it worked! I do not plan to make a habit of ignoring your counsel, but on this rare occasion, I got lucky.
Ride On,
Just remember to NOT glue the pop cans to the track...
Don't ask how I came to this realization. ..
Mark
P.S. does "RideOnRoad" mean you ride on 2 wheels? Because that's OK by me...(yes, I ride)
At least it wasn't "beer" cans. You need to drink the beer as the glue is setting up!
Good to hear you found a solution.
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
softail86mark . . .P.S. does "RideOnRoad" mean you ride on 2 wheels? Because that's OK by me...(yes, I ride). . .
. . .P.S. does "RideOnRoad" mean you ride on 2 wheels? Because that's OK by me...(yes, I ride). . .
Given your "Softtail" handle, I am guessing you ride with a motor between your legs. I am strictly pedal-power for my two-wheel adventures.