I am ballasting an N scale layout and I have a switch (peco) that has gotten scenic cement in the snap mechanism. It could be ballast too. Has anyone had this problem and is there anything that will melt the cement to free the mechanism?
Not a good thing but you can probably get it cleaned out with stuff like your Xacto knife and dental picks. You might, and carefully I might add, slide your blade under the points to see if they are glued down. If they are, keep working the knife until they break free.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
The question is what dissolves scenic cement. I have done, what you have done, with white glue. The throw bar is what got glued and water and alcohol takes care of that.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
darrel480I am ballasting an N scale layout and I have a switch (peco) that has gotten scenic cement in the snap mechanism. It could be ballast too.
I did the exact same thing on my N Scale turnouts. Like Chip said, it can be cleared by very carefully scraping and working with a very thin blade.
I didn't do what Henry said, but now that I read that, I should have tried the water and alcohol. I think it would have been easier.
Needless to say, I have been much more careful on other turnouts after that.
York1 John
I don't know the make-up of scenic cement, so can't suggest what might remove or soften it.However, I'd guess that white glue, thinned with water, would have worked equally-well, could be softened or removed with "wet" water, and would have been a heckuvalot cheaper, too.
When prepping track for ballasting, I always apply a plastic-compatible oil to the tops of the turnout ties over which the points move, then flip the points back and forth several times to spread the oil around. The points are then positioned (blocked in place, if necessary) mid-throw. It doesn't hurt to put a little of the oil under the throwbar, too - that would likely have prevented it from being glued in place.
You might be able to break the glue bond by pushing a single-edged razor blade under the throwbar, crossways, and then using a couple of small screwdrivers, (one at each end of the blade) and inserted between the ties, to push it completely under the turnout and out the other side.
Wayne
I have used 70% isopropyl alcohol with good results to soften Scenic Cement.
Rich
Alton Junction
Scenic cement is basicaly matt medium. It is soposed to be water proof but isn't but it is very water resistant. scraing it free is proubly the best solution and intraduce a lubricant when loose enough to move.