I have had some problems with my Atlas turnouts also. After reading posts on here about possible corrections to make, I gave it a try. I had to some filing of points, and also file the grooves between the frog and guard rails a little deeper to so the wheel flanges didn't "ride up" and derial.I also found that part of the switch mecahnism underneath that moves the turnout back and forth were loose, and used some CA glue to reattach themI really didn't want to go to the trouble and time to build my own, but perhaps someday I will.But I have found each turnout sometimes is slightly different than the last one.I've used my NMRA gauge on them, and just work with each one a little at a time.
Ed
It is likely to be a gauge issue approaching or through the frog, and it may be related to the measurement between the back of one of the wheels and the tire edge of the flange on the wheel opposite. Joe Fugate had a recent thread about this, but the problem is that commercial turnouts are notoriously bad with their gauge between the frog and either of the two opposite guard rails.
I have several W/S curved 7.5 turnouts, and a single #8. The latter is the one that makes many of my rolling items wobble going through the frog.
You will need to carefully measure the turnout at many points with a NMRA gauge and good lighting and a magnifier. At some point you are sure to find an iffy place, perhaps too tight. You will need to file or possible to actually fill in space with a thin plastic shim glued against the flange face of the rail.
Of course, there's always Fast Tracks or Central Valley kits.
I have a similar issue with my Walther's code 83 #8 left curved turnout. The wheel flange and trucks will rise up a bit when rolling past the frog while going through the diverting route, but does not have any issues in the other direction. I have filed it down too as Art did and this seems to have helped, but I need to spend a little more time to get it filed down a bit more.
It's not a close up, but the turnout in reference is shown in this image below:
Ryan BoudreauxThe Piedmont Division Modeling The Southern Railway, Norfolk & Western & Norfolk Southern in HO during the merger eraCajun Chef Ryan
73
Bruce in the Peg
Those are some good helpful hints gentlemen. Thank you much.
I'll put in a good word for you for Santa during Christmas this year.
~D
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
Are you sure you don't have either a horizontal kink or a vertical mis-alignment with the piece of track you're replacing?
I've got some Peco curved turnouts, and I had trouble with one of them. The problem was joining the Atlas flex-track to the Peco turnout. The two track types have different cross-sections of the rails, so the rail joiners can't fit both tracks at the same time. I ended up having to solder the joints to keep them aligned properly.
Have you tried using a piece of sectional track instead of flex as the track approaching the turnout? I've found it's a lot easier to keep things aligned that way, too.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I'm having a problem with my Walthers curved turnout. (Advertised as inner radius 24"...which is actually closer to 22")
My trains have a tendency to ride up slightly on the frog then derail a little bit after. Even running backwards at speed step 1 causes a problem. It doesn't matter which engine I put on there, even R18 capable 4 axel switchers derail. If I straighten out the track past the frog for about 12" then I don't have a problem. But that defeats the purpose of putting in a curved turnout.
Anybody else having issues with their turnouts? Or did I just get a bad one? (Your experiences will help me decide if I should try to replace it.)