peco turnouts

[ejeman]

Can anyone suggest any ways to improve the fit/contact between the points and the side rails on peco turnouts? If I physically push the points against the rails, my loco will move readily. Otherwise, it tends to often lose power/stall.

[markie97]

It would be helpful if you were more specific about the type of Peco turnout. I use Insulfrog and power from both sides. You cannot do that with electrofrog.

That being said try cleaning the contact points between the rails and points. I have used contact cleaner to do this in the past. Also you can slightly bend the end of the points outward without affecting mechanical performance.

[ejeman]

I did clean the contact points, and that has helped considerably. Thank you!!

[Anonymous]

One of the two weak spots of Peco switches are those little metal tabs of the blades that slide under the rail to ensure connectivity. Clean them and carefully bend them upward a little. But beware, they easily snap off.

The other weak spot is the spring.

[cacole]

I've learned to solder a short jumper wire between the point and stock rails on the bottom of Peco Insulfrog turnouts before I install them.  Peco even leaves an opening in their ties that allows this.  This defeats the "power routing" of the turnout, but eliminates contact problems like the OP is having.

[ejeman]

Thanks for the tip 

[ejeman]

Thanks for the help