? on atlas switches

[56chevytimes2]

I am getting ready to start laying track and am trying to wire the frog on atlas costum line turnouts. Are there any tricks to getting a wire soldered to the frog? I can't seam to get the solder to stick so to speak. Thanks in advance

Kurt 56chevytimes2

[rrinker]

File off the blackening where you want to solder. The chemical blackener used will, as you discovered, repel solder. A small round needle file will work to clean out the little hole provided. Plus a few touches on the topa nd bottom of the hole, and you should be good to go.

--Randy

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I know what you mean!

I'm (almost) at the same stage, and in an earlier incarnation used the *tiny* screw and brass 'strip' that are included with the Atlas 200 Snap Relay to connect power to the frog - I presume you've noticed the tiny hole in the frog itself - That's what it's for.....

Unfortunately, the little screws and the brass strip (with it's threaded hole of course) only come with the relay - and between incarnations I (inevitably) lost one, and stripped another.... "No problem" I thought, ""I'll just solder directly to the frog."

[Hopefully you're still with me here :-) ]

I would also say at this point that I know how to solder.

I'm pretty sure (I'm going to check but quit in disgust last night!) that the frog is made out of what we used to call "monkey metal" - No matter what flux (etc) used, the best you can do is get a joint that *appears* good (shiny, solid, etc) but can in fact be pulled apart by the breeze......

You can't weld it, and I don't think I'd even trust adhesives on the damn stuff! - It's horrible! [Any adhesive experts please jump in here - That may be the way to go?]

The bad news, is that learning this melted some plastic (not much) which caused a short to the stock rail :-(

So, my advise would be "don't even try it!"....... Get back if you want my (current) ideas on how to solve this (without buying an Atlas 200 for every T/O of course :-)

Cheers,
Ian

[Anonymous]

Hi again,

OK - "We live & learn!" - Randy posted his response while I was composing mine - Do I ever feel like an idiot! :-)

Thanks Randy!

[56chevytimes2]

Thanks looks like it time to break out the needle files and clean a spot off to connect the wire to. I will let you know how it goes as soon as I try one. Thanks

Kurt 56chevytimes2

[howmus]

I have found it impossible to get a good solder joint on the Atlas turnout frogs. I would recomend that you use a 2-52 tap and then attach the wire with a 2-52 screw. This has worked well for me and is much easier to do. [:)]

[rogerhensley]

Save yourself a lot of damaged turnouts and use a screw. Glue doesn't work and soldering is not a viable option.

[cwclark]

the screw is the way to go...a 2-56 screw (KADEE makes a drill and tap set for a 2-56 screw..it's worth the investment)...one more suggestion...don't worry about powering the frog...I have over 50 atlas turnouts and none of them are powered and have had no stalling problems...(unless you run really short locomotives, you don't have to power the frog on an atlas turnout)....Chuck

[56chevytimes2]

Well I guess I will buy some screws. I am running small steam with slow speeds and did not want stalling problems. So I thought powered frogs would be a good Idea. I would rather go over kill now than have to go back and do it later.

Thanks
Kurt 56chevytimes2