Bachman EZ turnout problem.

[SpaceMouse]

Inside a Bachman turnout are an electromagnet which has inside a two piece piece of metal that is either pushed out or pulled back depending on which way the current is flowing.

There are three other pieces inside. A slider that moves the points, a rocker assembly that rides on a fixed plastic post that has a wire protruding from it that moves the slider. The rocker is moved when the bar is trhown ore retracted by the elelctro magnet. It can also move the slider manually. The third piece is a spring that helps returns the rocker when the metal is retracted.

The problem is that the rocker comes off the post in one of my turnouts. This is the second time it has happened. Any ideas on how to keep it on?

[rrinker]

Look around inside the casing, there may be a way you can glue in a thin piece of plastic to act as a guide that will keep the rocker from lifting but still allow it to move back and forth. I assume it pivots on a little pin cast into the piece - it's probably short or worn down on this problem unit, compared to others.

--Randy

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rrinker

Look around inside the casing, there may be a way you can glue in a thin piece of plastic to act as a guide that will keep the rocker from lifting but still allow it to move back and forth. I assume it pivots on a little pin cast into the piece - it's probably short or worn down on this problem unit, compared to others.

--Randy

That was pretty much the conclusion I came to.

You know, sometimes you just need a place like this air out your ideas while you contemplate your next move--in this case, tearing out the center turnout of four where the other three are attatched to each of the three stubs. Of course, they are all soldered together. I just had to wait a day to get the gumption to rip that sucker out.

[rrinker]

I thought about soldering my turnouts in place. Then I thought of a few other things. For one, several are crossovers which have insulated joints between them to separate power districts and/or, in the future, reverse loops. Can't solder there. Secondly, since I mount my Tortoises from the top, removing one if the turnouts are soldered would be a real bear. Te one I DID take out already? All I did was slide the rail joiners back into the adjacent track and lift it right out, no problem.

--Randy

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: [i]
There are three other pieces inside. A slider that moves the points, a rocker assembly that rides on a fixed plastic post that has a wire protruding from it that moves the slider. The rocker is moved when the bar is trhown ore retracted by the elelctro magnet. It can also move the slider manually. The third piece is a spring that helps returns the rocker when the metal is retracted.

The problem is that the rocker comes off the post in one of my turnouts. This is the second time it has happened. Any ideas on how to keep it on?

IS THIS A Common problem with Bachmann E-Z track?? can anyone else confirm this?
I have an oval of EZ nickel silver, and find it one of the best Bachmann products; but now I am wondering if I should invest heavily in turnouts to match, I want the turnouts to be long lasting and high quality---should I junk the EZ track and move on to Kato UNItrack?

Regards,

Tom M.

[SpaceMouse]

Out of 16 only one did it. It was undoubtibly caused by manual operation--pushing down too hard.

[Anonymous]

thanks spacemouse

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by LGBFan123

thanks spacemouse

But if you have a choice go with flex track, I can't tell you how much easier it is to work with.

[selector]

When I was purchasing four turn-outs of the EZ Track a month ago, one of them clearly had a dislodged point rattling around in the package. It had come off its pin. Needless to say, it went back and the replacelment is fine.

Now it's one out of four.