Walthers Curved Turnout Question

[MikeFF]

I have several Walthers # 6.5 curved turnouts in my new layout which is at the wiring stage. I'm wiring for DCC, but currently testing on DC. Each is wired to a Caboose Hobbies ground throw with contacts and I have confirmed that the frogs are hot and proper polarity. The points are wired around the rail joiner pivots to assure connectivity. Still, my steam locomotives will often stall on the frog. I testing with a BLI Mikado and and Alco Models NYC 0-6-0 (Yes, this was one of the few good ones they made.) The BLI will stall, reset and power back up. The switcher just sits there until I nudge it. Am I missing something basic? The turnouts do have some QC control issues, notably a lot of flash, which I had to clean out around the frogs and guard rails. And, a straight edge across the turnouts at the frog reveals that some are above the level of the stock rails and so I've been doing some filing. All the #4 and 5 turnouts operated superbly.

Thanks,

Mike

[loathar]

I have several Walthers # 6.5 curved turnouts in my new layout which is at the wiring stage. I'm wiring for DCC, but currently testing on DC. Each is wired to a Caboose Hobbies ground throw with contacts and I have confirmed that the frogs are hot and proper polarity. The points are wired around the rail joiner pivots to assure connectivity. Still, my steam locomotives will often stall on the frog. I testing with a BLI Mikado and and Alco Models NYC 0-6-0 (Yes, this was one of the few good ones they made.) The BLI will stall, reset and power back up. The switcher just sits there until I nudge it. Am I missing something basic? The turnouts do have some QC control issues, notably a lot of flash, which I had to clean out around the frogs and guard rails. And, a straight edge across the turnouts at the frog reveals that some are above the level of the stock rails and so I've been doing some filing. All the #4 and 5 turnouts operated superbly.

Thanks,

Mike

That sounds like a short somewhere.

[retsignalmtr]

what part of the loco's stall on the frog? is it the tender or the locomotive? do they stall in both directions? or just one?

[larak]

Each is wired to a Caboose Hobbies ground throw with contacts and I have confirmed that the frogs are hot and proper polarity. The points are wired around the rail joiner pivots to assure connectivity. Still, my steam locomotives will often stall on the frog.

Thanks,

Mike

Mike, how did you confirm that the frogs are hot? I ask because it might read fine with a meter and no load but be fed through a high resistance connection - probably where the points touch the rails. Did you also feed the frogs through the ground throw aux contact?  

You can test the frog power with an 1157 or similar light bulb from frog to one rail. The bulb will load at a current higher than your locos but not so high as to be destructive. If it's dim, then there is a high resistance connection. If bright, move the points and move the test lead to the opposite rail.

Karl 

[MikeFF]

Guys:

Thanks for the suggestions.

I did run a gauge over the points...Yikes, variations all over the place. Did some correcting.

The stalls are intermittent and unpredictable...happens running either direction and always with the drivers on the frogs.

I've been confirming continuity with an audio device I built to avoid shorts during wiring. It is a battery driven buzzer that I hook up across the track and it buzzes if I get feeders wired backwards. It buzzes when across the frog and the center terminal of the contacts on the ground throws. Will try the light bulb and see what happens.

If you think of anything else, legt me know.

Thanks, again,

Mike