I just bought a Walthers Shinohara #6 double crossover and I am about to install it.
I noticed when I looked at the underside of the double crossover that one of the metal jumpers was loose on one side and not making contact with the bottom of the rail.
Which fix would you recommend? Solder the jumper or just use hot glue to hold the jumper against the rail? I am a little reluctant to solder because of the small spot involved and the possibility of melting the surround plastic.
Thanks.
Rich
Alton Junction
Unless you've found a way to have electrically conductive hot glue, I'm pretty sure you're going to be "stuck" with soldering.
Soldering is the only way to insure electrical continuity. Hot melt glue is an insulator, so you can't use it. There are some liquid solder products available that require no heat.
http://www.ehow.com/about_4779321_liquid-solders.html
I'd contact Walthers and send the turnout back and have them replace it.
maxman and cacole,
I fear that you are both correct.
I had hoped to simply hold down the jumper in contact with the rail by the pressure of the hot glue sitting on top of the jumper. But, I suppose the risk is that the hot glue will seep between the jumper and the rail, effectively insulating the spot, exactly the opposite of what I want.
Thanks for being the bearers of bad news. \
richhotrain maxman and cacole, I fear that you are both correct. I had hoped to simply hold down the jumper in contact with the rail by the pressure of the hot glue sitting on top of the jumper. But, I suppose the risk is that the hot glue will seep between the jumper and the rail, effectively insulating the spot, exactly the opposite of what I want. Thanks for being the bearers of bad news. \ Rich Sorry about that, chief! I forgot to mention that once the crossover is installed, should that glued jumper come loose you'd have a devil of a time trying to figure out why you weren't getting continuity someplace.
Sorry about that, chief! I forgot to mention that once the crossover is installed, should that glued jumper come loose you'd have a devil of a time trying to figure out why you weren't getting continuity someplace.
Braveheart, here, reporting in.
I got up enough nerve to solder that little sucker and I did it and without melting any plastic.
maxman, you are right about all of the problems that a faulty hot glue job could cause.
I suppose I could have taken the double crossover back and exchanged it at my LHS, but it just didn't seem like that big a deal and it wasn't.