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track DANDRUFF??????

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  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
track DANDRUFF??????
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 11, 2005 3:31 PM
Hello,
I have woodland scenics light Gray fine ballast, and im noticing that once its dry it leaves like a white powdery film ontop of the track and im not sure what this is comming from?

Also i have a lifelike proto GP-60 up diesel and i just tested it out and its alligned up perfectly with my track gauge, but all my cars are lower then it
even most of the micro-trains ones, besides those little round plastic washers is there any other way to raise up my couplers, ps. there all magnematics!

thanks for the help, ill be waiting for some replys[:)]
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Westchester NY
  • 1,747 posts
Posted by retsignalmtr on Tuesday, January 11, 2005 7:49 PM
the ballast is a little dusty when you put it on your track. when you glue it down with the white glue some residue from the glue and the dust from the ballast will settle on the rails. cleaning off the rails with a brightboy will do the trick. you say that the locomotive coupler is good with the gauge but your micro trains cars come out lower than the loco? do your cars come out good with the gauge? if you have truck mounted couplers using the shim washers will only raise the floor height of the car. make sure the gauge is sitting properly on the track where you are testing the couplers. it has to sit right on top of the rail with the two guides down between the rails.
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • 9 posts
Posted by stclaircentral on Tuesday, January 11, 2005 9:22 PM
I agree with retsignalmtr about the ballast having some dust on it when you put it down. You could try doing a "pre-wash" of the ballast before actually putting it in place. Be sure to let dry throughly. See if you can borrow a pair of your mom's or sisters hose and use this as your "stainer" as you do the "pre-wash" of the ballest. P.S.: be sure to ask for an old pair.

On your coupler height issue. I also model in N-scale and have converted every piece of rolling stock to MicrTrains wheelsets and couplers with no problems in the height. Hmmm....see if the coupler height guage is setting on some of that white residue or maybe a stray piece of ballest on the top (or side) of the rail. A light swipe of the ol bright boy should do the trick. Later from st clair central
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 4:56 PM
the problem is the gauge is perfect with the engine, and not with any of my cars that im running on it

  • Member since
    October 2003
  • From: Southwest US
  • 438 posts
Posted by Bikerdad on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 5:10 PM
The problem is either the gauge is wrong, or is being utilized improperly. Barring modifications to ALL of your MT truck mounted couplers, or a truly freakish instance of QC gone crazy, the MT truck mounted couplers come out of the factory at the correct height. That is, as they say in the world of logic, geometry, and science, a given.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 8:24 PM
thanks for all the help, pplz, what i did was i loosened the screw on the mount for the diesel, now the coupler hangs donw low and fits perfect with every box car/train car that i have!

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