Fast Tracks

I build turnouts with the jigs and some are built in place. There seems to be a re curing issue with the wheel opposite of the frog raising up above the ball of the rail. Some switchers produce a loud clunk sound while crossing the frog. I use the feather file to work on the frog points and it helps a bit. I use all Intermountain metal wheelsets on my freight cars.

Any tips on what I can do different to build a better frog?

Thomas G

It helps if you give a little bit more information:
- which gauge
- jig or handlaid points
- what does the NMRA track-gauge say?
- .......
- .......

_________________
Paul Bender

Everybody can shovel, firing is an art


Firing this train was more fun then hard labor © R. de Water

I'm with Paul. Uncertain I understand. You stated wheels away from frog? Do you men the wheel running on stock rail?

Have you checked the flangeway depth? What about the wheel sets: are they in gauge?

There's a lot that can be done and fixed, but we do need some more information.

-ed-

_________________
-ed mccamey-
COSLAR RR - http://www.coslar.us/
NMRA Standards and Conformance Department
PROTO & FINE Scale Coordinator
I estimate I have about 5 pounds of coupler springs somewhere in the vicinity of my workbench.

HO scale. Code 83 micro engineering rail. Wheel on stock rail raises off when going over frog. I do believe it is because opposite wheel " drops" into the gap of the frog. Rail is in gauge, wheels are in gauge? Jig built points and frogs.

Thomas G

From what you are telling use: how big is the gap at the frog between the end of the closure rail and the beginning of the frogpoint rail. If possible upload a (detailed) picture of the turnout.

By the sound of it the wheel is dropping in the gap of the frog?

_________________
Paul Bender

Everybody can shovel, firing is an art


Firing this train was more fun then hard labor © R. de Water

Now clearer . . . trucks should be very rigid assemblies (not ordinarily an ideal). This allows for a three-point wheel contact in the gap negotiation. I'm suspecting you're using the Intermountain "semi-scale" code 88 wheels.

With c88 wheels, you really 'should' narrow your frog flangeways to a bare minimum of about 0.042" (vs. the standard maximum of 0.050"). Caution: set the track check gauge careful to avoid squeezing the span gauge. You may also consider using the 'trick' of filling the flangeway; then filing out to just the bare minimum depth to give a shelf for the flanges to run on across the gap.

Large number frogs can provide a very long tangential gap, the standards when applied correctly will be properly protected with c110 wheels, but do require extra attention with flangeways and minimizing of specifications for the higher fidelity wheels.

-ed-

_________________
-ed mccamey-
COSLAR RR - http://www.coslar.us/
NMRA Standards and Conformance Department
PROTO & FINE Scale Coordinator
I estimate I have about 5 pounds of coupler springs somewhere in the vicinity of my workbench.

Thanks for the tips. I will try them all. I always wondered if I should fill in the frog gaps and file them out. Hopefully this will work. Will also try the smaller gap.

Thomas G.