Ed,
Funny thing. I never looked at the instruction sheet that came with the gage. I mean what was there to know
![Wink ;-)](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
Sometimes my "full speed ahead and damn the torpedoes" makes me miss things. I read RP-2 carefully checking back and forth with 3 trucks, a B'mann archbar and a passenger truck and a Kadee 36" bettendorf.
The Kadee and the archbar are pretty close to being in gage. One wheel on the passenger truck *is* too narrow. Can't seem to reset it with just my fingers. Will have to try something else. This is the truck that has been the pickiest going thru the track work. The B'mann flanges are a bit deep. I found the wheel diameter to be about .540 and the diameter with the flange to be .575, so I guess the flange is ~.035. Don't know what this value should be. Width of all 8 Bmann wheels varied between .104 and .109, so I guess they are closer to the HO standard than some.
BTW the Kadee sails thru all of my trackwork. And when I'm real precise the Bmann does fine also. This is all C70.
I ran the gage(s) thru all of my newly built turnouts and most of them are spot on. I have 2 where the flangeway between the guardrail and the stock rail is too tight. Will try to correct that.
Stiff 3-way points. I'm not sure what "free moving" is. They move, but especially the first set with the very short point length require some effort. They certainly don't move as well as the last wye I built. I was careful about following the directions (they are good) and don't see what I could do to repair these. I crimped the rail joiner on the moving end and soldered it to the fixed end. Maybe I'll just build another one and see if I get better with practice. You noted that I should
"hinge the actual mounting to the throw bar." Not sure I'm picturing this properly. Am I to solder a small brass rod - to which side of the point? Seems that it will be in the way of the wheel on the inside and the fit against the stock rail on the outside. Can you direct me to an example, please?
I think I finally have track, wheel, and span worked out. Makes sense once I think it thru.
I sent Tim an email noting that the template has two missing breaks in the PCB ties thus won't electrically isolate. Also raised the suggestion of adding another PCB tie close to the second throw bar so the first set of points have a much longer throw.
Again, thanks for the info. I intend to get good at this.
Robert