rynd2it

This is academic, it was set track and fell apart when lifted. It's been replaced and now works fine.

Thanks for that, interesting.

I can just about force it in over a length of about 7", anyway I've bought the replacement track

The track gauge won't fit

I've decided to bite the bullet and replace the two pieces, this is booked for an exhibition in May so I need to get a move on. Thanks for the input

It might but is it worth trying?

On a 009 layout I inherited the sharp curves appear to be set track, everywhere else is Peco flex. The track is fully ballasted so changing it would be a pain. However, there is one place where all locos just stop. After thoroughly cleaning the track and the loco wheels to no avail, I started examining the area more closely and finally discovered that the gauge appears to be narrowing - I can't get track gauge to fit in that area. I really would prefer not to lift the track and I was wondering if gentle heating and manipulating with the track gauge would work to widen the gauge. Comments and suggestions please especially if you have experienced this before.

I have just done some experiments, the soldering iron trick as in the video works well, the abrasive paper also works but needed quite coarse grit - 180 and not as neat

That looks like it might do the job although as the last comment on the video said - it's not Kynar wire.

I can't change the wires but the abrasive paper might work, I'll try it

These are thinner than decoder wires, only slightly thicker than human hair. I was wondering if there was a chemical that would dissolve the coating

No they seem to be plastic coated

I have some 1mm leds with very thin wires. What's the best way to strip these wires so I can solder onto them?

OK, thanks. I can make out most of the details probably enough to work out scaled to N gauge dimensions

I can save the images you posted but the quality isn't too great, was hoping for the original jpgs