peco points

[keithandalan]

i have used peco points on my layout but am dissapointed that my locos quite often stick as they cross. is this me not taking enough care when laying or has anyone else had problems.my grandsons Hornby circuit does not seem to have any problems.i would welcome any advice

[66C]

What kind of Peco points are you using and how are they wired?

 

The solution may depend on whether you are using insulated or live frog types.

 

Have you checked the wiring information on the instruction leaflet that is supplied with the points?

 

Many on RMweb will be able to offer advice with some more information.

 

Regards.

[ikcdab]

When you say "stick" do you mean there is an electrical interruption and the motor stops or a physical obsruction which causes the loco to stall? If its the latter then it may be the wheel back-to-backs fouling the check rails. If the former then check the wiring, make sure all tack and wheels are very clean. Are these electrofrogs or insulated?

[Kenton]

Hi and welcome to RMWeb.

 

 

Are the point of the insulfrog variety - if so this is the problem. As the loco crosses the plastic insulated frog the wheel on the frog momentarily loses power. At slow speeds and with short locos or those with only one axle with pickups they come to a halt. No matter how well you lay the track there is no real remedy. Which is why most move on to live frog points.

 

 

If the points are insulfrog then that is still not the end of the story. Again if the loco has poor or dirty pickups or wheels they can still stall on the frog. Then there are a number of other reasons, poor back to back measurements (funny how many RTR locos have this problem out of the box) or it can be the way the points are wired up, especially if you are depending on the switch blade to transfer power, or if it is an old loco typically Triang era without modern wheel profiles you could even be sticking in the check rail gap, or if you have used track pins to fix the point down then you may have distorted the delicate geometry of the point, finally all those being discounted consider if you have laid the point (or more precisely the track connected to it) perfectly flat and without exerting any movement.

[edcayton]

All that has been said is true, BUT the OP says he does not have this problem with the Hornby track on his grandsons layout (i am assuming with the same loco's), so it may be down to the way the points are laid or how the track is cleaned or if it is painted/ballasted. We need to know more really.

 

Ed