I have a mix of uncoupler types on my trains. Some McHenry's, some micro trains, kadee's and some the old useless type. Do we want all trains of the same type for uncoupling or will one work with the other. What do you do with the old couplers? Do you change them? Just learning so have to ask. Is there a cheap way to buy couplers to change over??? Ron

It seems like pushing the uncoupled car back without it coupling again is a problem. It seems to couple and not stay uncoupled. Ron

Quote from: Albert in N on March 04, 2011, 08:57:58 PM
With uncoupler magnet track sections, you should be able to uncouple MicroTrains, McHenry (Athearn), Atlas, or similar coupler equipped cars and locos (ones that have little metal rods angled forward from the movable coupler halfs).  Simply stop the train with the couplers over the magnet and back slightly.  Then pull the train forward and the couplers should have released.  You can back slowly and push the uncoupled car back and leave it.  Over the track magnet, the couplers will have separated so that they are not hooked together and can be pushed into a siding.  Back up past the uncoupler magnet to couple cars ready to be added to your train.  Be aware that a train moving over an uncoupler magnet can uncouple if it pauses or jerks.  If it moves smoothly, the train stays coupled.  So far, I have not seen the new Bachmann magnetic couplers and EZ Track magnetic uncoupler sections. Hopefully they will soon appear in hobby shops.

I am sure you pros know all the tricks to get the best results from uncoupled magnets. I am sure that when you fine tune something they work pretty good. Care to share info on setting the magnets etc. up? Thanks Ron

Is it neccessary to use these? Do some of you run without them? Ron

Now both came off and I called and they are send me some. Ron

Quote from: sp4449lover on March 02, 2011, 05:16:08 PM
well ive got the spectrum j and it has two traction tires, 1 on each of the third drivers. sounds like 1 of urs came off, might wanna call bachmann tech support if u need it replaced

Hope a DCC sound loco is in the future. Ron

I think one problem is the wheels on the tender have a poor method for electric contact to the track. So the only contact to the track was the 3 front sets of wheels on the loco. Check wheel contacts on the tender and adjust or add pressure to contacts in the tender. Much better electric pickup. No stopping and starting at this time. Ron

Thanks will do.Ron

Quote from: sp4449lover on March 02, 2011, 05:16:08 PM
well ive got the spectrum j and it has two traction tires, 1 on each of the third drivers. sounds like 1 of urs came off, might wanna call bachmann tech support if u need it replaced

Does anyone know how many traction rubber tires this train is supposed to have? I found 1 on my layout and I think its from this train. My train only has one. Is something used to make them stick on? Can you get new ones? Ron

Thanks for the info. Seems cool as a decoration on the table. Ron

I bought one and wondered if anyone had any info on it. Anyone know the age. Anyone know if the crane is supposed to go on the flat car that comes with it and how it fits. Kinda cool! Ron

Great help!  Maybe I'll have to switch. Where is the best place to order turnouts? Ron

Quote from: rrtreerat on February 26, 2011, 12:03:48 AM
I've built a whole club layout using just the Peco rail joiners. 2/5ths permanent 2/5ths N-Trak and 1/5th T-Trak
That is Peco 'eletro-frog' turnouts and atlas flex track throughout. (with a little bit of KATO in the T-Trak)
1: All joints are soldered, except where our N-Trak modules are jumpered.
2: Both frog rails are insulated, no exceptions. In crossing from one track over to another that will get you four rail insulators
3: To avoid any problems with railhead width miss-match between the three track systems, I filed a small slope to the inside of the railheads of the Peco, Atlas, and KATO tracks (I do this even when joining Atlas to Atlas as it promotes good running).

Caveat: Now with our most recent batch of Peco rail joiners, they have been found to be looser than they used to be on Atlas track but a quick squeeze of the needle-nose and they are ready to be soldered.
Caveat II: All Peco turnouts are power routing that is why the frog rails are insulated and power is fed on both sides of the turnout for all mainline installations, if this is not done you will shortout the railroad. And their points will get dirty and stop conducting but a quick swipe of a piece of paper between the points and stock rail helps keep this in check.

KATO turnouts are just as sloppy as their Atlas conterparts just more 'Bullet Proof' with their built in power routing switch but most can still benefit greatly from some tuning of the points.

Thanks will give it a try. Ron

Quote from: ericw95 on February 25, 2011, 03:11:47 PM

Quote from: darticus on February 25, 2011, 07:08:39 AM
THANKS VERY MUCH! Are these the Peco ElectroFrog turnouts? Will the peco turnouts fit right in or is modification of the track needed? Wanna start with turnouts first. Ron

Yes, i used peco electrofrog turnouts and they worked quite well. very, very sturdy compared to the atlas. Ahm, basically the only modification needed is the rail joiners won't fit the peco turnout if you use atlas and they wont fit the atlas track if you use the peco.

what i ended up doing was removing the rail from an old piece of track and putting the atlas rail joiners completely over it. then i trimmed the rail joiner at around 3/4 of its length with wire cutters so it maintained its shape (if you dont use the rail it will be crushed by cutting it). it fit a little into the peco turnout so the two pieces of track are secured to each other, and then i glued the pieces of track around the turnout down to keep it stable as trains go over top of it. im sure there is a better way to join the two but that's what i did.

THANKS VERY MUCH! Are these the Peco ElectroFrog turnouts? Will the peco turnouts fit right in or is modification of the track needed? Wanna start with turnouts first. Ron

Quote from: ericw95 on February 24, 2011, 11:06:43 PM
Hey ron,
I was having the exact same issue with my bachmann locos on atlas code 80 turnouts. I have a 4-8-4 standard and a 2-8-0 spectrum, both of which would occassionally be fine then stall over the plastic frog. I tried buying peco turnouts, and they ultimately fixed the issue, but then i decided to just go with better quality track and upgraded to kato unitrack entirely. No more issue at all! Great track and much sturdier than the cheap Atlas stuff.

Do any of you know what is the smallest STEAM sound decoder with good quality. I have used the Tsunami Micro 750 and the Digitrax SDN144PS so I know these sizes. The Micro 750 is bigger than the Digitrax 144 but what is smaller than the Digitrax 144. Thinking of using a real small one as a sound decoder connection for a loco that has motor DCC already and this would add sound. Ron