So I bought a bunch of code 80 track, which came with metal joiners in groups of 4. Long story short, they never disconnected evenly from their "groups" and the track doesn't connect evenly without gaps between sections or the track otherwise being laid evenly/completely straight.
I'm looking for joiners that come completely loose in boxes or bags. I see that Micro-Engineering (http://www.trainworld.com/manufacturers/micro-engineering-company/micro-engineering-company-n-scale/Micro-Engineering-26-055-N-Scale-Rail-Joiners-Slip-On-Code-55-N-S-50/) has them for code 55 track, which I know is slightly thinner; would the joiners be compatible with my code 80 track? If not, are there other manufacturers wh make them for code 80? I am new to N scale (having switched from HO for space reasons) and could use some help in this matter
Douglas, Several manufactures make rail joiner's for Code 80 rail. Most state they can be used on both code 55 and code 80 rail. Personally, I always try to stick with joiners that are labelled for the rail type I'm using.
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Atlas-N-2535-Nickel-Silver-Code-80-Track-Rail-Join-p/atl-2535.htm (http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Atlas-N-2535-Nickel-Silver-Code-80-Track-Rail-Join-p/atl-2535.htm)
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Peco-N-Metal-Conducting-Rail-Joiners-p/pec-sl310.htm (http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Peco-N-Metal-Conducting-Rail-Joiners-p/pec-sl310.htm)
On your existing rail joiners, check to ensure the metal tabs on each end of the joiner is not too long or bent, keeping the rail joiner from completely sliding on the rail. Sometimes if the rail joiner tab is too long, it may contact the tie, causing a gap in the track sections?
Sorry Bach Man, but in my opinion, this is a neatest tool to come down the line in quite a while. It's a tool for adding rail joiners to track sections, no more sore fingers.
http://shop.atlasrr.com/p-48003-all-scales-rail-joiner-sidekick.aspx (http://shop.atlasrr.com/p-48003-all-scales-rail-joiner-sidekick.aspx)
Regards,
Quote from: douglas on December 15, 2016, 02:44:30 PM
So I bought a bunch of code 80 track, which came with metal joiners in groups of 4. Long story short, they never disconnected evenly from their "groups" and the track doesn't connect evenly without gaps between sections or the track otherwise being laid evenly/completely straight.
I'm looking for joiners that come completely loose in boxes or bags. I see that Micro-Engineering (http://www.trainworld.com/manufacturers/micro-engineering-company/micro-engineering-company-n-scale/Micro-Engineering-26-055-N-Scale-Rail-Joiners-Slip-On-Code-55-N-S-50/) has them for code 55 track, which I know is slightly thinner; would the joiners be compatible with my code 80 track? If not, are there other manufacturers wh make them for code 80? I am new to N scale (having switched from HO for space reasons) and could use some help in this matter
As long as the joiners fit snugly and do their job, you can mix and match. I have mostly code 55 track, but I use its joiners where I have code 80 on the hidden loops.
Also, and I feel like a bit of a troll for stating what seems obvious at least to me, but... you could just trim off the extra metal from the joiners you have with any number of tools - or even a good scissor.
It's best to use a rail cutter to seperate those strips of joiners. That way the ends don't get bent and cause problems. And Peco makes code 80 joiners that are loose in the package.
Len
Thought all rail joiners were all the same regardless of Manaufacturer.
TJ