Large Scale Central

Dead spot within Rail

Track and Trestles
#1

Hey guys.

I’m working on my modules for Big Green, trying to make sure everything is going to be operational for the show in January. Yeaterday I was testing the track power and found that the branch line has a dead spot within a single continuous section of rail. I used my dad’s Stainz for testing along with my multimeter. The engine kept stopping or stuttering at the same exact point while I had the power connected at one end of the track. (See photo for where it stopped. note the space in the rail direct to left of the wheels.) Then, when I mlved the power source to the other end, the loco would stop over the rail gap.
Power is maintained through the entire branch line, per my multimeter, but does seem to drop at this one 4" section (out of a 2’ solid piece of brass).
I cleaned the rsil head like crazy. So I’m not sure if that could still be the issue.

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Any thoughts are appreciated!

#2

solder a strip of brass Shim stock to the rail top to span the 4" section, or cut out the bad and replace.
Edited to say shim stock not .032

#3

i would bet, it is the connector (fishplate).

try to take a short piece of wire (any wire, even solder wire works) and push it between the rails and the plasticbands under the rails, on both sides of the gap.
then use your multimeter again.

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#4

I found that that was the perfect place to put a rail clamp.

1 Like
#5

Did you mean 4’ or 4" section?

I’m not following the exact question. So this is “my answer” without further understanding?

If it is only ONE spot on a 4’ section then my guess is it’s that spot that needs cleaned more. Now if it’s a whole 4’ section that is loosing power or voltage drop then it’s in the connection.

#6

squeeze the joiner with a pair of pliers. See if that helps.

#7

If you have a dead spot in a circle of track it means that you have 2 bad joiners. When that happens on my RR I leave the power on and use a screwdriver to bridge the gap in the rail. If the engine starts I found the bum spot and it gets cleaned, or a rail clamp goes on or if I’m too busy running trains a squirt of 2-26 will get the power flowing again for a time.

I do have a section of 3’ LGB track that has a dead spot in the track. I can clean the top of the rail and the train will still slow over that spot or even stop if it has a short wheelbase. There is something in the track that is not good.