So far, we here with the OVGRS have been able to improve greatly, the performance over Aristo WR switches, for almost no cost, and very little labour.
The first thing that can be done before ever looking at the switches themselves is to check the gauge of all the wheel sets of your equipment, before ever touching the switches. We use the Kadee wheel guage, as our standard. Whether it agrees with any other standards is not my problem, or neither do I wish to get into a debate on standards. But as far as wheels and track, just like the real railroads, you have to have some standard for your equipment, or there will be nothing but frustrations and derailments.
The next thing we do is to remove the plastic guard rails on the WR switches, using an exacto knife whith a sharp blade. If you have the earlier style of WR switches, you remove the existing brass guard rail.
The brass guard rails just need a good filing of the base of the rail, untill it is close enough to the stock rail, to be within the proper distance…use the Aristo track gauge “Guard Rail gauge” to establish that. Then widen the existing holes in the ties in order to replace the screws.
On the switches with the plastic guard rails, you just need to cut a proper length of Aluminium rail, and bend it to conform with the curve of the stock rail, then file the base to get the proper gauge. Then drill two holes and using screws that you can get from Aristo, in their screw collection, attach the guard rail after tapping the hole. We use Aluminium rail as it is easier to work with than brass.
This bit of work seems to solve most of the major probles, but remember that the switches are far from great.
You might note that if you measure the frog angle, and by the looks of the irregular path of gauge through the straights of the frog; they seem to be attempting to use the same frog, which appears to have a #4 frog angle; for both their "2 foot radius curved switch, and the Wide Radius one. This goes against all engineering practices, as the frog angle should change, between the two.
Unless you have some wheel sets with flanges that are deeper than the current B’mann, or Aristo ones, the frog does not have to be replaced, unless of course you are attempting to run equipment through the switches at 1000 scale miles an hour…!!!
The other change we make, although it would not work with track power, is to replace the throw bar with a piece of brass strip; properly drilled and using the existing screws. We do not use the Aristo or LGB switch throws, so we simply drill another hole on either or both ends of the throw bar fo the spring wire attachment.
You will be able to see pictures of our “Rebuilt” Aristo WR switches on our web page, soon, and also a few pictures of our latest Choke cable stand up switch throws.
…see them at: www.ovgrs.org/
If you have any questions; call me or see me on the chat page