Peco points

A

Anthony Hall

Registered
Hi

I am having trouble with my Peco points. Steam runs Ok over them all but my new Accucraft Baguley (electric) stalls at the frog. I have tried jumper wires but this stiil results in stalling. It sema to happen when the middle unflanged wheel is over the centra of the frog. Any advice gratefully received as this is driving me bonkers!


Tony H
 
Is it shorting out? Does the power pack trip? The two adjoining metal rails going to the mainly plastic frog are very close together. Perhaps the center driver which I presume has a flat tread is shorting out there. It is common for LGB locomotives with skate pick-ups to short out on them. With skates, the solution is to either bend the skates so the outside is a little higher so it does not contact the other rail, put some varnish over the metal rail for further insulation or to modify them with live frogs which need isolation cuts near the frog and wiring. Some replace the rails that meet with metal ones but not necessary for your concerns.
The Accucraft Baguley has no skates, picking up power from the first and last drivers via carbon brushes so the only simple solution is to use some varnish insulation which will lengthen the dead spot and wear in time. If you run live steam perhaps you could also go battery/remote control for the Baguley on dead rails. :nod:

Peco G45 live frog conversion - G Scale Central
 
Last edited:
Anthony Hall said:
Hi

I am having trouble with my Peco points. Steam runs Ok over them all but my new Accucraft Baguley (electric) stalls at the frog. I have tried jumper wires but this stiil results in stalling. It sema to happen when the middle unflanged wheel is over the centra of the frog. Any advice gratefully received as this is driving me bonkers!


Tony H
Click to expand...

As P says it is not unknown for Track Skates to cause shorts on Peco and even some LGB. I have converted my Peco Points to Live Frog, not for the faint hearted but quite doable.

But you could check to see if all of the wheels are picking up power as expected. If you have a Meter put the Loco Upside Down and check that all of the Wheels on one side are electrically connected. Then do the other side, it may be that a Wire or Plugner is not working correctly thus meaning you are missing Pickup on 1 or more wheels.
 
Northsider said:
Sorry to invade the thread, but how did you convert to live frog?
Click to expand...

Way back in 2008 I converted some Peco G45 points to live frog, and wrote it up on here (I think!) Anyway, I've found my old notes and photos and copied them to the attached pdf if it's of any interest?
 

Attachments

Paradise said:
I put a link to a GSC link way up top of the discussion. :wasntme:
Click to expand...

Oh yeah so you did - my same stuff - and that was a previous rescue from the same notes :-)
 
Northsider said:
Sorry to invade the thread, but how did you convert to live frog?
Click to expand...
Chop out the Plastic one and use new Peco Rail to make up a longer Frog Rail to match the existing for length. Here is a Picture of the Frog and the Micro Switch that changes the Fog Polarity. If you cannot see it the Micro Switch is changed with a small pin soldered to the Rail. The points are made up so that they can be added or removed as a DCC Ready Unit without any extra work. The Blades have a Jumper to the Stock Rail so that no reliance is made of ‘touch connections’.
DE40EC98-4989-42FA-834E-F1AB26A0A67F.jpeg3BB4C356-C3E5-4E09-8F96-312B6D42613D.jpeg
 
It would be simple to observe if there is a short at the frog when the loco stalls... the breaker will trip and there will be no voltage to the rails (or there will be frying sounds as the wheel shorts the 2 rails in the frog)

The OP does not indicate the model of Peco points he us using.

Since the Accucraft Baguley has no skates, and the center driver is flanged, the wheel would have normal tread width, so I believe that a short is not the issue, notwithstanding my first paragraph also.

So, my guess is that a driver is being lifted out of contact with the rails, perhaps by exessive flange depth, or too shallow of a flangeway in the frog, depending on who you determine "at fault".

When it stalls, check for a short, if not get down at the track and see which wheels are in contact near the frog.

Greg
 
Greg, Peco only make left or right points in the larger scales but the OP does not state whether they are 45mm or 32mm gauge.
I agree with what you say as it may be a simpler issue rather than shorting out which should be fairly obvious.
However, I believe that the side float on the center flange-less driver can be excessive if the outside crank/counterweights are set out more than required which could cause the flange-less wheel to drift too far sideways possibly causing a short on the other rail. The tread on the center driver is flat and not tapered making it easier to make contact compared to the flanged drivers.

Image from RCS Tony Walsham.

04-remove-pick-ups.jpg
 
Last edited:
Hi All

Many thanks for the replies all of which are useful. For reference my track is 45mm.

When our British wet weather clears I will get out and look at all the points(no pun intended) you have all suggested.

Tony H
 
Anthony Hall said:
Hi All

Many thanks for the replies all of which are useful. For reference my track is 45mm.

When our British wet weather clears I will get out and look at all the points(no pun intended) you have all suggested.

Tony H
Click to expand...

I am sure you will find the correct road to follow.. ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom