Lionel cars / locos and Fastrack Swtiches

I have much better luck with Ross switches... can you replace them with these and use a cork roadbed to match the fastrack profile?

 

I have thought of that but I have a lot of money invested in these switches.   My next layout will be all ross/gargraves.

 

My new portions of my layout are Ross/Gargraves.  

 

I am going to try to switch out the trucks on the caboose to atlas trucks.  I do not need the center roller since I turn the lights off on the cabooses anyways.  The only thing is that lionel uses a retainer clip to hold the trucks on instead of screws.  I will have to fashion something to attach the trucks to.   

First of all, good luck with this: I know it is frustrating to have a problem like this.

 

I've never had any problems with Fastrack switches, period.  I think of them as both the second-best product Lionel makes (after the ZW-L) and the best switch made in O.  I had as many as 23 Fastrack switches on my layout at one time (it varied over from year to year) and even when I replaced all my Fastrack (the Simple Green problem) with Atlas track last year, I went with new Fastrack switches, customizing transition pieces at every one.  I've estimated that I have had to close to 100,000 automatic reverse anti-de-railing operations of remote Fastrack switches in the last 8+ years.  One switch wore out and I replaced it after 6+ years.  I had an ore car and a caboose that gave problems (wanting to go straight when switched to curve): both cars had uneven trucks on one end.  Other than that, nothing. 

 

If you have an extra switch I would try that - temporarily replace the problem switches and see, and before replacing them with some other brand I'd make sure the problem was not in the locos and cars: could be you'd have more and worse problems with another type. 

Sounds to me like your caboose might be too light. Try adding some weight. 

As Lee & Flash have already posted, I would seriously suspect the gauge of the wheel-sets on the two offending pieces first rather than the turnouts since everything else seems to flow through them OK. Lionel has a history in the modern era of "wheel spacing issues" in my opinion. I have several cars where the spacing is on the tight side and they will drag going through my Atlas"O" turnouts where everything else works fine.

I will try adding weight and check the gauge on the trucks

I agree with Lee on the overall quality and performance of Lionel Fastrack switches.  I have 11 Fastrack switches on my layout ranging from 042 to 072 radius.  I never had a problem with any of my switches and they have been in use now for 6 years.  But before I permanently mounted the switches on layout, I got some good advise from a fellow forum member, that is to make sure the switch forks throw all the way over to each outside rail.  Some I adjusted by positioning motor stop micro switches and on a couple I very carefully bent point rail with long nose pliers so rail would be firm against outside rail when switched over.  If your switch points, when thrown, are firm against each outside rail then most likely there is a problem with "gauging" of wheels on car or locomotive, i.e., width of wheel from flange o flange.

 

TEX

Steve

One of my 12 FasTrack switches had a similar issues with a few pieces of rolling stock and one loco.  Mine was an O-60 switch.  The very tip of the moving rail was flat and stuck out a little.  To resolve the issue, I lightly vent it toward the outside rail...LIGHTLY.  Then I covered any openings with masking tape and carefully filed the point sharp.