Atlas Code 83 Custom-line #4 Turnout Question

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J

jkrider

New Member
I have been laying down my track and have found an issue with the Atlas turnouts I'm using. I'm using the code 83 custom-line #4 turnouts and have noticed that the straight section has a noticeable bow in it. This is the way that all my turnouts are. I have been drilling in a few more nail holes and forcing the turnout to bend out straight, but then thought that maybe this might not be the right thing to do.

Should I continue to force the turnouts to align straight or leave them as they are with the bow in them? Has anyone else seen this problem?

Of the track that I have set down so far you can look down the track and see how it curves through the turnout instead of going straight.

James
 
I had a couple Atlas switches that did that. I held a heat gun a little ways from it and tacked it straight like you did.
Never had a chance to see if it would have stayed striaght as the layout has recently beenreplaced.
Best o' luck with it tho!
 
Every Atlas Code 83 #4 that I have bought has been that way. You can get by with them in sidings and industrial areas for slower speeds, but they are not good at all used in a yard ladder or where they may be in line with more TO's (particularly with steam).
 


Either it's an enormous quality control issue or it's by design that they have that "kink". All of my Atlas C83s have it and I bought them from three different suppliers.

I'm only using them on a low speed shelf switching layout and they have not caused problems. No idea what would happen on a HS mainline or a complex yard ladder.
 
Thanks for the replies. I suppose I'll just have to live with them. At least I now know that I'm not alone in this.

James
 
James: Don't be afraid of the Atlas #6's. Although most of my turnouts are Walthers Shino's, I have a dozen or more #6's around the layout with very good reliability.;)
 
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