Rail joiners

[Taggart]

Rail joiners . . . arrggghhh . I’ve been trying for two days to connect two pieces of Atlas HO Code 83 track. Tried the Atlas code 83/100 HO rail joiners, their code 80 N rail joiners, and other approaches. Just cannot get anything to work. Half a century ago, when I had my first Lionel train, the track sections just plugged into each other, and you could hook up a full layout in a few minutes. Doesn’t anyone make HO track the sections of which just plug into each other? I haven’t tried the Peco version, but from the pictures they look much simpler to attach. Your thoughts on rail joiners?

 

[Selector]

I don't get a sense from your post what the nature of your difficulty is. I have used Code 100, Code 83, their joiners, and adapter joiners for use with dual codes. The only ones that were more work were the adapter ones because the feet of the larger code had to be trimmed with a small metal file in order to keep them from entering the ends of my thumbs as I tried to insert the rail ends into the joiners...they were that tight. A bit of filing helped a lot, but it really slowed progress.

Not to sound snarky, but what's your problem? What isn't working?

 

[Taggart]

Not snarky at all . . . good question. I simply cannot get the rail to enter the rail joiner. Tried prying the rail joiner open with a mini-screwdriver, but it wouldn't budge. Too small to pry apart with pliers. They are just too small to fit over the track . . . same with every type I tried. Any suggestions?

 

[ianacole]

When I run into those issues, like a rail joiner has gotten squeezed, I take a flathead jewelers screwdriver and first put it parallel to the base and give it a light whack, then turn it 90 degrees to it spreads the joiner apart and give it a light whack.

But, I think some clarifying questions are in order:

- Is it just one joiner that you are having problems with, or is it the same two pieces of track?
- Is the track you are trying to join the Atlas snap track, or flex track? Flex track does not have the area at the ends of the track to accommodate joiners, you have to remove a few ties.
- Can you post a picture showing the issue?

 

[Taggart]

It's every joiner in the packet. It's any two pieces of track (I've tried on several). It's both snap track and flex track (in the latter case, I removed a tie to make room for the joiner). I tried inserting the tiny screwdriver in every one of the joiners, but can get it in very far and can't pry the joiners open at all. I've also filed down the edge of the track, but that didn't help. In further research, I found a Proto:87 joiner that looks like it would not have this problem since it doesn't have an enclosed space, just two U-shaped ends -- ever use those?

 

[ianacole]

I have not used the Proto:87 joiners, so I cannot comment. Odd that it's every joiner, but what you could try is inserting the screwdriver into the joiner to the point that it's wedged (joiner should stick on the screwdriver), then using a cutting board and a hammer, stand the screwdriver with the attached joiner on end pointing into the cutting board and give it a slight tap with the hammer. Do this on both ends, and in both pinch directions of the joiner. This should get them opened up.

 

[fcwilt]

Perhaps you have a package of mislabeled or otherwise defective joiners. I recently finished laying track on my layout and used dozens of packages of Peco code 83 joiners on Peco code 83 and had no problems.

 

[jfb]

return it and make sure the next one is properly sized chiaanes is a pain in the a--.

 

[CbarM]

This sure doesnt sound like rocket science...are you using the HO joiners or the N joiners??