Dead Spot in turnout

[boatman44]

One of the turnouts (Atlas #283) on my HO layout has a deadspot. When a loco passes the insulated frog it sometimes stalls there. The slightest touch gets it back under way. I've checked for continuity with ohmeter, and voltage with voltmeter...seems fine. It happens more with lighter, smaller locos than it does with heavier larger ones, and more often at slower, realistic speeds. I've cleaned the track, vacummed the turnout, cleaned loco wheels, checked for track spacing and alignment. When the loco is stopped...even the tiniest pressure sideways against it gets it going even easier than a nudge forward or backward.

I'm baffled.

Any suggestions?

[mygarage]

Fold a piece of relatively fine sand paper to expose rough on both sides. Slide down between the points and the rail where the points normally touch the rail. Hold a little pressure on the point to squeeze the sand paper slightly and move the sand paper forward and back a few times. Then brush out the residue and try it.

[craftsmaster]

In a similar vein, you should probably buy the short diesel locomotives. The longer ones, modeled after the old-fashioned steam prototypes, can be problematic on curves and short turnouts.

[Max Addams]

I'm glad I found this thread. I was having a similar problem. I tried the sand paper trick and now it works a treat! Thanks guys.