Peco surface point motor does not reliably change Peco streamline point. Tips?

[JeffPreston]

Hi again!

I wonder if anyone has any tips?

I have 2 Peco streamline large radius points each connected to surface mounted point motors.

Everything is brand new.

The one point changes fine every time.

The other point changes fine about 80% of the time. It might work well in either direction and fail in either direction.

The wiring is secure - you can hear the action every time but it simply does not reliably move the points.

Everything is secured with track pins.

The manual action of both points is fine and reliable.

The points are wired separately - I am not trying to throw both at the same time (though I would like to as they form a crossover).

I know about CDUs, but would I actually, in this case, need one for ONE point?

Is the accepted practice to "always use a CDU" or "only if you are trying to throw 'x' points at the same time"?

I can imagine of course that if the arm on the motor which pushes of pulls the point is not correctly mounted with regard to the point (too close, too far away, at the wrong height or at an angle) then problems could arise but this is not the situation from what I can see.

Any tips?

Thanks in advance for any help!

[Tdm]

I originally had a problem with peco side-mounted point motors & peco setrack points,
and your problem may have a similar cause and remedy.

See the thread to which I have posted a link below to see if it helps at all.

http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=18955.msg192296#msg192296

[jonclox]

Is the accepted practice to "always use a CDU" or "only if you are trying to throw 'x' points at the same time"?

I can imagine of course that if the arm on the motor which pushes of pulls the point is not correctly mounted with regard to the point (too close, too far away, at the wrong height or at an angle) then problems could arise but this is not the situation from what I can see.

Any tips?

Thanks in advance for any help!

In a nutshell.................You MUST use a CDU with this or any other solenoid type of point motor. If you don't your motor will burn out within minutes.
A long sustained current through the coils inside the motor will heat up and melt the motor within seconds.
The CDU just 'jabs' a full hit of maximum power into the motor and then recharges itself. You also need to use instant centre on switches to power the points.(off-on-off)
1DCU will power many point motors so they arnt really that expensive when you realise what they save

[Caz]

Here's another link to my mods to make them work.  The standoff pieces need trimming back slightly to enable a better throw.  See http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=7196.msg81839#msg81839

[JeffPreston]

Hi all!

Many thanks for the references and advice! 

It never occurred to me that a difference in the height of the turnout and the motor could be the issue. 

I got it working perfectly by applying pressure to various points on the turnout itself with the end of a screwdriver and - to be brief - hammered a track pin into a location that would provide the same amount of pressure - but permanently. The turnout was evidently being lifted up slightly by the way the track is laid - hey - it's my first layout... 

Full trains and light engines run over it fine - forward and reverse - from either direction - excellent! 

[Yeoman]

Having recently installed 14 of these and experienced problems I found the best way was not to fix them before you wire them.
The worked better at a very slight angle away from the parallel line with the straight section of the point.
Trial and error until it works 100% then fix it.
Good luck

[cjdodd]

I'm in the middle of installing a load of these on my layout. Just in the middle of cutting little slots in the base board for them to sit in so they are at the correct height.

Has anyone tried connecting them with some wire instead of directly, some thin brass rod or paper clip bent to fit into the holes? I was thinking if that worked i could hide the point motors under lineside huts and other bits of scenery.