Atlas Code 80 #8 Turnouts Quality Issue

[CBQ Fan]

I purchased 28 of these turnouts and have opened 22 of them. So far all 22 have various issues making them useless. I purchased these in two  or three separate blocks so I know it isn’t limited to one run.  I have the same problem on all 22, if you are headed into the switch to head straight or diverge , they all pick the switch.  Several came with the switch machine broken away from the plastic tab and you cannot remove the screw to try and repair it. I could fix that with some CA but I shouldn’t have to.  On many others the rails are misaligned so they are short at one end and too long at the other end. The rails that slide back and forth have about an 8th inch slop in it so they don’t rest tightly against the rails in either direction.  I have never seen so many issues like this before.  Needless to say I am extremely disappointed. 

I have Atlas track and turnouts going all the way back to my first layout in the early 90’s that I have used on multiple layouts and will go on this layout. To same I am mystified is an understatement.

[Point353]

Paging @Atlas Paul .

[djconway]

The problems of poor quality are not limited to code 80, I have had 11 out of 50 code 55 switches fail right out of the package. Broken point rails and point rails just falling off.

I to am a long time user of Atlas track, I started in HO back in 1967 and have used Atlas track exclusively even when I switched to N in 1973.
I'm looking for an alternaative.

[propmeup1]

I've had many issues with my Peco turn outs and was waiting for Atlas to put the #8 out. Guess all this info has put that fire out now.   Hum what to do next.

[CBQ Fan]

I have found 6 that I can get to work on the track I just laid. The challenge I am finding is that with a visual inspection you can see right away some should work, others clearly have issues.  One of the challenges of mail order. I did buy these around this time last year and They sat until the past week. Once they are open you are kind of stuck with them.

[bobdobbs]

Code 55 #6 turnouts 15+ Years old have about a 80% failure rate on my layout, newer ones seem to be slightly better- time will tell.  point rails on older turnouts would just break in random places, cool for realistic derailment scenarios, but replacing a frog wired ballasted turnout is a pain...  I still have degenerate thoughts about Kato unitrack........

[CBQ Fan]

The # 8’s that work are very slick. And with my focus being on long passenger trains they are exactly what I need. Trying to decide if I want to plow forward or revamp my passenger yard/station for #6’s.

[glakedylan]

ah, the track in question is code 80 Atlas turnouts
it has been a while since i worked with those
and then it was snap track with the 19" radius
diverging track. totally did not know there was an
option of a #8


cool


Gary

[CBQ Fan]

I've had many issues with my Peco turn outs and was waiting for Atlas to put the #8 out. Guess all this info has put that fire out now.   Hum what to do next.

I would buy them if I could visually inspect them first, or had a shop that I could trust to look at them first.

[Atlas Paul]

I purchased 28 of these turnouts and have opened 22 of them. So far all 22 have various issues making them useless. I purchased these in two  or three separate blocks so I know it isn’t limited to one run.  I have the same problem on all 22, if you are headed into the switch to head straight or diverge , they all pick the switch.  Several came with the switch machine broken away from the plastic tab and you cannot remove the screw to try and repair it. I could fix that with some CA but I shouldn’t have to.  On many others the rails are misaligned so they are short at one end and too long at the other end. The rails that slide back and forth have about an 8th inch slop in it so they don’t rest tightly against the rails in either direction.  I have never seen so many issues like this before.  Needless to say I am extremely disappointed. 

I have Atlas track and turnouts going all the way back to my first layout in the early 90’s that I have used on multiple layouts and will go on this layout. To same I am mystified is an understatement.

Brian,

Do you still have any of the packaging?  If so, there should be a date code stamped on the back of the blister car, it would help if we could have this code.

As we are mostly working remotely right now, I am trying to work with our Customer Service guys to see if there are any common problems with these.  So far we don't seem to have reports of anything nearly as bad as you are experiencing, but again, if you can provide the date codes, we can check our samples and see what is going on.

[CBQ Fan]

Brian,

Do you still have any of the packaging?  If so, there should be a date code stamped on the back of the blister car, it would help if we could have this code.

As we are mostly working remotely right now, I am trying to work with our Customer Service guys to see if there are any common problems with these.  So far we don't seem to have reports of anything nearly as bad as you are experiencing, but again, if you can provide the date codes, we can check our samples and see what is going on.

I can only imagine the challenges you are all facing currently with everything going on. Every package I had looked just like the ones on the picture. The package on the right is a left hand and the one on the left side is a right hand. I appreciate you looking into it. 

[CBQ Fan]

I did verify that these were two separate orders from the same shop spread out a few weeks apart.

[Atlas Paul]

I did verify that these were two separate orders from the same shop spread out a few weeks apart.

The "1921" is the manufacturing code from when they were produced.  At the least I can check these.  I may ask you to send these back, give me a few days to see.  I should be in the office on Friday.

[CBQ Fan]

👍🏻

[CBQ Fan]

30 days later and no responses. I have been able to determine that there are two issues. Either the diverging left side rail cannot travel far enough that the wheels push the entire switch into the diverging route. Or the switch does not have enough clearance to fully travel across the gap again causing derailments.  These switches are extremely fragile compared to the #4 & #6 and almost any attempt to tweak or adjust it leads to breakage. I just bought enough #6 switches to retrack both ends of my passenger yard. It looks like I am going to have to buy more to replace my mainline switches. As for the #8’s it looks like the garbage can.