This is how I cleaned my turnouts for M track:

1. Remove the cover underneath.

2. Spray the sticky parts (track side only) with some WD-40 and let it soak for a little bit.

3. Hold the turnout upside/down and carefully clean the track side with warm soap water and a brush.

4. Immediately after use an air compressor to blow the track dry (or alternative an air duster can).

5. Use an good quality electrical cleaner spray (which is safe for plastic) and clean solenoids and all mechanical parts underneath.

6. Wet a rag with WD-40 and coat the entire turnout in this protective lubricant.

7. Rag with alcohol to clean topside of track and studs. If in bad shape I use a cleaning block from Roco (not as harsh as sandpaper) to remove rust.

8. Replace the spring (they are fairly cheap and the best investment you can do in case you are building a permanent layout).

I sometimes had problem with the cover from the lantern restricting the movement of the turnout arm underneath and even sometimes creating a shortcut!

Mine became nice and shiny afterwards, but make sure you use some alcohol to clean track and studs in the end, else it may be like train ice skating!

Brgs - Lasse

Awesome, thanks Lasse and Marco for your replies.

I will go give it a go tonight on one of the turnouts and see how I manage.

(Supposed to be packing tonight to go away for the weekend but I'm sure I can fit in a bit of Train time :))

hi,
What is the part number for the M track point springs?

One of the most annoying things is when a point which has previously worked well, suddenly causing derailments of the leading bogie
wheels. It can be very difficult to pin down a cause but most often,even if the track seems to pivot OK,it is stiffness at the pivot which causes the problem rather than misalignment of the rails. Presumably due to build up of dirt. Gentlly freeing the pivot with the flat side of a screwdriver often fixes the problem. Trying to oil a point usually ends in messy disaster,at least in my hands. Yes changing the spring or freeing the lantern is sometimes necessary. If all else fails give up,chuck the point in the spares box, and get a cheap replacement on ebay!

Hi folks

I got to fiddle with two of the points last night and one is now working 100%, except for requiring a new globe. The other one is still not working quite right even though I have cleaned and made sure everthing is sliding properly by hand. When I connect it up to the electrics I can see it wants to move but isn't quite able to. My thinking is that the piece of metal that connects the globe casing to the spring has been bent and therefore the angle is not correct, with the hand it's easier enough to move but the power probably just isn't enough to overcome the slight change of angle.

I will fiddle some more next week.

Thanks Geoff, had a chuckle, my patience lately doen's last long so the chances of some of them ending in my son's train box are pretty good.

Thanks for the link Lasse.

Angus

Yup, I agree with you Marco, the $12.65 price did seem a bit high for me but then having only recently rediscovered my Marklin 'mojo', I haven't bought many spares, so not sure of prices. Now that you mentioned it, I recall that thread too

I am going to be contacting some local guys I have bought Marklin track etc. from and see if they can help out. Also give my local dealer a call.

Marco, I have patience to a point, I do build plastic models (mostly aircraft, I have even built balsa planes from plans I drew up...) and I agree it does help calm a person down. Unless there is that one part that just won't work the way it is supposed to. I have had a few aircraft taking test flights down the passage

Thanks again for all the help everyone.

THANK YOU.

Appreciated. I'm almost at stage of needing to clean points (very aware many of them need it; currently still trying to get springs) so this was SO HANDY & well timed.

Don't have an air-compressor (except for a tiny thing in car boot to pump up tyres using cigarette socket).
How big [compressor] do you need for the job? and how handy are they? or could I just use say a hair-dryer?

Thanks, Chris g.

I am from India and I have some electrical Points which have the lantern cover missing, I have friend in the USA and UK can you please help and let me know where I can get just the lantern covers as spares.
Thanks

Hello
Received your suggestions. . regarding lantern covers. You see Marklin Parts are not available in India hence I find the forum very useful. Thanks again