Only Once

Dave- I had a similar problem just recently but it was more operator error.  I spread the caulk a little too thin, and I just use pins to hold the track, not weights, so I had a section that was "floating" free.  I just used a little thinned glue to get it attached properly.  I use Micro Engineering code 83 turnouts and Atlas code 83 track and have never seen it not stick when I did the caulk properly.  I suspect your mold release thought might have some merit as its hard for caulk to get old in the tube if you have capped it off between uses.

Craig

I've had lots...

I've had a lot of track pop out of the caulk due to expansion/contraction before the ballast went down, but not on spurs. Kinda odd that it would happen on a spur. 

Randy

Happens, relatively rarely,

usually if we leave the caulk too long before laying the track.  Seems the caulk forms a skin that's less sticky, so if there isn't enough caulk to press the track into, the ties just sort of sit on the caulk skin.  At least, that was our diagnosis.  Hence, we don't put caulk down too far in advance of laying the track.  Typically, just one or two lengths of flex at a time.

Otherwise, yes, I guess it's possible there was mould release, or other contaminants, on the bottom.  Was it re-used track, or new - could it have had something incompatible on it from previous use?

Blair

the mystery

 Thanks for the input guys. The track was new Tomalco( made by MicroEngineering). I don't recall the brand of caulk as I usually just buy it by color as it all seems to work fine for this task. The last foot of the spur just floated free some time within the last couple of months which is weird as that's where there should be no strain :> ) .           I was chiseling on the backdrop adjacent to the failed area a couple of days ago so maybe the shock waves went thru the benchwork somehow and caused the pop up?                     I guess I should speed up my ballasting plan in case other sections are thinking about popping up too :> ) ....DaveB

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