Massoth/TrainLi track clamps - which way round?

[Martino]

I have a pile of Massoth/Train Li track clamps from the old South Bucks. I’m using them to joint the track for the new, inside, SBLR. Out in the yard on the old line I tended to have them with screws on the outside of the track. Now I’m thinking the screws should be on the inside of the track. I can’t see it matters as regards functionality but what is the general consensus - inside or outside?

 

[Sean.]

I have a pile of Massoth/Train Li track clamps from the old South Bucks. I’m using them to joint the track for the new, inside, SBLR. Out in the yard on the old line I tended to have them with screws on the outside of the track. Now I’m thinking the screws should be on the inside of the track. I can’t see it matters as regards functionality but what is the general consensus - inside or outside?

Inside so the screws are hidden and your track from the side looks like they have normal connections

 

[korm kormsen]

what is the general consensus - inside or outside?

i agree with Sean. - invisible.
or in other words: away from the observer.

 

[Paul M]

So, depending on which side you view your track, one side inwards and one outwards.

 

[JimmyB]

I am an "on the inside" vote.

 

[Nodrog1826]

Mine are also on the inside, personal preference.

 

[dunnyrail]

Matters not a jot, though aesthetically screws to the opposite of your view. Thus closest rail is inside furthest outside.

 

[Gizzy]

Six of one, half a dozen of t'other.

For more inaccessible areas, I would probably have the far rail on the inside and the near rail on the outside, so I could see them for any maintenance....

 

[korm kormsen]

thinking again about clamps.
what i wrote is for massoth clamps. (where one applies the screw driver from above)
for some of the other types of clamps, where the screw driver has to be used sideways, accessibility should be more important than "beauty".

 

[Martino]

Thank you all. I think we may go for the ‘screws away from viewing point’. So as the line will be inside and there will be an obvious viewing position, screws t’wards inside. Unless…..access is an issue. Unless…..I forget and put them wrong way round.

 

[jblodgett]

Screws should be on the outside. That leaves the solid bar on the inside where it pushes the rail into alignment. Perhaps not so critical if you are sticking to one brand of track but very important if you mix brands where the track widths may not be identical. The solid bar of the clamp being on the inside pushes the rails in alignment as best as they can for reliable train running. The screws on the outside can then make up for whatever misalignment results there.

 

[Martino]

Screws should be on the outside. That leaves the solid bar on the inside where it pushes the rail into alignment. Perhaps not so critical if you are sticking to one brand of track but very important if you mix brands where the track widths may not be identical. The solid bar of the clamp being on the inside pushes the rails in alignment as best as they can for reliable train running. The screws on the outside can then make up for whatever misalignment results there.

Very good point. Many thanks.

 

[jblodgett]

It is the same with Split-Jaw clamps where the screw heads should be inside so the solid part is inside for reliable track alignment / train running. That makes tightening those screws a real pain but reliability of operation rather than looks has always been my choice.

 

[Dan]

Mine are always on the inside.

 

[Software Tools]

That makes tightening those screws a real pain but reliability of operation rather than looks has always been my choice.

Not when you have the correct tool... "ball-end" hex drivers are the way to go.