Tortoise Switch Machine with Peco Turnout Problem
Frank Moore
turnout.
The tortoise (or the spring wire) does not seem to generate enough force to
throw the
turnout. I have tried adjusting the fulcrum and I have bent the spring
wire in various
shapes all to no avail. The tortoise instructions suggest that for O scale
and larger more
tension may be required and a heavier gauge wire should be used. I am
modeling HO
scale so I am assuming the provided spring wire should be sufficient. I did
notice that
the hole in the throwbar is maybe twice the size of the diameter of the
spring wire.
I have considered removing the spring from the turnout as the tension it
creates maybe
too great given the gauge of the spring wire. Basically, I was wondering
if anyone had
a similar problem and could point me in the right direction.
thanks,
frank
Train Man
I don't have any experience with the Peco switches but I do have
considerable experience with the Tortises. You've pretty much hit the
nail on the head in guessing what the problem is. That thin little
spring wire they provide will only move completely free moving points.
Basically follow the instructions for O scale and you should be good.
Use Steel wire, not brass, about twice the diameter of the one they
provide. You will have to drill a larger hole in the tortise to accept
the larger wire. I would also put a washer on with the screw that holds
the wire as I've found just the screw to be unreliable (the wire comes
out). Adjust the fulcrum so that when the tortise is completely thown,
the points are snug against the outside rails. Another thing to make
sure of is that the tortise is centered under the turnout. Too much to
the left or right (and it doesn't take much) will also cause problems.
The tortise itself generates plenty of force to move most switch points.
Mine are all hand spiked with no hinges.
Good luck,
Jeff
KEMACPRR
>throw the
>turnout. I have tried adjusting the fulcrum and I have bent the spring
>wire in various
Frank you can either use a larger piece of spring wire or remove the spring
from the Peco. Either will fix the problem. The springs can be removed from
installed switches easily. ------- Ken McCorry
Paul
machine is supposed to slowly move the points in a realistic fashion and
hold them securely against the rail. They're both intended to work
differently and appear to be fighting each other (with the Peco spring
winning). If the Tortoise was able to overcome the spring's force, the
points would then quickly snap anyway which defeats the purpose of the
Tortoise.
I would either use a use a solenoid style machine or remove the spring from
the turnout as suggested by others.
Paul
"Frank Moore" <lbogar...@cfl.rr.com> wrote in message
news:Ps_c8.223974$jO5.28...@typhoon.tampabay.rr.com...
Dale Gloer
straighten the two metal tabs that hold the spring cover in place and remove the
cover. Lift out the spring and bend the tabs down flat againt the plastic.
If your bench work is thick (allow less flexing over a long length), you may
also want to use a larger diameter wire on the tortoise.
Dale.
Larry Madson
I have been using PECO turnouts with Tortise switch machines for several
years. Our modular railroad has about 30 switch machines operating Peco
turnouts. Here is what I do, some modification is required to both the
turnout and the switch machine.
1. On the Tortise switch machine, discard the throw wire that comes with the
machine and replace it with a throw wire made from .032" piano wire. You
will have to enlarge the hole in the Tortise throw arm.
2. Remove the spring from the Peco turnout. Leaving the spring in makes for
unrealistic and unreliable operation.
3. To mount the switch machine, set the throw wire on the switch machine
vertical, set the turnout midway between the stock rails. Mount the switch
machine.
4. Adjust the throw. Moving the plastic throw fulcrum down for more throw,
up for less throw. When you are satisfied put a dab of glue, preferably hot
glue where the fulcrum meets the switch machine case. This will prevent the
fulcrum from working its way up, decreasing the throw.
5. Lastly to make the Peco turnouts electrically reliable, use the
auxilliary contacts on thswitch machine to connect the stock rail and the
points. The little contacts on the points of the Peco turnouts tend to get
unreliable with time.
Larry Madson
Frank Moore <lbogar...@cfl.rr.com> wrote in message
news:Ps_c8.223974$jO5.28...@typhoon.tampabay.rr.com...
Joy or Richard Zimmerman
> creates maybe too great given the gauge of the spring wire.
> Basically, I was wondering if anyone had a similar problem and could
>point me in the right direction.
Remove the tension spring out of the Peco switch. The Tortoise will hold
the tension just fine when it's adjusted properly.
Richard
DHENK
<lbogar...@cfl.rr.com> writes:
>scale so I am assuming the provided spring wire should be sufficient. I did
>notice that>the hole in the throwbar is maybe twice the size of the diameter
of the
>spring wire.
>I have considered removing the spring from the turnout as the tension it
>creates maybe too great given the gauge of the spring wire. Basically, I was
>wondering if anyone had a similar problem and could point me in the right
direction.
I remove the Peco Spring. The spring works well with a relay type machine or
manual usage to hold the points. The Tortoise does this for you. I also change
the Tortoise wire to the stiffer. Doing this I've never had a problem with any
of my Tortoise machines.
Dave Henk
Jacksonville, FL
Doug Seymour
throw wires with heavier gauge ones that I fabricated myself. Use the
pattern that came on the instructions and just make a new one (a couple
of minutes work)
KTØT
I removed the little spring in the Peco switch. Works fine.
--
73 de KTØT
Bob Schwartz
Modeling Waseca, MN in the 50s
"Frank Moore" <lbogar...@cfl.rr.com> wrote in message
news:Ps_c8.223974$jO5.28...@typhoon.tampabay.rr.com...
: I am having a problem getting a Tortoise switch machine to work with a
:
: