In an act of impatience, I bought 6 atlas remote turnouts. Now I realise how much I do not like them, and would prefer to upgrade to slow speed turnouts.
My question is, do I have to buy Atlas custom turnouts, or can I just remove the solonoids from the turnouts I have and use them with slow speed motors?
Thanks in advance…
The ones you have can be modified by removing the solenoid and connecting a slow-mo switch machine. There should be two screws holding the solenoid to the turnout. Remove them and the solenoid can easily be removed without damaging the turnout.
Thank you cacole. So are the turnouts I have basically the same thing as the custom turnouts, with the addition of the screw mounts on two of the ties?
The Snap-Switches are not the same geometry as the Custom-Line, Snap Track has a constant 18" radius curve (minus 1/3 of the length - that’s what the little extra piece they supply is for) so it drops right in in place of either a straight or curved standard section. The Custom-Line turnouts are #4 or #6 - although the #4 actually has a #4.5 frog angle, go figure. They do not drop right in to curved track because they have straight sections, it is not a continuous curve on the diverging route.
–Randy
Almost exactly correct. If you had purchased a custom line #6 then you could buy the machines and add them making them “remote”. The motors can be attached in two ways depending on how old they are. As cacole said simply two screws, or newer ones have notchs in the ties so they angle in to the throw bar and then snap flush with the side. To remove you would want to unsnap the rear (diverging side) first and pull it out like a door hinge from the front (points side) knotch.
Custom Line Mark 2 have both mounting types.
Custom Line Mark 3 have only the knotch mount.
Since you just purchased these I presume they are the newer type.