Peco PL11 surface mount turnout motor and code 83 turnouts

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

It is well known now that Peco blew it with this surface mount equivalent to Atlas turnout mounted switch motors. No way the Peco motor works with their own code 83 turnouts. The motor is designed to pop over a pin in the code 100 Peco throw bar, and fits neatly on the ties (sleepers in the UK). Well done Peco.

Code 83 throw bars have a hole instead of a pin. And the hole is half the size of the hole in the PL11 switch motor. Not so clever Peco.

Ahaa though. Get yourself a tiny bit of styrene 3/32 tube and 3/64 rod. Push a very short bit of the rod inside the tube and glue. Drill or ream out the hole in the throw bar to 3/64 (it is a very tiny bit smaller than that) and the hole in the switch motor arm to 3/32 (it’s a very tiny bit. …). Cut the assembly to fit so that the 3/32 tube end interference fits the switch motor arm hole and the 3/64 rod end interference fits the throw bar hole.

Clip the protruding ends to a satisfactory length, the rod end will need to be nearly flush. I’ve left the tube end sticking up to facilitate inserting the pin. I suspect I’ll need to glue the tube end into the switch motor given the vigorous “snap” action of these Peco solenoid especially when fired with their CDU. There’s no doubt a Peco turnout is lined when that PL26 lever gets thrown…now if I can just remember which lever operates which turnout and whether up is mainline and down is divergent or vice versa. Snap only tells you at least one Peco turnout has been lined…

Not yet field tested. Patent pending. In the spirit of this community all royalty claims are waived for members of this board.

If it doesn’t work when I wire it up I’ll so report.

Any improvements can be added to the patent application as co-inventor. Peco will be steamed when they find out about the patent application.

If I can find the time to file one. In London it’ll have to be.

2

First I’ve heard of it; apparently I didn’t get the memo.

3

First I’ve heard of it also. I prefer the Peco under track mounted machines. Just cut a hole in the foam, attach wires, done.

I really don’t like those big tortoise motors, way too difficult to install, takes up a lot of space and look ugly too. Just my humbel opinion.

4

The PL11 does not connect to code 83 turnouts. Both the throwbar and the switch motor connection bar have holes. There’s no pin on either one.

5

Umm, no. [Maybe you’re joking.] That’s not the way patents work – you can’t unilaterally add yourself to an existing patent held by someone else. In any country.

And I don’t think that PECO advertises the PL11 as compatible with Code 83 in any case.

6

Correct…on all three poins you make*

Peco does not make that claim but neither do they warn customers that they have no surface mount option for their code 83, apart from putting the PL10 on a little platform above the table. Their PL10 works well as designed for direct mount to the throw bar, unless you have already and somewhat cavalierly built a tunnel under the crossover that needs two switch motors. And a tunnel with only 4" clearance from the table top to underside of the upper table. Woops.

  • yes, tongue firmly in cheek. Anyone who knows a bit about patents knows you can’t really share your idea for free before filing the application. Plus it would be tough to satisfy the new invention requirement. Even a chimpanzee has been known to stick a rod into a tube…
7

Field tested and the adapter pin works great. As far as I can see this is the only way to get the PL11 connected securely to the Peco Code 83 turnouts.