I just discovered this problem while mounting tortoise switch machines to my “eclectic” mix of switches. The Peco switches seem to have a positive lock built into the points. I am up to .046 size wire with the tortoise but it still will not move the move the points. Any suggestions? I am going to try heavier wire if I can find it but not sure if it will solve the problem.
As I understand it you want to remove the spring from the switch. I have some I may be dealing with when I get that far. They work well with their own motors, but the spring is too strong for the slower motion turnout motors.
Good luck,
Richard
try taking the little spring out of the peco switch.
charlie
You gotta remove the spring.
A 0.046 wire is more than sufficient to move the point rails on a Peco turnout. I use 0.039 wire.
Rich
looking down on the turnout, gently lift the two little metal tabs you see holding down the plastic plate with a “T” looking thing on top of it. Lift off the “T-Plate” and remove the dog leg spring (save the springs), the two metal tab are part of a metal bottom plate, make sure the metal bottom plate is pushed up to the bottom of the turnout and replace the plastic T-Plate and gently push the two metal tab back down on to the T-Plate. If the turnout is nailed in place, the metal bottom plate should stay in place. Use the throw wire that came with the Tortoise,that is if the hole that you probably drilled out is not to large in the arm that contains the screw that holds the throw wire. If you drilled the hole larger in the arm, then just use the throw wire that fits that hole.
If you will be using ground throws, keep the little spring in the Pecos, makes for a tight rail to rail connection.
Thanks very much PC101. I will try it.
Also I believe the code 100 Peco turnouts have heavier springs. I needed to remove them on my code 100 turnouts, but I was able to leave them in with my 83’s where I used my own homemade switch machines using servo motors.
How close to the points is the tortoise? I know at the club we moved up to heavier wire but I don’t remember how heavy. We did move that built in fulcrum up closer to the top of the tortoise. We did not remove the springs from the Peco turnouts.
I use .032" wire to go though 3/4" plywood,1/2" blue foam board or 1/2" Homosote and 1/4" cork roadbed. Also yes the folcrum is moved up as far as can be.This part of the layout is HO code 100 Peco turnouts (switches).
If you use piano or harden wire, DO NOT USE XURON OR REGULAR WIRE CUTTERS, you will mess up the cutting edge. I have a cutter that came from Sears, (knipex #74 10 200 made in Germany for piano wire) and wear your eye protection !
Ours didn’t have the additional 1/2" of blue foam.
That is a bit too general. Don’t use your Xuron rail nippers, shears, or flush cuts for piano wire. Xuron does make several cutters just for piano wire such as part number #2193.
If you don’t remove the spring, the wire will eventually weaken the plastic of the throw rod, and the throwrod will tear. Especially a problem in N. Ask how I know.
Joel