Scratching my head with this one, so need your expert advice.
Have installed about 6 ME Turnouts with accompanying Tortoise switch machine.
All operate perfectly first time up, until today.
Installed the turnout as I have with the previous 6. Removed the spring from the throwbar.
Ensured that the points are not binding and switch smoothly.
Pre-drilled the hole on the roadbed ( 1/8" cork on 1/2" plywood) and followed the instructions from Circuitron regarding Tortoise preparation.
Mount Tortosie under the layout ensuring the hole in the fulcrum is centered directly under the hole in the roadbed and also the hole in the throwbar. Have left hole in throwbar as is.
Power up the Tortosie and throw the DPDT switch to turn the points.
Nothing happen. The throwarm on the Tortoise moves as it should but the turnout throwbar doesn’t move.
Have tried another turnout thinking there may have been issues with the first one, but same story.
Can’t be the roadbed being too thick as all other Tortosie/turnouts work fine.
Only thing I haven’t tried is using a new Tortoise. But surely it can’t be that, as the existing Tortoise appears to be working fine i.e the throwarm moves according to which way I flip the DPDT switch.
So, as you can see I’m left completely stumped.
Any and all tips as to trouble shooting this issue would be greatly appreciated.
The tortoise throw wire is hanging up on something in the hole - like an un-cleared splinter.
The point pivot rivets are too tight. How much finger pressure does it take to throw the switch?
I’m sure other people who actually use Tortoise machines will think of other possibilities. (My own switch points are moved in one direction by a weight consisting of a couple of used hex nuts.)
I have to ask what size hole is drilled in the roadbed and subroadbed? Circuittron recommends a 1/2" hole which the first time I read it thought it was way too big but it actually is the best size. If you remove the Tortoise and it moves when powered and the throw bar moves freely that only leaves on part the hole in the bench work unless you are seriously out of alignment and just don’t realize it. Typically it’s usually something very simple that causes the problem.