I have a few tortoise switch machines on order and was looking at the turnouts to prepare. On the medium radius I simply cut the spring but the large radius are inclosed. Does anybody know how to rectify this without damaging the throwbar.
P.S. Some of the turnouts are mounted and some are not.
Why would you want to?
Actually, I never saw the point of the tortoise switch machines. Any time I’ve seen a turnout switched, the brakeman walks up to the switchstand, unlocks it, and gives the lever a pull. Not that much different from a solenoid.
Altonfan, I too like the manual throws but I have one out of reach turnout and a staging yard(hidden). Plus i have a very high layout. I am 6’3" and the yard is just above elbow high and the rest climbs to shoulder high, therefore I do not want me nor anybody else to have to get the steps I built in order to throw one switch.
The spring need to be cut as they are too strong for the wire supplied with the tortoise.I am not sure that a stronger wire would work either as by the time the points threw the internal contacts would have changed polarity and caused a short.
If the Peco N scale turnouts are made the same as the HO scale, you’ll need to remove the turnout to get to the spring if you can’t reach it to just make a cut from above. If you have a spare Peco or one nearer that you can examine, look closely at the crosstie that is next to the throwbar towards the points end. There may be two small metal tabs bent over onto the top of the crosstie that look like they are connected to the turnout points, but they’re not. Bend these up and push down. That will remove the cover that holds the spring in place on the bottom of the turnout, and the spring can then be removed.
You can try to replace the wire that came with your tortoise machine with some stronger stuff. In fact, even if you remove the spring from the Pecos you could still modify the motor. I have seen this recommended in Model Railroader many times.
I too am about to lay Peco N scale turnouts, and am worried because someday down the road I might want to install Tortoises. Can someone confirm that you NEED to remove the switch to remove the spring wire? I would hate to tear up my ballast and stuff.
cacole, the N-scale turnouts are similar to HO but on the large radius turnouts the tabs you write about do not exist. The tabs are on the smaller turnouts but the large has a solid underside and a very small slit to reach in between throwbar and spring retainer to cut it. I do not have an apropriate tool. The larger radii wire for the tortoise may work but if there is any delay the internal contacts will change polarity and cause the short. I removed the spring from one turnout (not mounted) and felt uncomfortable with the force it took.
Please help.someone, pull me off the tracks before the train (shipment) gets here.