I have an existing Peco turnout with a finicky PL-10 motor. I’m thinking of replacing the motor with one of the new PL-1001 Twistlock motors. The turnout is fully ballasted and sceniced so I don’t wish to pull the turnout up. The new Twistlock looks far simpler to install. The issue is locating the pilot holes for the screws for the mounting posts From underneath the layout. If a new install is very easy from the top, according to the videos. Has anyone attempted what I’m planning to do? Any difficulties? Any tips? Thnx.
What is finicky about the PL-10? If installed properly, these are pretty solid machines. I would caution you to use a Capacitive Discharge circuit to drive any PL-10, because they take far more power to throw than, for example, an Atlas machine. CD circuits also protect your switch machines from getting burned out by a stuck toggle on the control panel.
If you must remove the PL-10, it may actually be easier to pull the turnout completely than to try to do the job in place.
All my 30+ Pl-10’s work flawlessly, and have for 20+ years. Just this one will sometimes just not throw, especially in one direction. I do use a circuitron CD unit. My guess is I must have installed it with some alignment issues. But it used to work fine for many years. I can’t pinpoint the problem, hence "finicky ".
BTW, following your posts over the years have I deducted correctly your Massachusetts hobby shop was Maine Trains?
That’s true. I went to Maine Trains for many years. I even have a 1:87 Maine Trains on my layout. I’m in Delaware now, although our Jurassic Era forum software won’t let me change my signature. Maine Trains closed a few years ago when Gerry, the owner, retired. It was a new geedy landlord for the shop that raised the rent too high for him to make a profit. Years later, the shop remained empty and the Maine Trains sign remained in place.
I guess I would re-solder the connections if they are accessible. The PL-10 with a CD circuit has quite a jolt, and one of those might have worked loose.
If you mean you have the PL10E with the extended pin then the Twistlock installs in place of a PL10E with no need to drill. I think the Twistlock mounting pins are offset from the old screw holes used to mount the 10E so you use the template to “find” the correct location for two new screwholes. The Twistlock is easier to install than the PL10E but it is still critical to align the motor pin exactly dead center under the throwbar pin. As this is always springloaded to one side or the other it can be tricky to find that exact spot. I drill a 1/2" hole rather than the recommend 3/8" for that reason. Also, Walthers system comes with a nifty plastic spacer that inserts into the points to hold the spring loaded points dead center while you mark the pilot hole through the throwbar. You could use toothpicks or similar to wedge the points dead center.
If you have the regular PL10 that clips into the turnout with metal tabs the only challenge will be finding solid wood to drill the new screw holes. You already have a whacking great hole (20mm x 40mm) under the turnout so that will be a bit of an eyesore. I’m pretty sure Peco deliberately desigbed the new Twistlock to be a “drop in” replacement for their PL10 or 10E.
Have you checked the wiring to your intermittently troublesome turnout? Peco motors really like a jolt to snap t
Mike, thnx for offering advise. In the meantime I think maybe a solution is to mount the posts on a thin piece of luan or Masonite with an appropriate hole drilled for the pin. Then mount the entire assembly to the underside. As you said, because of the large hole required for the original install that is the problem, the hole exceedes the position of the posts For the Twistlock.
MisterBeasley, I still see Gerry every couple of weeks. He is active doing loco repairs and decoder installs. He has a space at Steve Lamb’s shop and does a lot of work for Steve, and then some for his former customers. He goes in 3-4 days a week. I’ve learned quite a lot from him.
A similar thing happened in College Station a few years back. A Hobbytown USA franchisee wanted to sell his franchise at the end of his 3 year lease in a strip mall; found a buyer, and they proceeded to negotiate a new lease with strip mall management. Management doubled the rent on the new franchisee; which effectively killed the new venture. Result, no hobby shop in a market of 250,000 folks; and 65,000 college students. Landlord did subsequently rent the space to a cake shop, but I bet it wasn’t at double the previous rate.
An unfortunate commentary on what’s happening in our hobby