Anyone found another turntable that could be used to replace the piece of junk Walthers 90’ ? I have one installed and it is junk, doesn’t turn good, gears don’t work and doesn’t look all that great. The problem I have is that I have done all the track work and cut the hole. Is there another product that I can use to replace this ?
Thanks,
Josh
Well, AAA Precision Turntables will sell you a 90 footer. It’l cost you about $500, though. http://aaaturntables.com/aaa_007.htm.
Diamond Scale makes turntables too, I think they’ve got a 90 footer, but I can’t find a website for them.
Hope this helps
Andre
Diamond Scale’s website is www.diamond-scale.com. I’d suggest their turntable.
Bowser also makes reliable turntables, including (I think) a 90-footer. Check their website as well.
Hey Josh,
Are you talking about the new one that Walther just released? I have heard nothing but good things about it but nothing firsthand.
BC
Hi Josh,
I understand your frustration with the 90’ turntable from Walthers because I spent a LOT of time getting it to work. Originally, when I bought the turntable, it came with the motor but you had to slide the gears onto a drive shaft which easily got bent. Walther’s sent me another shaft and I was able to get the gears on and get it working.
I’ve since heard that they had so many problems with the gears etc. that they began selling the turntable with the gears and motor already assembled. Apparently, now you just have to mount the motor and that’s it. It mates easily with the gear attached to the bottom of the turntable. I spoke with one of their people as to whether the new gear and motor mount can be used with the “old” turntable and the guy didn’t think so.
Before you spend $4-500 dollars for another turntable, I would at least consider the Walther’s newer model of the 90’ turntable with the motor and gears already assembled. I believe it’s under $100.00 complete. I’m real happy with the way mine works but I had to “tweek” it a lot. I painted it to look like weathered concrete and it looks real prototypical.
Hope this helps.
Modo
Just call Walthers and complain/ask for help. I’m sure they would respond helpfully. I had a problem with one of their custom items, and they helped/repaired the problem part with no hastle.
Randy
I believe the Walthers turntable and motor kit mondotrains is talking about is being discontinued, however M B Klein (modeltrainstuff.com) has it for $39.99. I have been concerned, too, about getting the Walthers or possibly the Heljan T/T, but I can’t justify $300 for the new Walthers assembled and motorized piece, or the $400-600 some of the others get for theirs. I don’t need one to be motorized, but I would like a decent one, possibly larger. There just aren’t any others available for a reasonable price.
I also purchased the Walthers 90’ turntable and found one problem that was an easy fix. after insalling the plastc bearings and the compleated bridge (minus the bridge deck) I insatalled the gear box with out the moter and then turned the bridge by hand. I found two things that needed attention. The bridge was scrapeing the side of of the pit in some places. I removed the bridge and sanded the contours on each end, were the bogie wheels are located. This helped but did not solve all of the contact with the pit walls. I then realized the pit was slightly out of round. I marked the areas were there was contact and sanded the those areas giving the bridge the clearance that it needed.
that was the extent of the physical problem. The next thing I did was to check it out with the motor installed. This is what I found. At 12V the motor and gear whine was not at all acceptable. I lubed the motor and ring gear according to instructions and that did help some. At 12V the thing was going around like an old 45 rpm record. I found 5V dc gave me what I thought was a more realistic speed plus a much reduced motor/gear noise.
I don’t know if the things that I did will help your situation I hope so. It sure beats paying for a high priced table that might have it’s own set of problems.
is there a decent priced 120’ - 130 ’ table available ?
I think I need to take mine apart and look at it again. This is actually the 2nd one, I built the first one wrong and broke the shaft to the table. The issue I am having now is both the scraping and the fact that its not level. If you can get it lined up for a track (very difficult) and get a loco on it, the bridge rocks as you drive on it. One end is higher then the other. Since I have it installed and painted I guess I should try to make it work. I know I need to reindex the motor and gears, they slip alot.
I love most of the Walthers products, but the turntable design just stinks.
Thanks for your help,
Josh
I am hoping that the new Walthers “Modern 130 Turntable” due next month is a decent product. I currently have an older Diamond Scale 135’ turntable that I could never get to work smoothly. It is a beautiful looking turntable, however. The white metal bridge trucks tended to bend with any heavy engines on it.
I, too, am waiting on the Walthers new 130 ft. turntable to come out. I called them a couple of days ago and they are having trouble getting production on the pit. Available date has been moved, again, to Nov. according to Customer Service. Now that I am back in the hobby after a 20 yr. layoff and financially able to afford the beautiful new products, it seems to be mostly “show” and “no go”.
Richard
The new walthers release seems interesting ! Let’s hope it operates well.
The Walthers site now says December 15th ETA for the “Modern 130 Turntable” . Disappointing, but better late than poor quality.