Tortise Switch Motors

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to install tortise switch motors in cramp spaces ?

Chris

2

I mount them to a 1/4" piece of plywood. Then use sheetrock screws to mount them from the TOP of the layout. Please visit my webpage. In “Trains 1” (It might be in “Trains 2”) I explain (with pictures) how to mount a tortoise machine without all the back breaking contortions trying to mount them from under the layout. My site is: www.webshots.com/user/bayouman1 I don’t remember what page it’s on, but you can get to it fairly quickly by jumping thru the pictures until you find it…chuck

3

It’s on page 6 of Trains 1…chuck

4

They can be placed in an offset position, then linked to the throwbar with a couple of simple levers. If you’re particularly industrious, you can use a single machine to actuate a couple of switches at the same time, such as in an interlocking or a crossover.

Lee

5

Hi,

Some years ago an article was published by MR about hard to reach turnout powered by Tortoise.

They use the RC aicraft control wing linkage to control the turnouts as far as one meter from the turnouts.

These actuating tube are flexible and offer nearly no friction.

They made just small wood pieces to hold the actuator in the turnout.

These linkage could be curved.

Take a look at the library of old articles in MR and you could find it

Marc

6

I have built all kinds of linkages to hook up torti in tough locations. Some photos:

I have often used old rail I had pieces of laying around. Soldered a piece of piano wire on the end, bent it to go through the table to the turnout and hooked the thing to the torti via a hole drilled in the web of the rail. Did a whole bunch of them for a yard directly above my hidden staging.

They work very well by gravity in the turnouts.

I have also built some more complex homemade linkage like this one:

Here it is mounted below the layout. Notice the homemade throw bar that turns on a brad going through a hole on the rail. A small piece of piano wire soldered to the rail completes the linkage. I find it “fun” to figure out a way to hook these things up and make them work using linkage that I designed and made for the individual situation…[swg]

I have also used the commercial “remote” linkage from Circuitron. It is finicky but once in place works very nicely as well. What you may have to do depends very much on the situation you have.

Good luck!

7

I completely agree with Chuck this IS the way to mount Tortoise switch machines. I did a search for different mounting methods a while back and came across his site, tried it and now it’s the only way I mount them and the micro servos I use for switch machines in really tight places.

I know some guys suggest using double sided tape or construction adhesive to glue them in placeetc. etc. but this way is so simple and easy to do especially if you work alone one of the best things I’ve picked up in the hobby.

Thanks Chuck