I wonder of you have tried to use a push pull linkage from the RC world between the tortoise switch machine and the turnout? The reason I ask is because I have no room for the tortoise right under the turnout. The RC push pull linkage I’m talking about is a nylon tube with a nylon rod inside. Do you think it will work if I place the tortoise 2-3 feet from the turnout?
Yes it will work. At one of our recent NMRA division meetings, a clinic was given on this very subject.
Tortoise also makes a kit for mounting the machine away from the turnout, using a push-pull method. Not sure how far away from turnout this mounting can work, but it does use a monofilament line inside a hollow plastic tube to accomplish, so it seems it can be quite far, >3ft.
Being a cheapskate, using twin coil switch machines, I used a wood dowel supported by screw eyes under the track bed on either side of the switch.
I drilled a press fit hole in the dowell centered under the switch throw bar. I installed the dowel into the screw eyes with the hole facing up and drove a finishing nail into the hole to actuate the switch. Then clipped off the extra nail on the top.
For ease of maintence, I mounted all of the twin coils along the front of the layout and sized the length of the dowel accordingly.
For manual operation I used lawn mower throttle cables.
My latest remote linkage calls for a double-ended bellcrank (like those used in U-control model aircraft, bent up from springy wire) under the turnout. One end is connected to the switch actuator (which can be any kind of electromechanical device, or even a toggle switch) with a length of monofilament fishing line. The other end is connected to a hanging weight (boltless nut) by another length of fishing line. When the machine (or toggle) is in the normal position, the weight of the nut holds the points against the stock rail. When the reverse route is desired the machine (or toggle) puts tension on the slack fishing line, throws the points and raises the weight a centimeter or so.
With this system I can mount my actuators along the fascia, and the weight can be put anywhere that it won’t get in the way of things underneath. I use small screw eyes for line guides. To use this with a Tortoise, you might need to rig some kind of hard stop on the normal side, since a slack line won’t offer any resistance to stall the motor.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
This works just fine. There are a few different types of linkage you can use as well. the one I found that seems to work the best for turnouts uses a switch maching eot push/pull a lever or Tiller that actuates the switch. With this method you can control the throw distance much better than by moving the point of motion closer to the fulcrum for longer movment and farther away for less movment. The same can be done at the other end of the lever that connects to the switch. Look how the rudder/servo mech works on an R/C boat.
Works very well, especially with a slide switch in line to give it some resistance and allow for signals and display board indicators.
Fergie
Yep, it should work. Here is what I did in several spots where I couldn’t mount the Torti under the turnout.
I took some old rail I had laying around and soldered an L shaped piece of piano wire to it. Then drilled a hole in the other end (after cutting it to length) and fashioned a hook on the throw from the Tortiose. This is one done a little differently to mate with a throw already in place under the layout:
It ended up looking like this:
Others mounted in place behind the where the Backdrop is to go using the L bracket on the end going to the turnout:
So Ray… [:D] When are you coming down tohook mineup?
Fergie
Well, lets see, I have to get my Passport updated to get into Canada now… OK, you pay for the taxi to get me out there… Oh and the posh Hotel rooms on the way and back… I’d love to help you with your MESS but my SLOW is holding me back![:-^][:D]
I have friends at the border[}:)] I’m sure a trip on a ship ala steerage will meet all your needs and there’s a warm spot under the layout beside the pooch ( she cute and likes treats… lots of treats)… So when can we expect ya?
Will need a whole lot of Tortoise’s to hook up my semaphores, got any spares?
Fergie