I am extremely frustrated with my recently installed 90’ turntable made by Walthers Cornerstone Series. (I did motorize with their kit). The problem is that there is so much “free-play” of the bridge that train almost always derails. I cannot minimize this free play.
Can anyone recommend a motorized turntable that they are satisfied with. My layout calls for a 90’ foot bridge. My pit diameter is @ 12 -9/16". I would really appreciate any recommendations as well as sources where can be purchased. Thanks John
Bowser http://www.bowser-trains.com/hoother/ttables/ttables.htm there smallest is 14".
Atlas; several people (inc articles in MR) have used the Atlas mechanism under another turntable. You may be able to adapt it to your present one.
And there a couple of advertisers in MR.
WIth turntables, you get what you pay for. Atlas’s is unique, it uses a Geneva mechanism for indexing, so it has a very limited number of positions, and it hits each one.
I have the same problem with my Walthers turntable. In some cases I have to
adjust as I pull the locos onto the turntable. My biggest problem is dead spots, it
loses power to the track at certain positions. Dave
I had similiar problems with a german made turntable and looked at buying a new turntable but since I’m max’d out with Christmas and other expenditures I can’t afford a $200 turntable so I’m in the process of making my own. I have Marty Mcguirk’s Locomotive Servicing Terminals manual by Kalmbach but I am still in need of a set of blue prints or good prints/drawings of a 130’ turntable. Anyone got any sources? I apologize to the guys above if I seem to be butting in or changing the subject.[:I]
I was very frustrated in building my Walthers turntable as well. It was very jerky. When I called the service department, they told me to add toothpaste to the gears. Obviously, I didn’t do that. We have worked on it for several sessions and intend to install it soon but it has left me with a poor opinion of Walthers.
I will be very interested in seeing the responses as my friend wants a turntable and it won’t be Walthers.
Thanks for asking…Ken
Walthers is now offering a pre-built and indexed 130’ turntable BUT it list
for around 300 bucks. Dave
there are HO scale plans for an 120’ ATSF turntable in the Oct 1989 MR complete with an article on how to scratch build it in N scale by Jim Kelly (page 98).
It is a through truss turntable that is not that common a design type but it looks very pretty if that is what you are after.
John,
Don’t know what your budget is, but you might want to visit two Web sites. One is Diamond Scale Products at:
http://www.diamond-scale.com/Products/products__turntables.htm
and the other is AAA Precision Turntables at:
http://www.aaaturntables.com
I have not used either brand, but perhaps one of the other forum members can comment.
Bob
Just don’t use a food processor for the motor.LOL[;)][bow][#wstupid][swg]
I USE TOOTHPASTE ON THE GEARSETS ATHEARN LOCOS TO QUIET THEM DOWN . IT WORKS BY POLISHING THE TEETH TO MATCH BETTER
THEN AFTER RUNNING FOR 30-40 MINUTES CLEAN AND LUBE. MAYBE
THIS IS WALTHERS FIX FOR THE TURN TABLE. [8D]
People; I found this, it would make a perfect turntable drive, and bearing system.
http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=400400&item=DCM-178&type=store
And the price is very very good for what you get.