My layout, and specifically for this concern, my staging yard is built using Peco code 100 turnouts. Some of the turnouts are mounted right next to each other, making it difficult to use other manufacturer’s switch machines. I can’t be the only person who faced this issue, so posting my solution here to hopefully help someone else in the future.
The issue: Switches like numbers 8 & 9 in the picture are too close together for machine’s like Walthers to fit underneath the layout surface. They would overlap.
The solution came by combining my already purchased Walthers switch machines with Rix Products Pivoting Turnout Linkages.
In this case, two PTL’s mounted facing each other.
Then, for the switch machine, I made a mounting pad out of a scrap piece of 1x lumber, with a 1" by 1/4" notch cut out to clear the mounting screws for the PTL. The holes in the throw bar of the PTL need to be drilled out ever so slightly larger in order for the throw wire from the Walthers machines to fit in them. (Specifically the outer most hole in my scenario) A 3/64" drill bit worked perfectly. The Walthers machine mounts to the face of the board like this:
Neither switch machine’s wire needed to be trimmed, so if they ever get re-used in another location later, I’ve still got the full length to work with.
The mounting pads of the switch machines are sandwiched between the 1x4 and the vertical section of the PTL, and they are plenty stiff enough this way, so there shouldn’t be a need to come up with an attachment point for the bottom holes in the mounting flanges.
The machines needed their throw adjusted to most of their limit, but not only do they work, I also did not have to remove the overcenter springs from the Peco turnouts.
