Walthers turnouts with tortoise switch machines

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I recently purchased Walthers turnouts. They are apparently spring loaded. Do I need to/should I cut the spring to operate smoothly.

2

What model of turnouts are they? My Walthers turnouts are a few years older and do not have springs.

3

Brand new

4

Will be using tortoise switch machines

5

Using Tortoise machines I would remove the spring, carefully. The wire actuator provided with Tortoise is somewhat weak. Some modelers, myself included, use a slightly larger (maybe .035) piano wire for the actuator, especially if you have a longer throw through 2" foam which seems to be more common these days.

Good Luck, Ed

1 Like
6

I go with a little thicker wire than Ed does - - a 0.039 piano wire.

Rich

7

Yes, 0.039 wire is what I use for Atlas turnouts. What fun to decide to install tortoises after you put in ground foam and have to go through 2" insulation foam.

8

Ihave brand new #5 and #6 Walthers turnouts as well and are deciding on machines. The person I spoke with at Walthers said to remove the spring or it will cause uneccasaary wear to the machine. The spring is a postive position assitis for manual operation. Old Walther’s switches had nothing to hold them in place.

9

Thanks for the confirmation. Any hints on the best way to accomplish that?