Hello, I'm re-configuring my O gauge layout for a freight handling area, and have a clearance problem with a Liionel postwar O22 switch motor (not enough room to mount it on either side) . Is there any way to mount this motor under the layout? It doesn't look like it, but I had to ask in case there was a scheme out there?
If not, can you suggest another manufacturer's switch, with the same O31 turning radius, which does have an under layout motor option? Thanks
You will probably get more responses in the Classic Toy Trains forum at trains.com. I've always been able to mount the motors on one side or the other. So the following are just ideas.
One possibility I see is to move the O22 switch motor away, but still keep it on top of the layout. If you want to keep the non-derailing feature, you will have to do some wiring instead of using the copper strips to reach the contacts inside the motor. The O22 motor is fairly powerful so a reasonably tight linkage should work pretty well. The biggest problem will be to adjust the cutoff contacts for the right amount of throw.
The other would be to use a different make of switch motor with a linkage, which could easily be set up under the table. Some of the more powerful switch motors used in HO scale - not Atlas! - could probably be configured with enough throw to move the points all the way. If I were doing an under-the-table mount, I would use a squared-off C-shape linkage pivoting inside a vertical tube to throw the switch. By adjusting the length of the arms of the C, you could adjust the amount of throw provided by the motor.
Be advised most twin coil switch motors - the O22 motor is a twin coil - do not have cutoff contacts like the O22 does. If the power is applied too long, the energized coil fries. One way to avoid this that is used by the scale modelers is to use a capacitive discharge unit (CDU) to power the switch motor. A CDU will also help an O22 set for constant voltage to snap over when being thrown - at the cost of losing constant voltage for the light bulb.
just my thoughts, your choices
Fred W
Thanks Fred for the tip on re-posting on the other forum. I did that, and already received some more help.
Also, thanks for your in-depth explanation on the O22! Appreciate it.
...Bob