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Walthers N Scale 130 Foot Turntable

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  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 21 posts
Walthers N Scale 130 Foot Turntable
Posted by dry_heat on Sunday, April 26, 2020 1:50 PM

I'm in the thows of planning, unplanning, replanning...  Thinking of a turntable, if I do it it will want to handle a Big Boy, which leads to the 130 footer.  So, looking at the instructions online, I see words asking for 6 inches of clearance below the pit.  This puts a bit of a strain on the design for the "basement", for various reasons, and looking at the pictures, I can't see why the clearance would need to be that much, but there are no good diagrams from that direction, so I just don't know.  I know folks have actually installed it,can you shed light on the real requirement?  And over how much of the pit area?

Thanks!

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Monday, April 27, 2020 5:29 PM

dry_heat
I can't see why the clearance would need to be that much,

Really?DevilWink

The guy with his head in the hole has a 8 Youtube vids on installation of the turntable.  Aside from the rest of his body, skimming through the videos did not shed any light, but since you have one and I do not, you may want to watch the whole series.

https://www.youtube.com/user/DaBobsNScaleMancave/search?query=turntable

I have no affiliation with this Youtuber, but I like his sense of humor.

 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 21 posts
Posted by dry_heat on Monday, April 27, 2020 7:00 PM

I don't have one yet... needing that much clearance may be a non-starter!  I've started watching those videos... Haven't seen under the layout yet, it may take a while to get there!

Thanks!

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Monday, April 27, 2020 8:10 PM

Sure they don't mean 6cm, it is a metric world. I have the HO 90' and it did not need anywhere near 6".

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Monday, April 27, 2020 8:19 PM

BATMAN
Sure they don't mean 6cm

The instructions clearly say 6" in the instructions.  Don't know what they mean.  My HO CMR turntabe needs that much, but it has a big motor hanging down.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 21 posts
Posted by dry_heat on Monday, April 27, 2020 9:01 PM

I wish there was a diagram.  They don't even say how deep the pit is.  I do see that there is a connector on the bottom of the pit, so that's a little bit.  But six inches just can't be right!

 

  • Member since
    April 2020
  • 4 posts
Posted by Al R on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 10:58 AM

dry_heat

I wish there was a diagram.  They don't even say how deep the pit is.  I do see that there is a connector on the bottom of the pit, so that's a little bit.  But six inches just can't be right!

 

 

My Walthers 130 foot turntable is about ten years old so I don't know if they've changed the design, but there is nothing like 6 inches of clearance needed. There is a stiff cable that comes out of the bottom of the unit which they probably don't want you to bend too sharply, but judging by mine I would guess that 2 inches beneath the pit would be sufficient.

I'll have a go at attaching a picture, but since this is my first post, it might not work.

 

Turntable

 

  • Member since
    April 2020
  • 4 posts
Posted by Al R on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 5:27 PM

Here's another go at the image.

Walthers 130 foot turntable underside

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 21 posts
Posted by dry_heat on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 11:49 PM

Thanks!  I think it has changed, but that still looks pretty similar.  It probably is all about the cable.  It seems that three inches total from the top of the table might do it, if the cable is well managed.  Now to decide if that's enough, and if it will fit where I would want it in any case!

 

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