A tip for installing a Tortoise

[Grampys Trains]

Hi all: I just searched for tips for installing Tortoise switch motors.  I found plenty of tips, but, unless I missed it, I haven't seen this one mentioned. I was leafing through the Feb.2006 issue of MR, and Tony Koester's article "Bending the iron".  He showed how to install a Tortoise switch motor, and it was fine except for one little detail.  Installing the actuating wire. I've installed about 50 Tortoii and that little detail can be frustrating. I'm sure most experienced modelers have their methods of installing them, but most beginners don't. So here's my method. I feed the wire down through the hole in the tie bar, and then attach a hemostat to the end. Then I mount the other end that's underneath to the motor actuating arm.  Here's a photo.

[superbe]

I'll be installing my first Tortoise soon so your tip is timely. But what is a hemostat??

Bob

[selector]

Used to pinch off blood vessels in surgery.  You can buy needle nosed, with bent nose, tweezers that must be squeezed to open the two jaws.  Same thing essentially.  But it is a nifty tip, Grampy.  Thanks for posting it.  I think something like this could be used if one is all thumbs with soldering feeders, too.  The tips of the hemostat or tweezers also act like a heat sink.

-Crandell

[ChrisNH]

Thats a good idea. I fed it through with a kink in the wire to prevent it falling through but hemos a much better idea.

Hemostats are a surgical clamp.. useful also for holding small parts and, umm, burning parts..

 

Chris 

[rolleiman]

Been doing mine that way for years. 'Discovered' it after the first one hit me in the face while trying to get things lined up. As for actually setting the machines, here's how I go about it. This isn't linked to my website yet as it's not quite finished..

Setting Up The Tortise

[Grampys Trains]

Hi Jeff:  I was pretty sure others use this method, but I haven't seen it anywhere.  I just thought it might be useful for someone who hasn't installed a Tortoise.  It's kinda like MR articles saying " I ballasted the track", then I, etc.  You and I know there's a lot more involved in those 4 words. BTW, I really liked your "how to", nice work!  Crandell and Chris, thanks for explaining what a hemostat is.  And, your're right, it is a useful tool.

[jbinkley60]

 

I too feed mine down from the top but I've always just wrapped a piece of black electrical tape around the wire to keep it from falling through. 

 

[superbe]

I googled hemostat and found www.widgetsupply.com which has a plethora of hobby tools. I have already ordered a hemostat along with some other items. The knowledge shared on the forums is priceless.

Thanks !!!!!,

Bob

 

[JulesB]

Been doing mine that way for years. 'Discovered' it after the first one hit me in the face while trying to get things lined up. As for actually setting the machines, here's how I go about it. This isn't linked to my website yet as it's not quite finished..

Setting Up The Tortise

Your method is fine, however I found a very simple method.

I place the turnout in position and push a needle thru the throwbar. I then lift the turnout and put it aside. The needle stay's put and marks the postion for the 3/8" hole. I then drill the 3/8" hole for the actuating wire. I then drill two holes approxamatly 3" from each side of the 3/8" hole and down thru the centerline of the cork road bed. I insert two finish nails down thru so they are sticking out of the bottom of the layout. Then, from under the layout, using a straight edge I draw a line from nail to nail, which give me the track centerline. I eyeball the totoise machine to position it after putting the turnout in position above and hanging tha actuating wire down thru with a kink at it's top which gets cut off anyhow.

Jules

 

[rolleiman]

Whatever works for you JulesB, but, with my method, there is no eyeballing and no lining things up underneath. Just place the jig, drill the holes and install the machine. Done. No fussing around with any of it.

[UpNorth]

Heres mine. Tortoise template mounted to a piece of arborite. 3/8 dowels mounted on both sides.  Use the dark arrow to line up with track center line once hole is drilled for throwbar.  If I need to use it under layout I put a small hole/nail thru the track center to give me a track center marker from underneath.

 

[baron9]

 How do you bend the wire to fit in the tortoise machine from under the table? My method is I take a 1/2" dowell and drill a center hole in it. I then drill my hole through my table top  place the dowell in the hole and it automatically centers the wire in the hole. All this while the wire is already attatched to the tortoise machine. then I screw it to the table top.