I recently asked for tips on mounting a Tortoise slightly off-center. I'd read Circuitron's Application Note on Tony's but hadn't seen any real-world comments or installations that didn't involve the remote mount or highly ingenious workarounds that were more than what I needed.
I simply needed to run the actuator wire through a side-hole in the fulcrum rather than the main hole. As I would have benefited from pictures before I started, I'll post these with the thought they might be helpful to others. I followed the Application Note and used 1/4" brass stock for the actuator. But I also learned some things the Note didn't address:
1. Center the retaining-screw hole carefully--if you're off-center you'll be dangerously close to the edge of the strip. Also, you'll need to drill a 7/64 hole. That's larger than the hole in the Tortoise hub, as you need clearance for the screw's threads in the brass strip. EDIT: If you don't have a center-punch, a light tap on a drywall screw works just as well to start the hole and prevent the bit from walking.
2. Add 3/16 to the recommended length of the brass actuator. If you follow the Note's recommendation (offset distance + 3/4"), the retaining-screw hole will be too close to the end of the strip.
3. Extend the side support 2/16 or so beyond the retaining screw's extension when fully inserted. The brass strip flexes in operation and can flex off the end of a shorter support. Mine was too close for comfort, so I glued a stop on the end of the side support after installation.
4. And perhaps the most important tip of all, don't design your track plan with turnouts so close together you have fall back on offset mounting!
Here's my design and installation:
Front view, on the bench:
Side view, on the bench:
Installed--you can see the stop I glued on the end:
EDIT: After installation, I realized the brass strip unpredictably elevates when the actuator moves. To hold it level, I installed a second support above the strip. A 3/8" hole in flat styrene stock and glued to the side of the bottom support should work, too, and prevent both vertical and horizontal movement.
Rick Krall
That's a good idea. Thank you for sharing.
I had another problem, low clearance. I mounted my tortoise horizontally.
Wolfgang
Pueblo & Salt Lake RR
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Nice job Rick. thanks for the photos and tips.
To go a step further, use a slightly talleer side support and notch it for the throwbar. That will help prevent in and out movement too. That, of course, would be more of a problem is the horizontal throwbar was very long.
PS: Don't forget to resolder that yellow wire.
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A simple and elegant solution! I'll keep this in mind the next time there are offset problems. Thanks.
Mark
Wolfgang--Yours is a great solution--I saw it on your original thread, and I'vebookmarked it. I have to offset another Tortoise right next to the one I photographed, and I might need your solution to do it. I admire your work, and this job, like the rest of your layout, is really top quality.
Larak--Your "yellow wire caution" sent me to the layout with a flashlight and magnifying glass! My soldering is better than my photography--the wire is still soldered. I use just a small drop of solder where the wire goes through the hole, so it's barely visible in the installation photo at the bottom. Thanks for the heads up, though, and for your notch idea. I'll definitely do that on my next offset.
Rick