Installation of Tortise Machines

[farrellaa]

Glad to see someone thinks like I do. It sure makes for a relatively easy installation. Not like the first two I did. I guess the old sayiing holds true 'Give a difficult job to a lazy man and he will find an easy solution!'

     - Bob

[woodman]

Farrellaa, great minds must think alike. I just finished installing 14 Bullfrog manual turnouts and that is identical to how I installed them. I made a mounting plate, because the Bullfrog mounting plate was just too small, I even used the double face tape to hold it inplace while I screwed it in place.

[farrellaa]

I have developed a relatively easy method of mounting the Tortoise Switch Machines on my layout and thought I would share it with others. It may be easier than other methods and any suggestions would be appreciated.  So far I have installed about 20 Tortoise machines this way. I hope this helps some that have this task ahead of them, it really is an easy system to use without having to try to get those little screws to hold the Tortoise upside down under the layout. 

 

1. Cut mounting plate from ½” plywood approximately 3” x 5” and drill a series of holes for the two mounting screws (1 1/8” deck screw) and clearance for the throw wire (5/8” dia.). Once you have the first one laid out it is easier to make a batch of them at one time. I made 24 the first time.
2. I also made a drill template for the Tortoise screw pattern and drill pilot holes for #4 x ½’ binding head screws (I used sheet metal screws from Home Depot). This is made of 1/8” acrylic and is shown in the second photo.
3. Mount the Tortoise Machine to the mounting plate.
4. I also use the push-on connectors and mark the No 1 terminal with a red line using a paint pen. This makes it easy to get the connector oriented properly since I am using LED’s to indicate the turnout position and it must go on in the proper direction.
5. With the throw wire  (.039” dia music wire) installed, I move the throw pin to the mid-point of its travel.
6. I put a couple of strips of double sided carpet mounting tape (available at Home Depot/Lowes) on the plywood surface that will contact the underside of the layout.
7. At this point I usually do a test fit to make sure the throw wire functions properly and moves the turnout points as they should.
8. When ready to install (assuming the turnout has been prepped and mounted to the roadbed) I remove the carpet tape protective liner and position the Tortoise under the layout with the throw wire lined up with the throw bar on the turnout. Usually my wife is watching from above to be sure the points are midpoint and the wire is through the hole in the throw bar. When all is positioned properly I press the Tortoise up so the adhesive tape lightly grabs and holds everything in place. NOW I can let go of the Tortoise and gently move the throw pin to both sides and make sure the turnout points have contacted each through rail properly. If all is still good then I press the Tortoise assembly hard against the underside of the layout so that the adhesive really grips; and it grips very well. (You could almost skip the next step but I like the extra insurance)
9. Now I put the two wood screws through the holes and into the layout underside and again check that nothing moved out of position. I then trim the excess throw wire from above.

 

This has worked very well for me and has made installing the Tortoise machines a very easy job. I also have been using the European style of terminal blocks at each machine and mount a printed label so all installations are wired the same. See the last photo of the installed machines. I actually have a couple of these 'assemblies' on hand for the next turnout to be powered. 

    - Bob