I wish to replace all of my Atlas Code 83 Snap-Track turnout switch machines with Caboosw Industries ground throws. I purchased a couple model 218S models. The instructions state using the "Atlas hook-adapter" and I am struggling a bit identifying which one that is. Two of the adapters have vertical plastic pins; one has a single-pin and the other has a dual-pin arrangement. Another has a hook-looking thingy with a small extra protrusion. But if I try it, it ends up being mounted sideways to what the turnout throw-bar requires. (My throw-bars have a series of three small holes, drilled vertically in the bar.
All of my turnouts are brand new, of recent vintage.
Please advise if I am missing the obvious here - thanks!
From the CI website:
" five different end fittings to connect to most turnouts are provided: hook end for Atlas, blade for Roco, hole for PECO, small round pin for Micro Engineering and round pin for Shinohara and others."
The picture looks like an open box for the fittings
I've only used the 202S
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Storm, I would welcome you to the forum with your first post, but I see that you have been a member for 9 years!
It's about time that you had something to say.....or ask.
Rich
Alton Junction
Try the one in the lower right, of the five.
Bear "It's all about having fun."
richhotrain Storm, I would welcome you to the forum with your first post, but I see that you have been a member for 9 years! It's about time that you had something to say.....or ask. Rich
LOL and thanks - there is a (fairly-good) reason Was planning on doing an introductory message but then ran into this little switch-machine replacement issue today. Short version: am one of those newly retired guys, back to the hobby of my youth after a 50-year layoff. Must have joined the MRR Forums a while back during my arm-chair model railroading days. I will still do the introduction message thing!
Once you have the machine off, look at the end of the throw bar. Then select a end that will fit, insert end into gr.throw
Bottom line is ; the gr.throw must conect to throw bar, don't really matter how. I had a few that I had to make a conecting rod to get em to work
Just like UncleButch says, I needed to move some ground throws to the other side of the turn out, so I drilled a small hole in the end of the throw bar, to accept the Caboose connector with the pin. I cut off the end with the thingy that the Caboose hook fits into.
Just make sure you have a base for the ground throw secured good, and at the right elevation.
The Caboose ground throws hold the points nice a tight to the stock rail, so you'll need to adjust where the ground throw is mounted, depending on witch connector you use, so it holds things tight in each direction. That's why the base must be securly mounted.
Mike.
My You Tube
Are you saying the "hook" pictured in the upper right of my post, with the downward pointing pin, doesn't fit in the 3 hole throw bar? I don't understand the sideways part.
Henry, not sure if your talking about my post, but the hook thing fits into one end of the Atlas throw bar.
I needed to move the ground throw to the other side of the turn out, which doesn't have any holes, or such to mount the Caboose connecting rods, but in that selection you show in your picture, one of them just has a pin sticking out.
So I drilled a hole in the throw bar to accept the connector with the pin. I needed to shorten the throw bar, to get rid of the thing on the other end, that the hook fits into, so I cut it off.
Don't know how else to describe it with out a picture, and that means taking the picture, loading the picture into PB, than posting it in here, which is more than I care to do right now.
EDIT: Because of space, on some of my turnouts, I also needed to shorten the Atlas throw bar, to make room for the Caboose ground throw, so I did the same procedure.
No Mike, I wasn't refering to your post. The instructions say to use the horn hook and the OP, who is on probation, said
Storm75 Another has a hook-looking thingy with a small extra protrusion. But if I try it, it ends up being mounted sideways to what the turnout throw-bar requires.
OK, never mind, I went to bed right after my last post.
Thank you all for your assistance!
FYI, I received a personal e-mail from the owner of Caboose Industries, which was very helpful. He learned that Atlas has made another change to the throw-bars of their turnouts which he just saw this past week-end at a major train show. They are using a T-shaped end, with three holes, that run parallel to the track. This is what I have and apparently none of the included adapters are a perfect fit. At least until he adds a new adapter.
Long story short, looks like the easiest mod it to cut one of the two pins off one of the present adapters and should be good to go...
Thanks again!
Mike
PS I have a close-up picture of the turn-out but don't think I can post pics yet?
Mike (mbinsewi) seems to refer to the need of the throw bar being on the opposite side of the turnout than factory installed, so he drilled some holes, in order to attached the caboose ground throws.
I have that need too for a couple of turnouts, and it is fairly easy to reverse the throwbar, if the factory default does not fit your location. This post http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/p/250639/2796632.aspx#2796632 describes how that can be accomplished.
Urs
Now I understand, Storm, you can use the CI groundthrow with the pin, excpet that you may have to slightly enlarge the hole in the throwbar. At least that is what I did.
Here is the business end of the new Atlas curved code 83 turnout. There are indeed 3 holes, the middle, slightly larger than the other two.
I've never had to turn the throwbar around, so I am going to pass on the instructions on this thread, unless I need to later.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/p/250639/2796632.aspx#2796632