Tortoise inside pics +

[TBat55]

Decided to void my warranty: inside of a Tortoise switch machine (5 screws under label):

4 gears on left move pivot arm on right:




Pivot arm (part that throws turnouts) and 4 wipers:


Wipers are two pieces (contact with first+bottom then first+top; same for 2nd SPDT):


Replacement ready to go:


A tunnel portal


A creeper to get at hard to reach areas from below (I must be getting old):

[TBat55]

Ooch! (Oops + Ouch)
I meant DPST switches

[rrinker]

Actually you were right the first time. There are a total of TWO SPDT switches inside the Tortoise, together they make a single DPDT switch.
Pole = how many sets of conenctions there are, Throw = how many positions (possible combinations) for each pole. The number of 'common terminals' determines pole count, the number of connections for each pole determines the trhow. The contact on the wiper is the common - there are two of those in a Torotise, so Double Pole. Each contact can be placed in one of two positions. Double Throw.

--Randy

[Javern]

cool..now I don't have to rip one apart

[ARTHILL]

I wondered too. Thanks for the peek.

[Medina1128]

WOW! You scared me for a moment. I thought maybe you were gonna tell us that you found Jimmy Hoffa in there!!

[TBat55]

Tortoise machines are very reliable, and better be. I like installing them, hate replacing them .
This was the first one I had that failed. It jammed and would not move in either direction. The cause was one of the 4 gears. It may have jumped and locked teeth, but also did not turn very freely. Added graphite and reassembled. Seems to be fine now.

So if you want to return one under warranty, fine. But as you can see there is not much that can go wrong. Few parts inside; fix it yourself. Enough empty space inside for a decoder too (or buy a Hare).

My other reason for taking this apart (and showing everyone) was that #@&! screw on the side. You know, the one that takes only a small Philips driver to hold the wire, strips easily, and is a real bear to turn while upside down. I did not like pushing hard on it. As you can see, the arm will press against the PCBoard and move laterally along the gear. It won't hurt anything. Push as hard as you want on the screw.