Walthers strongly advises a clean TT pit and gears. They hint at a cover but do not elaborate.
What would be a good way to prevent debris from getting into the works?
73
Bruce in the Peg
Mine is a heavily-modified Atlas, and the mechanism is completely covered so I don't do anything extra.
For others, I'd go to a kitchen place and pick up a large cake or cookie tray with a cover.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Bruce,
As Mr.B suggested, one of those Party tray's with salad's in the center and cold cuts and cheese's around the perimeter. Then you can invite us to your party, to help you empty it. Excellent turntable cover, clear plastic.
Frank
And for desert.... Many commercially prepared cakes come with a clear plastic cover, just order your cake big enough so that the cover will go over the turntable.
Wonder if anyone on these forums likes to eat??? To keep my small pond from getting the calm surface all junked up I just put a small brown paper bag over it.
Have fun,
Richard
I don't cover mine, but before each session, I vacuum it with a Shop Vac extension tool to get out loose ballast from the surrounding yard.
Rich
Alton Junction
I have never covered my Bowser kit built Turn Table that is 15 years old and have never had problems with it. The works are all under tha table, so how would covering it help? The pit rail carries power to the track and so the rail should need occasional cleaning; however, I'have never done this and it still seems to work.
I have no idea how the Walthers TT is set-up; however, if they recommend covering it, I guess I'd come up with a way to do it.
NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"
Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association: http://www.nprha.org/
like Rich, I don't cover it, but I keep a shop vac under the layout and never start it without giving it the once over. then, I always re-calibrate it to make sure it's going to operate correctly.
-Stan
I currently have a clean tea towel spread over mine, but it does not have the electrical arch at the center of the bridge because I am still building the yard and not using the TT.
Normally, I do not bother covering the TT. Like all conscientious users and followers of the advice given in Walthers' own manual for these costly devices, I keep it clean by vacuuming regularly.
After I had used mine the first two years, I found it stumbling a bit, so I took the drive compartment apart on the one end of the bridge. Was I ever surprised to see how much crud, hairs, ground foam bits, etc, had STILL found their way into the works. I couldn't believe my eyes, honestly, because I had been very careful to clean the pit before using it each time.
-Crandell
My club uses a large round clear cake tray cover.
selector Normally, I do not bother covering the TT. Like all conscientious users and followers of the advice given in Walthers' own manual for these costly devices, I keep it clean by vacuuming regularly. After I had used mine the first two years, I found it stumbling a bit, so I took the drive compartment apart on the one end of the bridge. Was I ever surprised to see how much crud, hairs, ground foam bits, etc, had STILL found their way into the works. I couldn't believe my eyes, honestly, because I had been very careful to clean the pit before using it each time.
One piece of ballast in the pit gear can bring the turntable to a dead stop.
I have had to remove the bridge and diassemble it on more than one occasion to free the gear up by removing pieces of ballast.
I cover one of my turntables with a snowshed...
Of course, snow isn't what it used to be up in Animas Forks, so maybe there's something to that global warming thing? My other two turntables just sit open. Yes, keep them clean, as it doesn't take much to gum up the contacts or otherwise cause a problem. I suspect Walthers goes a little bit overborad on their warning to save on customer service calls where the solution is obvious -- keep the pit clean.
Of course, snow isn't what it used to be up in Animas Forks, so maybe there's something to that global warming thing?
My other two turntables just sit open. Yes, keep them clean, as it doesn't take much to gum up the contacts or otherwise cause a problem. I suspect Walthers goes a little bit overborad on their warning to save on customer service calls where the solution is obvious -- keep the pit clean.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
I posted this a couple of years ago I think, but here is my TT cover. I used a cake cover and cut the center out to clear the bridge tower? and glued the bottom of another plastic container to close it in and form a handle as well. I got the cake cover at Party City ($3-4) and the other container at Walmart (but can't find it anymore). Mine is a 130' tt and the cover is 19" diameter with a flange around it. Almost perfect fit.
-Bob
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
farrellaa I posted this a couple of years ago I think, but here is my TT cover. I used a cake cover and cut the center out to clear the bridge tower? and glued the bottom of another plastic container to close it in and form a handle as well. I got the cake cover at Party City ($3-4) and the other container at Walmart (but can't find it anymore). Mine is a 130' tt and the cover is 19" diameter with a flange around it. Almost perfect fit. -Bob
Told the wife about this idea. Suddenly she baked a cake and put the cake cover to good use!
Karl
NCE über alles!
I use the dust cover that came with it. It's a Technics direct drive turntable with.... OOHH you mean on the RR! I don't use anything as yet as the bridge is undetailed, and I use a 1 rpm motor directly connected to it.
Carey
Keep it between the Rails
Alabama Central Homepage
Nara member #128
NMRA &SER Life member
farrellaa... I used a cake cover and cut the center out to clear the bridge tower ...
I've been keeping my Walthers 90ft TT under a small bath towel except during op sessions. But now that I've seen what you guys are doing with cake covers, I'll probably go that route as well. We just celebrated a birthday for one of my daughters, so there is a cake cover on the kitchen table ready for my use --- as soon as all of the cake is consumed, of course!
[EDIT] Never mind, the cover turned out to be an inch too narrow.
-Ken in Maryland (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)
CSX_road_slug[EDIT] Never mind, the cover turned out to be an inch too narrow.
Pretend it's someone else's Birthday and buy a bigger cake. I'm sure the family won't mind too much. Like in Bill Cosby, ''Dad Is Great, Gives us Chocolate cake''
Here's the lid I used and it only cost $3.99; don't need to plan another party unless you want the food too! BTW, the 18" diameter is the inside so it fits perfectly on the Walthers 130' TT.
http://www.partycity.com/product/clear+dome+tray+lid+18in.do?navSet=110314
Right now I use the box it came in. AKA not yet installed
God's Best & Happy Rails to You!
Bing (RIPRR The Route of the Buzzards)
The future: Dead Rail Society
Turntable cover? Um...pine needles I guess Although I try hard to keep them off the layout as best I can.
I do use inverted storage bins to protect some buildlings from rain/dirt splashing...as can be seen in the background of the photo below. Oh and yeah I needed a larger turntable for one steam loco. Instead of getting a new turntable I just lengthend the track.
Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, COClick Here for my model train photo website