Turnout/Tortoise problem (solved)

[electrolove]

This is how I solved my problem. I just made 4 cuts (green arrows) under the turnout so I could slide the 2 ties a little. Now I have a gap at both ends. Then I secured the ties with CA.

[electrolove]

I just did that and it solved the problem, thanks a lot.

QUOTE: Originally posted by rolleiman

Try turning the turnout over and trimming out the little bars between the ties. Then just slide the tie away from the throwbar.

Jeff

[Pruitt]

Be extremely careful if you trim the ties!

The way the newer Shinoharas are built, the tie the throwbar rubs against actually holds the heel end of the points against the closure rails. Trim this very much and the points might fall off!

There's a sliding contacts attached to each of the points that slides under the adjacent stock rail when the turnout is thrown in that direction, providing power to the point rail itslef (I'm not sure if this also powers the closure rail or not). The contact is formed and slightly springy so that it maintains pressure against the underside of the stock rail to provide positive contact. I'd guess (and this is only a guess) that the contact on the point that's sticking is sprung a little bit more than usual, hanging up the turnout throw until the Tortiose exerts enough pressure to overcome the sprung contact and made it slide under the stock rail.

I have several like that. I don't worry about it - once the Tortoise overcomes the contact force, the turnouts still throw reliably. I did try to fix one - believe me, it is very difficult to adjust the amount of "spring" in the contacts - you have to bend it just a tiny bit, and you're much more likely to over-do it than to adjust it just the right amount. So I just leave it be.

Good Luck!

[TBat55]

Try turning the Tortoise around (mount it on the opposite side of the hole).

Because the Tortoise wire is bent a specific way, the wire does not travel in a straight line. Watch the wire in the throwbar hole. It moves along a curved path with the middle part pushing (or pulling) the throwbar along the axis of the track.

If the Tortoise is mounted turned around 180 degrees, the curve is reversed and pushing (or pulling) is reversed.

FYI, I always try to mount my Tortii with the machine "under the frog" so the wire curve follows the curve or pivot of the point rails.

[rolleiman]

Admittedly No.. I build (until recently) all my own turnouts.. Never cared for the premade stuff much but I finally broke down and bought some micro-engineering turnouts.. Seem to work pretty well though I haven't actually run a train across one yet.

Jeff

[electrolove]

I like your solution. Did you also have the same problem?

QUOTE: Originally posted by rolleiman

Try turning the turnout over and trimming out the little bars between the ties. Then just slide the tie away from the throwbar.

Jeff

[rolleiman]

Try turning the turnout over and trimming out the little bars between the ties. Then just slide the tie away from the throwbar.

Jeff

[electrolove]

The photo is not a photo on my turnout, just a photo I borrowed from the net, but my turnout looks the same, and it's not installed. To trim the ties around the turnout seems to be a easy solution but how do it do it without destroing anything? Is it possible to move the tie that is too close to the throwbar? I'm not even sure that this is the problem but it seems to be.

QUOTE: Originally posted by rolleiman

It appears from your photo that the throwbar is crooked.. Note that the point rail rivets don't line up. It suggests the tortise isn't quite square with the throwbar and is pulling (or pushing) it back.. Or, the throwbar is binding on the roadbed. You say that even in your hand (assume turnout not in place for this) it's not completely smooth.. Is it crooked without the tortise installed?? I don't know why that would be but a simple fix might be to simply trim the ties around the throwbar.

Good luck,
Jeff
[8D]

[rolleiman]

It appears from your photo that the throwbar is crooked.. Note that the point rail rivets don't line up. It suggests the tortise isn't quite square with the throwbar and is pulling (or pushing) it back.. Or, the throwbar is binding on the roadbed. You say that even in your hand (assume turnout not in place for this) it's not completely smooth.. Is it crooked without the tortise installed?? I don't know why that would be but a simple fix might be to simply trim the ties around the throwbar.

Good luck,
Jeff
[8D]

Edit: After looking at your photo again, I realize you are showing us the turnout uninstalled. Looks like Walthers quality is shining through again.. The only thing I could suggest is to A: Trim the throwbar so it doesn't rub or B: replace the throwbar with a piece of printed circuit board material..

[electrolove]

I have just installed my second turnout/tortoise (walthers shinohara code 83). The first turnout moves very smooth when the tortoise runs. But the second is not that good.

When I run the tortoise the turnout does not move or moves very little until there is enought tension in the wire to make it move and then it snaps to the other side. But only when I move the turnout in one direction, the other direction is smooth. And there is nothing wrong with my installation. Even if I hold the turnout in my hand I can feel that it's not 100% smooth.

Look at the blue arrow, you have a little gap there. But if you look at the red arrow, no gap at all. And I think that is the problem. On my turnout that moves smooth there is a little gap on both sides.

Do you guys think this is the problem, and what can I do about it?