I recently purchased Walthers turnouts. They are apparently spring loaded. Do I need to/should I cut the spring to operate smoothly.
What model of turnouts are they? My Walthers turnouts are a few years older and do not have springs.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Brand new
Will be using tortoise switch machines
Using Tortoise machines I would remove the spring, carefully. The wire actuator provided with Tortoise is somewhat weak. Some modelers, myself included, use a slightly larger (maybe .035) piano wire for the actuator, especially if you have a longer throw through 2" foam which seems to be more common these days.
Good Luck, Ed
I go with a little thicker wire than Ed does - - a 0.039 piano wire.
Rich
Alton Junction
richhotrain I go with a little thicker wire than Ed does - - a 0.039 piano wire. Rich
Yes, 0.039 wire is what I use for Atlas turnouts. What fun to decide to install tortoises after you put in ground foam and have to go through 2" insulation foam.
Ihave brand new #5 and #6 Walthers turnouts as well and are deciding on machines. The person I spoke with at Walthers said to remove the spring or it will cause uneccasaary wear to the machine. The spring is a postive position assitis for manual operation. Old Walther's switches had nothing to hold them in place.
Thanks for the confirmation. Any hints on the best way to accomplish that?