I am using an Atlas turntable with the motorized drive unit. It is mounted on top of the trainboard as opposed to being set-in. Over time I seem to have accumulated some gravel under the turntable which causes the turntable to make periodic scraping noises and sometimes actually stop it from turning.
I am trying to remove the gravel without ripping out the unit from my layout - that is my issue. Has anyone had a similar problem and was able to fix it easily and how was it done. I thought I could just 'pop' the table from its base but I don't know if that will work without breaking it. Also, the center 'bolt' does not seem to come out.
Any ideas out there?
There is a countersunk nut under the table that holds the bridge in place. If the plastic around the nut has been stripped, then the only way you're going to get the bolt out is to come in from the bottom to hold the nut while you remove the bolt. Vaccuming is the only option I can think of other than taking the TT apart. Good luck.
I've removed the center bolt and have the bridge floating as it traverses. So far no real major problems. The engines mount the bridge well and I only have to go in and reset the electrical pick-up pins occasionally.
I periodically vacuum the pit on my 130' Walthers turntables with a small computer vacuum. I have seen in Lowes an adapter that you can hook to your shop vac that reduces the size down to the same as the computer vac. If I am not planning on using the T/T for any length of time I cover it with a plastic cover that they use for cake servers. My wife took her's back and picked one up for me in the dollar store.
The Atlas TT has a screw on top at the center that should release the deck/bridge. the nut on the bottom fits into a hex shaped well so it does not turn. You can then vacuum the unit.....
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Thanx a bunch Jim ... it worked great! I had thought the center was a bolt or something based on one of the other replies to my message but was unable to figure out what tool to use to remove it. Since your message indicated a screw, I then put away my hex tools and got the drivers out. I was really surprised to find it was actually a square bit - specifically a Robertson (yellow) driver that did the trick.
Another surprise were the two spring loaded contact buttons that fell out - but got them back in without much problem. My last surprise was discovering once I had removed the deck that there was virtually no gravel or other stuff under it but that all kinds of stuff was under the gears driven by the motorized unit - it was this that caused my problems in the first place.
Thanx again.
Barry