micro engineering turnouts and tortoise motors

Try heavier spring wire. We use 0.031" wire with our Tortoises (Tortii)...

--Dan

Ashley

I have installed 15 or more ME code 70 Turnouts (switches) and track at the Olympic Model railroad Society's club layout.

These are the things I do to lay the turnouts:

1. I lay all the track turnout were the Turnout is to be located. Do not solder the track or turnout (switch) at this time
2. Mark the hole; from the center hole on the throw bar at the point where the turnout will be located. I put a small wire such as the piano wire that comes with the turnout through the hole pushed into the roadbed. Then I lift out the turnout motor leaving the small wire in place trying to leave the adjacent track in position. Then I mark the hole where the small wire is. This is where I drill the pilot hole.
3. I then drill a small pilot hole through the road bed from the top.
4. I then screw on the jig at the pilot hole. I made this jig from the Drilling Template from the Tortuous instruction sheet. To make this I cut out the Drilling Template and white glued it on to a 1/16" plywood and drilled a 1/16" hole at the Tortuous mounting points and where the turnout wire pilot hole is to be installed. I mark the mounting points with a pencil and awl.
5. Once the jig is removed I drill a 3/8" hole were the throw-out bar will be.
6. Then I install a .039" piano wire on the Tortuous where the structure is thicker 1" or more or a smaller wire (.025") where the structure is not as thick (less than 1").
7. When I install the wire on the Tortuous I leave the wire long so it will extend above the track level.
8. I then mount the Tortuous with 1/2" #4 screws, making sure that the Tortuous throw-out is to its center position and the throw bar wire is centered in the 3/8" hole.
9. I then position the turnout over the hole with the wire extended through the turnouts throw-bar center hole.
10. I then tack the switch in position.
11. Then I take an Old Power Pack out put just set to move the turnout motor. I use the reverse to move the throw-out bar back and forth to insure the turnout is working properly.
12. Once I an satisfied and have the Tortuous wire to a control panel and the Tortuous is working properly then I solder the track and Turnout (switch) together.

Hope this helps. Please visit my WEB pages for further information.

Jerry F. Barnes OMRS

Ashley, you don't say what type of subroadbed you are using. If you are using plywood/homosote, there should be no problem. If you are using foam, you should have a thicker throw wire.

If you are using plywood/homosote, check under the throwbar and make sure there is nothing obstructing the movement of it. Also check the hole to make sure there are no 'projections' that will inhibit the movement of the wire.

Since I am not familiar with the micro switches, check to see if there is a contact plate under the points that might be miss-aligned and is snapping instead of sliding under the stock rails.

Consider more powerful turnout machines - possibly Roto-Motor, Scale Shops or SwitchMaster ?????

Bruce

I'm using plywood.

I tried to see what is causing the point blades to click into place but nothing stood out as being the cause. I think I need to take any look with a magnifying glass.

Thanks for replying,

Ashley.

I missed the first part of this discussion but remember ME switches have a spring* as part of the points. They are designed to snap. To get rid of this "feature" you mush remove the plastic cover (bottom of turnout) and take the spring out.

• Peco switches do this also I think!