philsandy Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 After glueing down the trackwork and checking everything is running smoothly, I noticed a few points ( copper clad from Marcway) are a bit "sticky" when operated by the tortoise motor. Even though the tie bars moves very freely with no resistance, and spring back into position when I move them back and forth with my finger. On closer inspection I noticed that when the motor is operating the tie bar is being pushed up slightly against the underside of the stock rails as it moves along, causing a slightly stuttering operation. They move the full travel to switch the points correctly, but something is not right. I would be grateful if anyone has any experience of this or knows a possible cause. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Prism Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Not uncommon. A tiebar will move to a position of least resistance, and if it can move vertically in doing so, it might, depending on whether the tiebar is constrained to move along a specific axis. How exactly is the motor attached to the tiebar? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philsandy Posted May 21, 2014 Author Share Posted May 21, 2014 How exactly is the motor attached to the tiebar? The operating wire from the motor goes through a small hole drilled in the centre of the tie bar. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Prism Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Presumably the tiebar extends under each stock rail? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philsandy Posted May 21, 2014 Author Share Posted May 21, 2014 Presumably the tiebar extends under each stock rail? Yes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Turnbull Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Try easing the hole in the tiebar slightly. Also check that there is nothing on the tiebar or under the stock rail that could be causing a problem. You don't need much, the tiniest speck of dust or grit can cause problems. Chris Turnbull Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Most likely cause - as with all issues with these switch motors is that the motor has not been positioned correctly. This is so easy to get wrong with the Tortoise as it is so versatile and generally forgiving. It is still important to ensure that when the actuator arm is mid position and the tiebar also at mid throw that the wire passes vertically through the hole in the tiebar. The mounting position should be square and flat to the tiebar. There is no reason why the actuating wire should lift the tie bar. Of course if during gluing the point and ballasting some stray ballast has become lodged under the tie bar you would get the same result., but you would see that with gentle manual operation. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philsandy Posted May 21, 2014 Author Share Posted May 21, 2014 Thanks for all your replies. Have not cured it, but they work and it's only slight movement on a couple of them, will have to live with it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.