Hello! How is dependable ATLAS-2065 N-Scale Turnout Undertable Switch Mashine? http://www.some train store.com/v/vspfiles/photos/ATL-2065-2.jpg http://www.some train store.com/v/vspfiles/photos/ATL-2065-2.jpg I mean How long does it work in normal operation cycles, working in pair with turnout decoder (pulses about 20v, 0.1sec)? (i mean rare cycles, when machine cannot overheated ) More precisely: 1) Which number of switch cycles it can produce up to fault, when operating during working layout ? (i mean rare cycles, when machine cannot overheated ) 2) What is usual(typical) malfunction of this machine? I authomated part of my layout when turnouts are switching automatically and trains moves following route shedule. May i rely on Atlas turnout switch machies? ---------- Thanks, Vadim.
As i see, there are nobody who intensively use this above mentioned Atlas Swich mashines, and have any experience in servicing layouts after intensive long swiching work. Is it right?
Vadim, I use the older Altas HO switch motors and make my own linkage. I have a blog on how I did it on another forum here nScale.net The under table switch machines are very much like the old HO motors I use. I have not tested the motors to distruction, l but they seem to last a long time as long as you don't hold power to them to long. Some of my switch motors I have had on 3 different layouts and they continue to work fine. Some I have bought used and I could tell they had been used a lot, but they still fire.
Vadim, I tested these machines on my layout. I was very unhappy with how much "slop" was in the mechanism. There was not enough force to reliably hold the points of the turnout shut. I went with blue points and am very happy.
I do agree with this comment. I have seen people use a similar fulcrum idea by placing a pivot point between the motor and the benchwork so the throw is more positive.
I use these all over my layout and have been using them for a year now and had no problems or issues at all. Very reliable. But then my layout was designed a little different. I disagree with both negative comments about this unit. I never had issues with "slop" again I have them all over my layout.
Hello again. I think all above malfunctions was because of thickness of plywood was too tick. I use 6mm plywood, and length of vertical rod between undertable mechanism and uptable turnout pivot is not so long. Moreover i have one turnout with other construction of pivot . This pivot was more tighter than in Atlas Turnouts. Therefore i changed plastic yoke into textolite one inside swich machine. Therefore thre are enough force now. During about 10 hours of intensive automation switching i had only 2 errors with turnouts: 1) Metallic ancor was cracked inside Atlas swich mashine, leading to unswiched turnout ( therefore 2 suburb electric trains was slightly crashed). I simply repaired it, because all turnouts and swich machines are available for servicing in my layout. 2) A small dust was jammed by turnout wisker and heavy electric cargo loco was derailed. As we can see, only one error was happened with switch machine. I mean it was factory defect. It's too dificult to damage Metallic ancors. Moreover - all disassembled swich machines look like clean. -------- Thanks, Vadim
