For all my previous layouts, I have used Peco turnouts with coil motor controls. My current layout is using Tortise motors with Peco turnouts that require modification for their use. The stock Peco turnouts use an over center spring that provides a holding force to keep the points tight to the stock rail when the coil is de-energized. Since the Tortise motor provides the same function as the over center spring, the original spring must be removed in order for the Tortise to work with it. Herein lies the problem. When the over center spring is removed from the turnout, there is a slight shift in the pivot joint of the turnout points that causes a slight misalignment of the point rails and thus derailing issues with cars when passing over the points. This does not happen with all the turnouts but it is problematic on some of them. I notice that on some versions of these turnouts, a device that looks like a rail joiner is used to create the pivot point on the point rails and on others, it looks like Peco changed to a riveted pivot point. The turnouts with the "rail joiner" pivot points are the most prevalent on the layout and are the ones most affected by the removal of the over center spring. Does anyone have any ideas on how to increase the reliability of these turnouts when modified to use Tortoise motor controls?
