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How would I go about changing the side that a switch stand/ground throw sits on? I'm using Atlas Code 83 turnouts, some of the ones I have only have a throw bar on one side. Others (custom line I think) have a long one that sticks out both sides. First question, on the turnouts with the throw bar of just one side, how can i modify it so I can mount the throw on the other side? (Some places, a throw would be inconvenient or won't fit on the side it's designed for)
Second question, on the turnouts with he long throw bar that comes out both sides, can I trim off the side I'm not using?
If you are very careful, you can pop the points out of the bar, flip the bar 180*, and pop the points back into the slots.
or drill a small hole (if it does not have a hole already) in the throw bar and intall paino wire with a "z" bend. run the paino wire to your grond thow to the other side of the switch.
Trent
or drill a small hole (if it does not have a hole already) in the throw bar and intall paino wire with a "z" bend. run the paino wire to your grond thow to the other side of the switch.
Trent
This is what I am having to do with a number of turnouts on the switching layout I am building. It is very easy to do. I would recommend leaving the original throwbar intact, just in case you wanted to use it on a different layout. Or you could trim both sides down and drill a hole in the center of the throwbar, between the points. Run a piece of wire from the hole to your switch stand. That would pretty much mean that's how that turnout would be forever used after that.
If you are very careful, you can pop the points out of the bar, flip the bar 180*, and pop the points back into the slots.
That doesn't work if the points are riveted to the throw bar.
On an Atlas code 83 Custom Line turnout, the points have a square tab on the end of them that goes through a slot in the throwbar, and is then bent inwards 90 degrees and fastened to the underside of the throwbar. It may be possible to remove the throwbar without destroying the points, but I wouldn't risk it.
On all of my Code100 turnouts that I had to change the sides I tore down some old turnouts & used the throwbar to add to the ones that I was hooking up. I cleaned out the cork roadbed under the throwbar on the switch that I had already attached to the layout. I then glued & screwed the old throwbar to the new one. The switch throwbar had a tiny hole in the middle between the tracks. I put a small screw in there into the old throwbar. I glued the 2 pieces together w/superglue. I did this to about 15 switch's.
But, the piano wire would be a lot easier if you have enough sticking out to attach it. I didn't have any bar sticking out on my turnouts to do that.
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