Manual Turn-out Control

[Gary S]

Some of you may remember the manual switch controllers I built a few years ago for my layout. Since I am expanding, I'll need quite a few more. And since I am waiting on the sheetrock finisher to get finished, I figured I would get a start on the controllers. I did brainstorm a new idea that makes my apparatus much easier and quicker to build....

The starting point is a 3-way switch, just like the one you would use in your house (although this isn't the cheapy 57 cent variety, this is the commercial grade switch - a bit more expensive, but more robust - should take the abuse and keep on ticking)



First, we drill the handle. This is a #36 bit which is the hole needed for a 6-32 tap.



Now we tap the hole:



I took a 10-24 rod coupling and used some JB Quick epoxy to glue a screw eye into it. The screw eye is sized to fit over a 6-32 screw.



Here are some parts needed so far - drilled 3-way switch, 6-32 machine screw, 6-32 nut, and the rod coupling eye assembly.



And here is the swithc with the rod coupling attached.



continued next post --