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Walthers Built Up 90' turntable issues

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  • #1

    Walthers Built Up 90' turntable issues

    Curious if anyone else has had an issue like this. Purchased a Walthers 90' Cornerstone Series Built Up Turntable last spring. Finally got around to detailing and installing it this fall. Upon attempting to set the indexing, the unit stopped functioning. Power was going to the control box but nothing was being transmitted through the control box to the motor which operated the bridge. Bridge track had power but that is wired to the layout track bus.

    Spoke with the tech people at Walthers and they suggested cleaning the conduction plate and points, checking the gear for debris, etc.. Nothing was found so they concluded that perhaps in hooking it up an improper power connection was made which damaged the control box. Sent it in with a check for $32 and it came back a few weeks later. No explanation came with it. Hooked it up, being meticulous about how everything was done - completely proper connections, dedicated power source of the correct amount - everything! Results? Exactly the same thing happened again. Operated briefly then nothing.

    Anyway, I wonder if anyone else has experienced issues with this product. Before purchasing, I read quite a few favorable reviews and I was pleased with the apparent overall quality of the model. It also looks good. Just wished it would work!

    If Walthers doesn't have a suitable solution I may just say to heck with it and look for a different brand. I'm considering the AAA Turntable. Pricey but if it works I'll be happy.

    Would welcome any thoughts as to what the problem might be along with other feedback.

    Thanks,

    Dan/researchhound
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Dan

    Not a good situation. Whether you use the turntable or not is one thing but to pay for a replacement control box and the same problem reoccurred, I would be on the phone with Walthers until the problem is solved, regardless of whose fault it may be.

    Peter

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    • #3
      Is the word Warranty non-existant at Walthers?
      Michael Graff

      "Deo Adjuvante Labor Proficit"

      Swedish custom model builder.

      http://sites.google.com/site/graffairbrushart

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      • #4
        We have several of these on layouts around here that I opperate on and they all work fine and have been, I have had one apart. Something got stuck in the gears in the bridge. Inside the bridge is the rest of the guts to this thing. I would talk to Walthers and see if they want the bridge section back also, Since something in the bridge could be blowing the control box.

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        • #5
          That's my concern as well. I've checked the gears that move it along the pit track and they are fine but perhaps there's something else out of sight that could be an issue. At this time I'm reluctant to tear the bridge apart and would rather they see it as it is - untinkered with.

          Another problem that I noticed in it's brief operation was the nonfunctioning of the auto reverser that's built in. Reversing the feeder wires to the bridge track allowed me to move locomotives into the roundhouse tracks but didn't solve the issue of a short occurring when the locomotive was turned around and driven back out onto the main access track. Between the built in AR in the turntable and the one on my layout, this shouldn't have been an issue (I was careful to leave an adequate gap between the bridge track and the other track sections and all track feeder wires from the bus wires have been kept to six inches or less). Perhaps this additional problem might be a clue to what is going on.

          Dan/researchhound

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          • #6
            Dan, There is no auto reverser on the turn table per say, its only a set of gaps in the contact ring. You should not have a reverser feeding the turn table or the tracks leading to it. Also some of the turn table tracks I think have to have there feeders fliped since the turn table has spun around. Do you have the dead zone away from all the engine house tracks? On one of the layouts around here we could not help that so the engine house thack that lines up with it does nothing but hold an old loco.

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            • #7
              Bruce,

              I responded to your previous message by way of an email directly to you but will repeat the bulk of it here for anyone who is interested.

              The tracks going into the roundhouse, the feeder track from the main line, and the bridge track of the TT are all connected to the bus wires which come out of my PSX-AR. There is nothing in the directions that specify anything about how to hook the tracks up except to say "wire as desired". I could now see how this could be the problem with the locomotive causing a short as it moves off the TT onto the main track. Hopefully this wouldn't result in damage to the controller as well. If so, Walthers should make it clear not to have an AR on any of the associated tracks since DCC makes this pretty common.

              Would welcome your opinion on this as well as that of anyone else.

              Thanks,

              Dan/researchhound

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              • #8
                Dan,

                Wiring the turntable into a power bus that includes another auto-reverser is definitely a no-no with the Walthers RTR turntable (which, of course, Walthers' instructions don't mention). Another thing the instructions don't mention is that you will almost certainly have to reverse the feeders to some of your stub-end storage tracks. During our installation adventures with the 130' version, I sought advice from more technically oriented participants in a thread on another forum (Train Board) and learned what I needed to do to fix a polarity issue. I would recommend you do the same. For an illustrated narrative of my adventures with the 130' turntable, see pp. 17 - 18 in our RR-Line thread at the link below:

                http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/t...TOPIC_ID=22893

                Best wishes,

                Vagel

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                • #9
                  Yeh, I did a quick drawing on that and the house tracks on either side of the dead zone the feeders need to be fliped. I don't think Dan has that meny tracks off the turn table for that to be an issue.

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                  • #10
                    This morning I was able to speak with the same tech guy at Walther that I spoke to the first time my control box went out. He wants me to send both the bridge and the control box in this time and said that there could be something in the bridge that is causing the control box to "malfunction" (die). I do want to say that he really seemed genuinely concerned, interested, and more than willing to help.

                    Unlike the first time, there was no request for a check to cover the cost of repairs and return shipping. There was also no offer to pay for the cost of sending it to them but if I can get this resolved with no more expense other than that, I'll be satisfied. However, if they do determine that the bridge was the issue all along, I don't think it would be out of line to request a refund of the money I sent them the first time.

                    Maybe it was my imagination, but he really seemed interested when I mentioned that I had been discussing this problem on several internet model railroading forums. He wanted to know which ones and I had to tell him I couldn't exactly remember the names of them (which was the truth since I was out on a job and away from a computer when I spoke to him).

                    Will let you know how this ultimately turns out (in about six weeks or so :erm: ).

                    Once again, thanks to all who took the time to post replies.

                    Dan/researchhound

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                    • #11
                      When the turntable stops working, unplug the 6 pin connection from the control box, then plug it back in. I've had to do this with my table once and a while.

                      -Trevor

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                      • #12
                        When the turntable stops working, unplug the 6 pin connection from the control box, then plug it back in. I've had to do this with my table once and a while.

                        -Trevor

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                        • #13
                          Trevor,

                          Thanks for the tip. I tried that along with just about everything else. Sort of leaning towards Walthers' last suggestion that something in the bridge is at fault. Will just have to wait to hear what they say since I've sent both the contol box and bridge to them for inspection.

                          Dan

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