|
Instructions
for Model GRW Solenoid Mechanism for Wood Tracks
|
|
Note for Piantedosi
Classic plywood track owners: The peg bar supplied with this track is
too large and heavy to use with our solenoid gates, either the GRW shown
here, or the GLW. You will need to make or purchase a lighter weight peg
bar such as the one pictured below, which is made from 1x2 standard dimensional
lumber. Additionally, the rear pylon of this track is very close to the
peg slots, which will require modification to the pylon.
Aluminum angle makes
a great gate that is easy to work with. Please call to discuss.
|
|
|
Installing
on common Pinewood gate made from a hinged 1x2.
The arrow
shows the direction of car travel.
|
|
|
Step
1. Locate the GRW module about 1 inch uphill from
the peg bar hinge. Locate it left-right so the the brass crank is slightly
outside of the peg bar. Secure with four #6 x 3/8" screws included.
An ice pick is a good way to make pilot holes.
|
|
|
Step
2. Locate the position of the pull rod axle on
the end grain of the peg bar 7/16 inch from the hinge side, and centered
as shown. Make a pilot hole.
Identify the #6 x 1/2"
screw and washers. Trap the brass pull rod between the washers as shown,
and drive the screw into the pilot hole. Drive the screw in almost all the
way, but leave the brass rod free to rotate.
|
|
| Step
3. Pass the brass rod through the hole in the crank.
Carefully form the wire so that it operates freely and does not strike the
wood. Form the loop at the crank so that there is no tendency to hang up.
|
|
| Step
4. Drill a small pilot hole near the downhill edge
of the peg bar and install the eyehook. Attach one end of the spring from
the eyehook to a screw driven in the underside of the track at a point downhill.
The spring must be stretched appropriately and the amount of stretching is
best determined by experiment. The cars actually help the gate to open. You
want to put enough tension in the spring to hold back three cars, with a little
extra so that accidently hitting a peg when placing a car will not tend to
open the gate. But don't use excess spring tension, it only slows down the
action and makes unnecessary work for the solenoid. |
|
|
Step
5. Operate the crank manually, rotating it through
45 degrees. Make sure the action is smooth and secure, making adjustments
as necessary. You can also fine tune the action by loosening the crank from
the shaft with an Allen wrench and adjusting initial crank position. The
pegs should just clear the track surface, it is not desireable to have more
rotation than necessary. Once you are satisfied with the action, you may
dyke off excess brass.
The brass alloy allows
for a lot of bending and rebending, it will not fatigue or break.
You are now ready to
test by plugging it in 120 VAC, and adding the Light Tree.
|
|
|
