Turntable -drive/indexing system

The motor is a small 10 volt DC motor.  You need to disconnect it and the drive box from the black plastic universal joint and see if you can get it to work. Keep in mind this is a 10 volt DC motor.
You also need to turn the universal joint drive shaft so that the 80 to 1 brass gear does a full 360 degrees smoothly.
The universal joint connection usually causes a wobble and the plastic hinge type mountings may also need to be loosened.
I'm not sure what the capacitor on the motor leads is for.  Here is a picture of my motor drive on my modular TT a similar Diamond Scale drive.


These TT's if operating properly are very reliable and will operate smoothly. You would also need to check the Bridge mounting, it should be loose from the turn block, actually riding only on the pit rail, and bridge boggies. You should be able to gently pick the bridge up off the pit rails taking care not to disturb the wiring.
  I don't have indexing on either of my two turntables. I would try operating it without the indexing.  If you want the indexing I would try to make it work before you move on to something else.  I'm thinking there is or was a rotary control for that indexing system??? Check with Diamond Scale.

From the Diamond Scale website

The index kits come with a single pole 12 position rotary switch which provides 11 switching positions to control the index unit.  If you desire to switch power to the selected track as well as to control the index unit, you will need a two pole rotary switch with as many positions as you have approach and storage tracks.  We offer both a 12 and 24 position rotary switch which will provide 11 and 23 positions respectively.

Click on the image to access a video of how a Diamond Scale TT should work with out indexing.

Thanks Mike CT. That's the exact same drive set up on yours. I am able to freely spin the turntable with just using my fingers turning the  shaft with the universal joint on it. Also, I found the indexing rotary switch is broken. I'll give Diamond a call to see what parts they have. Still not sure about the indexing and think I might save some frustration by not using it. 

Mike CT,

I am not able to make contact with Diamond and I cannot find out any info on the motor. If possible, are you able to see the motor info and provide me with a part number or something that I can use as a referance for getting a new one? If there is anything on the gearbox that info would be helpful also as I would like to replace both motor and gearbox. 

 

The gear box was a kit.  You had to assemble the kit which involved mounting the motor and pushing the plastic gears on metal shafts. It usually took a while to get it to the point it would run smoothly.  This involve loosening the (4) corner screws and possibly adding a lubricant that was plastic friendly.  

I would tear the gear box apart.  See if the motor will run with out the gear box.  Then re-assemble the gear box carefully so that there is no binding if the motor is good.   A 10 volt DC motor don't apply more than 12 volts DC.  A double pole momentary on/off/momentary on switch is used to power this DC motor in either direction. I use a small HO power pack as my DC supply for this motor.

 

 

Thanks Mike. I did take it apart and the motor just hums with no shaft movement, the rest of the gears are fine and spin freely.

I would remove the capacitor and try it. Manually spin the motor to see if you can get it going with power applied (DC). It will not work on AC.   I have a spare motor I could send you, if you eventually replace it.  It would be the first of the week March 12th before I could get it in the mail.

My Email is in my profile, Click on the Mike CT to the left.  Email your address.

Thanks Mike. I sent you an email.

Chip ,
I had some contact with Diamond a little while back .Coarse you know they had a fire a few years back but he told me they did have a supply of parts.
He runs Diamond as a hobby business and has a regular business that he devotes himself to full time.
He said the best time to reach him by phone is around 8 AM EST. Don't bother with e mail unless you want to wait a really really long time for an answer.
Hope this helps
David

Thank You David! I'll try tonight.

Good news! Just got off the phone with Diamond and was able to order everything I needed.

 

 For anyone who needs to contact them, they are open Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday   12PM to 8PM and Saturday from 10AM to 3PM. phone 330.823.7222

 

I had a nice discussion with Rob ( I think that was his name) and he wanted to make sure everyone knows that they are in business and it’s just taken them a long time to recover from the fire – parts all over the place that needed to be sorted along with rebuilding.

 

Thanks Mike and David for the help!

I just love a happy ending.

 

Go luck on getting that tt running.  I sure enjoy my manual, cloths belt driven, homemade one, with eyeball indexing.

 

Charlie

I use manual/eyeball indexing on my scratch built (never again) turntable.
Mine is electric, and if yours turns slowly enough, it will work.

Manual "indexing" is very prototypical, of course.

Clockwise, Counterclockwise is achieve with a small Double pole, Double throw. Momentary on/Off/Momentary on switch.  To get that slow speed for "eye ball" aligning a 250 ohm 3 watt variable resistor can be added.

Note the cross over wiring on the Double Pole Double throw switch. DC  change of motor direction.   The 250 ohm resistor is more than need, a 100 ohm would work just as well.
Mike

Here is what I did for the time being. (Eventually will use automatic rotation/index control.)

 

 Small control panel mounted under the edge of the layout by the turntable.

 

Back of the small control panel. (The rotary switch has 12 positions and four poles, all of which are not necessary, but I already had it.)

 

Alex

 

See my Hidden Pass Junction RR layout under construction here:

https://ogrforum.com/d...ent/2415514336550790