Walthers 130 foot turntable help needed

[mike_lawyer]

Hi guys,

I have a Walthers 130 foot turntable that I am installing on my layout.  The motor and everything works fine, but I cannot get the turntable to index properly.  For example, I program a position as track 1, but then when I instruct the turntable to align either end with that track position, it will not go to that position.

The turntable will go back to the sensor position if I order the turntable to go to position zero.

Can anyone help me here?  I can't seem to get it to index properly at all.  Thanks.

[Maletrain]

I have substantially the same problem with one at our club.  I can index it to one position, and it will return to that position.  But, if I try to index it to a second position, it loses the first one.

In my case, the turntable was non-functional until I got the "scenery" out of the mechanism.  Once I could get it to move all the way around, I found that there were multiple stops already indexed, but they did not line up with the tracks, even after rezeroing the indexing as described in the instructions.  I was able to delete the indexed stops already there, and I can add more, but they don't stay aligned as set when I add another one.  Only the last one lines up properly.

[mike_lawyer]

That's exactly the same problem I am having, if I program track 1, it will not go back to that position.  It can find the home position no problem, but beyond that, the indexing is way off.

I think I will try and contact Walthers tech support this week to see if they can diagnose the problem.

[garethashenden]

I don’t have one, but I did look at the instructions. Have you tried the factory reset procedure?

[mike_lawyer]

I don’t have one, but I did look at the instructions. Have you tried the factory reset procedure?

Yep, I tried a factory reset, it still will not index correctly.

[Maletrain]

Yep, I tried a factory reset, it still will not index correctly.

Same for me.

[peteski]

The homing process uses photocell and LED. I don't exactly remember how it indexes other locations.  I think it has an optical encoder in the bridge which counts pulses as the bridge spins, then records those counts for all the locations which were marked during the learning process.  It likely uses some sort of non-volatile memory to store those values.  The behavior could point to a problem with the indexing memory. Would it be possible that Walthers uses a battery-backed memory chip (using one of those tiny button batteries) instead of EEPROM/Flash chip and the battery just died?

[mike_lawyer]

Update - I contacted Walthers, and there was a problem with the electronics in the turntable pit.  They sent me a replacement, and it works great.

[Mark5]

Update - I contacted Walthers, and there was a problem with the electronics in the turntable pit.  They sent me a replacement, and it works great.

Hmmm, I've got one of these stored for my layout (933-2618) - is this an issue across all of them? (do I need to contact them now?)

Mark

[mike_lawyer]

Hmmm, I've got one of these stored for my layout (933-2618) - is this an issue across all of them? (do I need to contact them now?)

Mark

I don't think it is an issue across all of them, I think I just received a defective one.

Mike

[Maletrain]

Can you post a picture of the component you replaced?  And maybe a picture of where it came from?

[mike_lawyer]

Walthers sent me a complete new turntable
  It was not one piece they replaced.  I just installed the new turntable, and everything works right.  I'm not sure exactly what was wrong with the first one, but it would not index correctly.  It would overshoot the target by about 45 degrees.

[Maletrain]

OK Mike, good to know.  The turntable at the club is not close to being in warranty.  So, I am thinking I should try a new bridge, without tearing out the whole thing.

[peteski]

OK Mike, good to know.  The turntable at the club is not close to being in warranty.  So, I am thinking I should try a new bridge, without tearing out the whole thing.

IIRC, most of the indexing electronics are housed in the bridge, but it has been long time since I looked at one of these.

[Mark5]

I don't think it is an issue across all of them, I think I just received a defective one.

Ok, cool - thanks! (I won't panic ... yet )

Mark