Trying to Install Turnout Controls!?!?!

Some progress was made, maybe, in getting the Bullfrog remote, mechanical turnout controls installed.  Plans are to control these two turnouts for the crossover plus the siding turnout on the right with two "knobs" -- that is, controlling the two crossover turnouts together.  But, they will be controlled from the OTHER side of the layout. That's where most of the sidings are as seen on the yellow control board for DC hook-up.

First, I traced the turnouts with a black flare and pushed a straightened paper clip through the hole in the turnout "throw".  When the turnouts are removed, the small hole from the paper clip is visible in the cork roadbed and marked for even better visibility with the black flare.

Next, a small pilot hole was drilled through cork roadbed and plywood, followed by 1/8", and then 1/4" drills.  Then a countersink was used to smooth out the top and bottom of the hole.  As luck would have it, one hole is really close to the side of the layout, within an inch or so of a 1X4" support.  The other hole for the crossover is almost exactly on top of a 1X4" brace -- how's that for lucky?!

Test-fitting the Bullfrogs showed that maybe I WAS lucky; they will just fit in these locations.  Not necessarily in this order, but the three controllers were installed along with two joiner/supports.  The set-up was left in this condition 

due to a few technical challenges.

Seems a 3-foot control rod is pretty flexible -- maybe that's why it's the longest they sell!?  On the other hand, the thought would be that anything much closer than 3 feet could be handled manually so why install a remote controller?  So, why not 4-foot or longer rods.  Of course, they CAN be extended by various means -- mostly, using a 2 56 threaded rod for the inner rod and a plastic tube and the joiner/hanger for the outer cover.  Both "knobs" will need extended rods.  But, the rod and cover going to the first crossover turnout flex enough when pushed that it seems there's too much slack to actuate the turnout.  Phooey.  As a matter of fact, the controller for the siding turnout may do the same thing even though it's pretty much a straight shot.  Will need to fix this before completing the installation.  Plan is to put clamps, holders, positioners along the cable to keep it from moving.  Just need to find something that will hold the cover in place without collapsing it onto the inner rod.

The double switch for the crossover just might be too much for one cable to handle, but that's yet to be determined.  A clevis for a radio control airplane model was used to connect from the controller on the right in the photo to the one on the far left.  Since the local hobby shop had these parts, two more 3-foot control rods were also obtained.

One other challenge was the angle of the "z-bend connector".  With these small devices (and thank goodness they ARE small or they would not have fit), it's hard to get "manly" fingers around them to attach to the layout or attach the other hardware.  When the z-bend did not line up easily with the incoming rod, a couple of pairs of pliers were called into action.  A little force to make the z angle tighter did the trick.

Before Pliers

After Pliers -- OK, not mirror image; different controller.