Mini-Trix F9 body

[GP38-2freak]

@peteski:
I bought only the bodyshells without the mechanisms and will look in my scrap box in the attic, there may be one or two Life Like F-units...

Tim

[DKS]

Tim,
if these are to become toys for a child then why not use the original mechanisms?  It is very robust (mostly metal) and pretty much as they say "bulletproof"!  Especially the older one with all metal gears. It will withstand all sorts of abuse and will run for years trouble-free.  It is also very simple and very easy to maintain.

Even Mark gave it a pretty good grade http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/trixf9a.html

I concur that the Minitrix mechanism design is outstanding. It was far superior to any of its contemporary competitors, and with some TLC can still compete well with most modern (DC) equipment. I have maybe a couple dozen of these around, so if you need parts or even whole mechanisms, let me know.

[mmagliaro]

Tim,
if these are to become toys for a child then why not use the original mechanisms?  It is very robust (mostly metal) and pretty much as they say "bulletproof"!  Especially the older one with all metal gears. It will withstand all sorts of abuse and will run for years trouble-free.  It is also very simple and very easy to maintain.

Even Mark gave it a pretty good grade http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/trixf9a.html

Yes!  And they run VERY VERY well, nice low gearing. 

[bbussey]

This is for a six-year-old?  You are better off with Minitrix mechanisms to go with those Minitrix shells.

[nkalanaga]

Until the Atlas/Kato RS3s came out I ran MiniTrix Fs as my primary power.  Even then, I kept a set for road service, and did much of my switching with them.  One could solder wires from the trucks to the contact plate under the motor, but I found that a little careful bending om the wiper worked just as well.  The wiper broke on one, and was replaced with a strip of thin brass, but it still worked fine. 

One advantage was that the entire mechanism could be taken apart and reassembled with only a screwdriver, making it very easy to clean the cat hair out of the gears.  A bit of oil in the bearings now and then and they'll run forever.  My mining company still uses an unmodified MiniTrix FM.

Disclaimer:  All of mine had metal gears, and were made in the 60s or 70s.  I have no experience with plastic gears in a Minitrix F. 

[LV LOU]

Until the Atlas/Kato RS3s came out I ran MiniTrix Fs as my primary power.  Even then, I kept a set for road service, and did much of my switching with them.  One could solder wires from the trucks to the contact plate under the motor, but I found that a little careful bending om the wiper worked just as well.  The wiper broke on one, and was replaced with a strip of thin brass, but it still worked fine. 

One advantage was that the entire mechanism could be taken apart and reassembled with only a screwdriver, making it very easy to clean the cat hair out of the gears.  A bit of oil in the bearings now and then and they'll run forever.  My mining company still uses an unmodified MiniTrix FM.

Disclaimer:  All of mine had metal gears, and were made in the 60s or 70s.  I have no experience with plastic gears in a Minitrix F.

Actually,I don't know if they ever made a TRIX F with plastic gears? I've owned quit a few of them,probably have over a dozen right now,none have any plastic in the chassis whatsoever... The wipers can be a pain,I find most people bend them down TOO much,which lifts the inside wheels off the rails,they lose traction and contact then.They just need to touch the plate,and have moderate pressure.The biggest thing I see with them is the center of the wheels shrinks,and the metal wheel spins on the center.A touch of ACC fixes that..Cut the flanges,and you're stylin'...

[GP38-2freak]

Today I got a mechanism on a trading show here near us.
The mechanism is a little bit oily and the brushes may have been seen better days but the motor works, will try to get it run and use your tips...in the end there'll be some pictures of it...

Tim

[nkalanaga]

As long as the motor works getting it running should be easy.  You'll probably have to take the trucks apart to clean the axle slots, as they're also the pickup contact, but that's not hard.  The only tricky part is making sure the insulated side wiper is behind the wheels when you put it back together, and that the insulated wheels are on the correct side.  If you swap the trucks the engine runs backwards, as all of the insulated wheels need to be on the same side of the locomotive, not of the trucks.