Smoking Steamer in N scale

[Doug G.]

Boy, that original motor looks like it's barely a step up from the Mehanos. The commutator looks a little better and the bushings (bearings) look like they are actual bushings and not just sheet metal inserts.

But, other than that...

Nice work, Victor.

Doug

[victor miranda]

Hi Doug,
 good to see you!

I do agree it looks a lot like.... buuuuut...

all those little things add up to a servicable motor.
please take a good look at that kato motor.
can you see any signs that it melted?

If you smoke a menaho coil...
the bearing are  often spun and loose in the plastic.
and my favorite and much more common...
 the commutator plates come ... adrift?
which is why the motor comes to a stop.

This motor is designed to take normal use and that includes getting warm.
please do not mistake this part
I would not call it a stout motor.
when they were new, they were servicable. 
I understand magnets get weak over time
and that is the reason for this motor's demise.

if you have one and want it to run....
a b-mann motor and a twist tie are pretty much all you need
 file and drilling a couple of holes will make a better install.

plan on adding some pick-ups... it would help.
modern motor magnets are much better now...
I wonder how it would run with a neo- type magnet?

hmmmm.....

victor

[Doug G.]

My Hudsons are newer Chinese ones and run wonderfully. Interestingly enough. the motors in them are similar to the Bachmann motors.

Mine are even almost silent in spite of the flywheel controversy.

Another interesting note: That same, longer motor was used in the original releases of the Con-Cor PAs. It was later changed to the more square motor and chassis modification to accomodate same in the late seventies, I believe.

And yes, even though the two characteristics mentioned (better commutator and bushings) may seem like minor issues, they could make a world of difference in longevity under the influence of heat.

Doug

[rschaffter]

plan on adding some pick-ups... it would help.
modern motor magnets are much better now...
I wonder how it would run with a neo- type magnet?

You could try replacing the original magnet with stacks of disk magnets.

It definitely needs tender pickup added, especially with those coined drivers; mine sparks when it runs. However, it's never gotten high enough on my priority list to do...

[peteski]

Rare Earth magnets of many shapes and sizes are available.  I suspect that one close to the original size is available (no need for disk magnets).

[Lemosteam]

If you cant find the exact length width and height sizes, you may be able to find some that match the length and width, with varying thicknesses and they could be stacked to obtain the correct height.

[victor miranda]

yall are funny.

I was thinking about some small disk magnets I got some time back.
I have not found them yet,  tonight I may get the chance.
They about the right size, what I don't know is the exact size.
there may be a magnet orientation issue, if they are actually small enough.

well, we can compare the 5 volts and 110ma and 60 smph of the re-motor job
to the re-magnet job....

... like I'll have time this weekend...

victor

[Lemosteam]

I was referring to replacing the original motor's magnet, which is a rectangular prism.

[victor miranda]

Hi lemosteam,

I know.  what I was amused about was the jump to the solution.

I did not want to bring up replacement magnets until I was pretty sure
the magnets both work and are available.

I am betting availability will be a problem.

I have some slot car magnets lounging around too.
they are the ceramic sort we use nowadays.

I have a few of the neo-ish types as well
but they have odd shapes and I think are bigger in two dimensions.

.... what I was really hoping was magnet zapping using the big neo type magnets
victor

[peteski]

A while back we discussed under-track magnetic uncoplers (in this forum).  There were several sources of rare earth magnets given (websites) which sell wide selection of shapes and polarizations of this type of magnets.  Do a seach for magnetic uncoupling and you will most likely find the info.  IIRC, it was Bryan Bussey who posted it.

[victor miranda]

the link to the magnet seller
https://www.kjmagnetics.com/

[TVRR]

Meanwhile back at the ranch...... Received my loco back from Victor this afternoon.  Put it on a DC test loop and wonderful things happened! It now runs smoothly, almost silently, and at much lower speeds than expected even without the supplemental tender pickups! I'm not talking 1 mph but it never did that when new either. I'd like to take the opportunity to thank Victor and all those whose advise and comments helped. This is a Fine board gentlemen.

[Lemosteam]

Would love to see a stack of these in that old motor:

https://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=B631-N52&cat=168

[victor miranda]

Meanwhile back at the ranch...... Received my loco back from Victor this afternoon.  Put it on a DC test loop and wonderful things happened! It now runs smoothly, almost silently, and at much lower speeds than expected even without the supplemental tender pickups! I'm not talking 1 mph but it never did that when new either. I'd like to take the opportunity to thank Victor and all those whose advise and comments helped. This is a Fine board gentlemen.

Hi TVRR,

I love when the post office delivers!

when you add the extra pickups from a tender, you will have a whole new loco.

welcome to n-scale steam... always yet another project.

victor

[TVRR]

Just a quick follow up note on this little adventure. The engine has been fitted with an all wheel long haul coal tender and the contacts wired to the frame screws that Victor thoughtfully added. It has had the drivers painted engine black, running gear darkened with Neolube, headlight lens and LED added, new drawbar fabricated to close up the engine/tender space, and a light weathering. As of now it has run continuously for 12 hours without a hitch, pulling a dozen 40' cars. Low speed is much improved but it's no switcher. Above 20 mph or so it is a superb running mainline engine. I know this sounds odd but I love the thing and am glad to see an old friend rise from the dead track. Thanks everyone!