Frank,I dunno know…How’s does the brass diesels from Tenshado, Alco Models,Trains inc and Hallmark fit in? Then there’s the Hobbytown drive.
[(-D][(-D]
As I remember the Tenshodo diesels an dthe Hobbytown drive used Pittman motors in the DC-70 range I believe.
maxman,
Actually, Kato motor brushes are replaceable, which is why they are in use on Chicago’s MSI layout (where brush replacements are common), along with Athearn. The one type of engine you won’t see on the MSI layout is Atlas. Atlas motors have brushes that are not replaceable.
BTW, folks, one source of noise that I’ve found in Athearn RTR models is the plastic worms. On two different RTR models, I found a burr in a critical area on a plastic worm. On one model, I was able to file it off and the engine performed great. The other had to be replaced with a P2K brass worm…and now it runs great. So watch out for that.
Paul A. Cutler III
Paul, that is interesting to know. Can you direct me to information on how to do this? I ask because the motors my friend has appear to have the brush locations permanently attached/covered (or so he says). I will pass the info along because it is certainly more cost effective to replace brushes instead of replacing motors.
Thanks
JEFF,
You are correct,My all Brass 2-8-2,Balboa,had a Pittman motor,I dunno,these kids…[(-D] You could not miss the motor,for it took up the whole cab…
Cheers, [D]
Frank
As was mentioned in an earlier post, Kato brushes appear to be replaceable. Having non-replaceable brushes isn’t necessarily the wave of the future, but it was for can motors in the past and maybe even now. In 1979, I bought a PFM, Southern RR 4-6-0. This had a small can motor in it. After about a year, the loco would sputter and spark on startup. I took the motor apart, knowing it needed repair. What I saw disappointed me. The brushes were merely a chunk of brush material, soldered onto a spring wire. If I could have found a brush to fit it, it would have been difficult if not impossible to get that brush soldered correctly onto the spring wire to sit properly on the commutator. The brush was extremely small, and would have been almost impossible to get one, or cut one to the same size. Every can motor that I’ve had to replace from the 70’s-the 90’s have had non-replaceable brushes. The better motors of today I believe can have the brushes replaced, if that is the problem.
Thank you for this valuable information. I took a look at the Kato website and found that they do indeed sell brushes, and have a picture of the assembly. I think what might have led to the non-replaceable brush conclusion is the cap, which looks like it might have to twist off rather than unscrew. Anyway, in order to educate myself further, I’m going to try to retrieve one of the old motors and see what I can do with it.
Thanks again.
Tenshado diesels had a high pitch whine while diesels from Alco,Trains and Hallmark had a “scream” pitch whine.
The Hobbytown drive had a deep growl.
Remember you had metal or brass gears in those brass diesels engines with a brass shell(carbody) and that accounted for the noise.
The Hobbytown drive had brass gears.
Back then Athearn had the quietest drive on the market.
Larry,
If you looked at those Motors,with nothing attached to them,at full 12 volts,that scream,whine,you will see,what looks like a blue flame,coming from the Brush’s,interesting,to say the least.
Cheers, [D]
Frank
Yes,I recall the blue flame…
Back then many of us used lighter fluid to clean the armature.[:O] I’m surprise those motors didn’t catch fire from the lighter fluid…[(-D]
I am late in finding this discussion, but…
I, too, was looking for a replacement for the Athearn motor…in my RTR AC4400.
After some investigation, I have found that the standard Kato motor with flywheels #956030 ($35 from Kato) is a good dimensional replacement for my Athearn unit. The overall length with flywheels is within 1/16", and the two units use interchangeable hex drives on the drive shafts. I will be able to lift out the Athearn motor and drop in the Kato motor using the original Athearn drive shafts. I will be using double sided foam tape to cradle the Kato motor.
As for vibration (which produces noise), the Athearn flywheels do wobble. When running, I can feel the dimensional variation with my finger. The vibration causes “drumming” when the engine is run on track laid directly on plywood. I tested the motor in my Kato SD40-2 mid production unit. I can feel no wobble in the Kato flywheels. I have been very satisfied with my Kato engines.