Helix Humper motors

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Guessing I am asking this question a little late, but how many of you use Helix Humper motors?

I need to re-power about 7 Athearn’s RTR and Blue Box Engines. I had re-motored 2 Athearn RTR SD 50’s with some older BB motors that Model Builder gave me and they ran fine for about a week. Then the slowed to about 1/3 of there normal speed.

Done with messing with the old motors and ordered two 132 motors. Right around $49.00 with shipping. So prices is not bad. I am planning on reusing the stock flywheels. I know there is going to be some grinding for the frames.

Here a link to there site.

http://www.alliancelink.com/alp/

Cuda Ken

2

I’m glad to see they’re back up and running after the fire they had.

Personally, I would fork out the extra 10 bucks for the motor with the flywheels, just to save myself the time and trouble of removing the Athearn flywheels and having to remount them and hoping they will be balanced.

These are solid and reliable motors and drives. Not quite as quiet as Atlas/Kato, but a lot quieter and smoother than the Athearns.

3

Jay, glad you think well with them. I had not idea about the fire till I called them today. By the way, thanks for helping with the motors you sent, that was very nice of you!

Cuda Ken

4

Rob makes them here in Ohio, I used to have quite a few of them in my old bb loco’s. They were pretty quiet as long as you put new mounts in to hold them in, as they get older they get pretty hard and amplifiy the sound. I usually get all my RR stuff there and they have a pretty good stock of Digitrax decoders and acc. I haven’t been over since the fire so I’ll have to take a road trip to see how the place looks since they reopened the the shop.Jim.

5

Thanks Jim for the input.

Ken

6

Ken,

Since hearing your issues with Athean RTR motors. I think I may just have the 2 SD45s I just got, and replace the motors.

I’m having someone else do my DCC install for me. I’ll see if he can replace the motors for me at that same time.

About how long does it take to replace one of these motors?

7

I haven’t installed a Helix Humper motor, but I have installed a NWSL motor which is a little different.

I use this method:

http://home.comcast.net/~d.megeath/Documents/images/Remotor%20Clinic%202.pdf

8

They used to be made locally to me, and the original owner used to drop by the club I belonged to at the time quite often. Pretty much everyone who repowered an AThearn used them, and they ran well even in long days of show running. The company got passed around a bit when the original owner passed away, but the products look identical to the original ones, so I would expect they perform quite well.

–Randy

9

I have used them in a number of Athearn repower projects including my fleet of Ernst geared Athearn RDC’s, an FP7 built years ago from two Athearn F units and several other sets of locos.

They run great andare very reasonably priced.

Sheldon

10

There motors are reasonably priced, mine are $21.95.

Micheal I would not replaces your RTR motors unless you have a problem with them. If you do, it takes me about a 1/2 hour to change from 1 Athearn to another one now. I bought a flywheel puller and it makes it pretty easy. On the Helix Humper, have no idea yet. There is some grinding to make them fit.

Jay Reason I am reusing my old flywheels is simple, cost. Plus I do have the flywheel puller.

Thanks for all the answers.

Ken

11

Ken,

Did you get those new motors yet?

I made a decision to replace the motors in mine, instead of waiting until they fail. Since my DCC install guy is tearing it all apart anyyays, that would be the perfect timie to replace the motors.

I just don’t want problems in the future. Not only that, but I don’t like the noise on the Athearn RTR motors.

I didn’t choose the Helix motors though, instead I ordered the Aline motor upgrade kits.