The mailman delivered my new Keystone Shay (HO variety) today and I ordered the NWSL powering kit after talking to Lynda at Oso / NWSL (they seem to advertise both company names). Lynda told me it comes with a tiny open frame electric motor but couldn’t tell me the amps the open frame draws. I’m looking forward to the challenge of putting this little loco together but don’t know if that open frame motor will work well with my DCC system (I use a Zephyr which puts out only 2.5 amps). Being somewhat over-the-hill and unable to concentrate on more than two things at once, I doubt I’ll ever run more than two locos simultaneously but will need both engines to haul the long line of loaded log buggies down to the mill- both will be DCC controlled. Should I postpone construction until I acquire a tiny can motor or is that small NWSL open frame motor acceptable for DCC? I’m sure that someone out there has succeeded in assembling this little loco and I’d like to know their results. Both the unpowered kit and the kit to power them are again available; NWSL’s powering kit was out of production for quite awhile. I suspect more of us will be tackling this little loco in the near future since it’s a very reasonably priced alternative to Spectrum’s big Shay. Also I was told the NWSL folks are almost ready with their re-gear kit for the Spectrum Climax which is great news for gear heads like me (sad owner of an almost new still out of service Spectrum Climax). I’d appreciate any help you can give me with the new kit combo
Roy
The open-frame motor NWSL provides should be just fine. I believe it’s a Mabuchi similar to this one, which has a stall current of less than 1 amp.
I had no idea NWSL was making the Shay power kit again![:D] How much was it? Does it have to ordered directly from them? I’d kind of like to get a Keystone Shay myself, and if NWSL is making the drive for it again, than that should be much easier than trying to find the right parts to power it myself.[:D]
I hope we can see some pictures and comments from you about it when you finish it.[:D]
Hi Darth SF, The powering kit is #1208-6 and retails for $59.95. I ordered it direct from NWSL because my LHS doesn’t have such stuff in stock and I enjoy dealing with Lynda & Dave (nice folks!). There is a web site that gives some good hints on assembling it so it will run well http://www.mrollins.com/keyshay1.html Having looked at the loco kit I can well understand the utility of what Mr. Rollins suggests on his web pages- the soft metal castings were not designed to handle any torque. If this one works out well, I’ll order another power kit and perhaps settle another long time wish- a scratch built class A verticle boiler Shay or Climax. The NWSL power kit drives through a centered drive shaft like a Climax and spins the Shay’s side shafts independent of the main drive.
Roy
I would test the running chracteristics. If they’re good enough you could stay with the motor.
For my Keystone my friend made a new gearing and installed a Faulhaber, I had to install the smoke unit. I’ve installed a Lenz LE080XS at that time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jzsr2KNRYo
http://blip.tv/file/1725395
Wolfgang
Wow, only $60? I thought they would be a lot more expensive than that, based on prices of individual NWSL parts.[:D] I think I’ll have to get one of those, and then replace the open-frame motor with a spare Canon coreless motor I’ve got sitting around.[:D] It should make one smooth runner, since I’ve heard those Shay power kits are excellent when built and adjusted right.[:D].
Do a Google search for keystone shay. You will find a lot of hits concerning this model with no doubt some useful hints. I was quite surprised at all the information that is available.
Rich