I purchased one of these at least a year or so ago and only ran the engine to break it in when I first received it. I remember that it needed only minimum lubrication when I ran it and I then put it away until such time as I would upgrade it with DCC. It takes a 9 pin decoder instead of the standard 8 pin.
I more or less forgot about the engine and just recently took it out of my storage locker and added a DCC 9 pin decoder.
I was amazed at how well this engine runs.
This engine runs at a extremely slow speed and handles my Walthers 4 car passenger and express refer extremely well. It has no problem with my 2 1/2 percent grades. I am not sure what the can motor is in this unit but I am most impressed.
If any of you have other Mantua Classic engines that are being currently produced by Model Power, are the other engines as good a runner as the mallet? I will certainly be purchasing a stable mate for this engine.
I have the original (side tank) version of the Mantua-Uintah 2-6-6-2T. On analog DC, it is very responsive - and quite powerful.
It can also be coaxed down to 300mm radius, if you ever have an urge to tie your track into bow knots.
The railroad for which it was purchased has yet to be built out in final form, but I have tested it to 4% grade on a test fixture, and around a 500 degree 350mm radius loop, 3.55% grade. It easily handled the longest train the intended route can accept (siding lengths being the constraint.)
I also have a truly ancient Mantua PRR 0-4-0T (bought 12/48!) that’s still an adequate performer - original Pittman open-frame motor and all.
Mantua always produced quality steam engines. During Tyco’s Asian run they marketed a lot of tender driven plastic junk. The older Mantua/Tyco Pacifics and Mikados were very good locos. In late 50’s and early 60s I built several from kits. Careful assembly would yield an engine that would out perform most others on the market.
Don Z … I have one of the recent production 2-6-6-2’s with tender by Mantua, and I agree with your comments about the quality of these engines. My ambition is to modify mine to resemble one of the Burlington 2-6-6-2’s that operated on the CB&Q Deadwood branch in South Dakota. However, I’m allocating very little time to work on locos now. Instead, my time is focussed on a layout expansion project this year. So the mallet reamins on my excessively long “to do” list.
I have an old production one from the early 90s. The front engine is hinged and the back engine if fixed to the frame. Of course, the design could have been changed in more recent production.
I just purchased Mantua 2-6-6-2 from the LHS in town . It is a Norfolk and Western. Put N&W on any steam engine and it takes a lot of resolve to keep my wallet in my hip pocket. I have strayed from the topic at hand. Glad to hear it runs well. The paper work in my engine for the 'can motor) for what it is worth is labeled part number MPM-345-6 and simply calls it “motor assembly” not sure if you can use the web with this info to discover which can motor it is.Or even if we have the same production run and the same motors???
After a some time canoeing, its time to catch up, so a late thanks for the information! My Sierra 38 looks very good with the prototype articulation, so hopefully the Mantua does as well.
Disconnect the motor and check that everything is free rolling. If the mechanism is fine, then it’s probably the motor.
Are you running it on DC, or is there a decoder installed? If there is, I’d test the motor on straight DC to rule out a decoder issue. If it’s an old open frame motor, they often had wonky performance, especially if there was oil on the brushes, oxidation on the brush arms, etc. If it’s a can motor, I would take the brushes out (if accessible) and clean them, check spring pressure, and clean the commutator gaps.
If it’s a sealed can motor you can spray plastic safe contact cleaner in through a screw hole, let it drain, re-oil the bearings, and see if it improves performance.
I have one of the newer production units and it is articulated like the prototype. Seeing as it is only 3 axles per engine AND small drivers, it wouldn’t pose the same issues as an Allegheny would on tight curves.
It’s odd or coincidence, but I just read an article last night in an old MRR issue on Tyco and Mantua and the change in ownership over the years.
I visited an LHS Saturday, the owner just performed this installation, shoot him an email, he can give you the details. His name is Carlton, very friendly guy. He will do the install for you if you like.
He was happy to demo it for me, it was a very impressive locomotive with the Tsunami installed, it was all I could do to keep my wallet in my back pocket. I’m waiting for a 3 truck Climax so I held off for now.
EDIT: I should mention he performed this installation on the saddletank version of the 2-6-6-2.