I’m trying to find a vendor for motor shafts that I can use in remotoring old locomotives, e.g. old Mantuas. Where can I get a steel motor shaft that the worm gear for a Mantua Pacific fits onto, or is a close fit? I believe they are 3/32"? Would these work from NWSL?
https://nwsl.com/collections/shafting/products/shafting-3-32-od-x-6-l-ground-steel-2
If that dimension is correct, a piece of 3/32" piano wire would likely do the trick. The stuff I have, in a variety of diameters, is in 3’ lengths from K&S
Lots of shaft material there.
Wayne
Motor shafting is likely held to much tighter tolerances than piano wire. Note that the NWSL is labeled as being “ground”. This is done for precision. It’s probably also straighter.
I recommend getting the NWSL product. Since shipping cost is likely at a base rate, I also recommend getting plenty of the shafting, plus other items, perhaps their shaft adapter bushings.
Sounds like you’re going to have some fun.
Ed
I pretty much use 2mm steel music wire for my drivelines and NWSL #482-6 2mm universals. I’ve remotored over 50 locomotives using music wire, everyone works great. My now closed LHS stocked music wire.
For the Athearn remotors I use Evergreen #224 tubing (perfect fit) as a sleeve to mate the 2mm motor shaft (Mabuchi FK280SA) to the Athearn flywheels and reuse the Athearn drivelines. A small dob of CA or Super Glue on the 2mm motor shaft and the same to the flywheel and its done.
Thanks again Hornblower for the Evergreen #224 tip!!! Works Great!
Mel
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
Aging is not for wimps.
Hello All,
Another source you might explore is A-Line.
From the home page, look under the Railroad Products > Re-Powering Parts > Re-Powering Parts & Repowering “How To Book”.
There you will find several options for motor shafts & worm gears.
Currently, I am in the process of using A-Line products to replace the cracked axle gears on an Athearn BB SW 1500 and the hex couplings on the worm gears of a Bachmann GP38-2.
I will update my post Possible Solution For Cracked Axle Gears…Thoughts??? when I have finished the upgrades/replacements.
Good luck, let us know your solution(s), and as always…
Hope this helps.
Hi there. I guess I’m still scratching my head about what you are looking for. Are you looking for a motor with a shaft that has the right diameter, or just a shaft? Is it for a specific engine, or just in general?
In my experience, motors come with all sort of shafts, from 1.5MM to 2.2MM - and sometimes greater in diameter. For a specific remotoring project, you need to measure what is the existing shaft (that fits with the worm gear) using a caliper. You can then match with what’s available online. There are many sources (Chinese sources, NWSL and MicroMark, among others). You can buy a motor with a smaller shaft size, and insert a sleeve. NWSL sells some, and Mel suggested another source (Evergreen).
And don’t forget to consider shaft length, either to fit a flywheel, or just long enough to get your motor+shaft+gear to fit in the space without having your motor rubbing against the drivers. You can alway cut a shaft to fit, but you can’t make it longer… Of course, the motor also needs to fit in the shell.
Simon