I would like to put a smoother running motor in my Athearn RTR SD40-2. Can anyone suggest what type of motor I use and where I could find one? Thanks!
These guys have a repowering kit and a LOT more, good quality. I think page 5 has the ones you’re looking for.
http://www.nwsl.com/uploads/cat_chap2_for_web_3-01-13.pdf
Richard
Helix Humper #144. $32.95. PDF of instructions: http://www.alliancelocomotiveproducts.com/144.pdf
Andre
I replaced the motors in my two Athearn RTR SD45s with the A-Line re-motar kits. They have Mashima motors. They are very strong runners now, but unfortunately, it didn’t completely get rid of the Athearn growl. Due to the gears.
I’ve had good success with the remotor kits from A-Line. A previous post provided a link to their site.
I’m much less impressed with the motors I’ve tried from Northwest Short Line. I had NWSL sourced motors in two Athearn units, which never performed very well compared to other remotoring projects. I eventually replaced them with Mashima motors from A-Line which produced immediate improvement. Note that the motors I got were labeled as Sagami, and that may not be what NWSL is using now.
Another source is motors from used Kato/Stewart/Atlas mechanisms. For example, I have an Athern SD40-2 powered by a motor removed from a Kato GP35. I did a bit of grinding on the frame so the original plastic motor mount could be screwed in and have the whole assembly clear the frame. Since mine was an older blue box model, I did have to rework the Athearn universals to interface properly with the Kato flywheels, but that wasn’t a big job. The resulting model runs great.
Check train shows and/or ebay for deals on slow selling models with good motors. You can find things like undecorated B units, poor paint jobs, and so on for less than the cost of a new motor from A-Line. Front Range sold GP7 and GP9 diesels with horrible trucks but good motors from Mashima and Canon, and some of them can be had for cheap. Atlas also sells motors for some of its locomotives, and they can also be cost effective. Try https://secure.atlasrr.com/mod1/items.asp?Cc=H981&iTpStatus=0&Tp=&Bc= (I saw B23-7 and U30C motors listed as in stock).
The round NWSL motors are really good, for steam engine applications.
When it comes to a flat can motor for the inside of a diesel, the best choices are the Kato motor or the PPW / A-Line.
PPW has a kit with a lead motor mount which fits inside of the Athearn frame. The kit also includes flywheels. The Athearn flywheels are a 2.4mm so they will not fit on a 2.0mm motor such as the Kato or Mashima.
PPW sells the engine cradle separately, so you could use it to mount the Kato.
I have used the PPW kit for a couple of Athearns, one 4 axle and one 6. The 4 axle was quieter. Both are improvements in running quality over the stock motor
For Athearn Blue Box conversions, the motor mount cradel from PPW (Proto Power West)/Aline is almost essential, it really makes the job of mounting the motor easy.
I’ll second that on the Kato motors. I used them to repower my Proto PA’s with the old high draw motors. The Kato’s work great and cost much less than the A-Lines. By the way, I didn’t have to buy the flywheels. I used the originals with no problems.
The PPW motors have really skyrocketed. I am leaning toward the Kato for my next re-power job.