I have Mantua General and would like to remotor it. Does any one have any ideas or experience in remotoring? If possible, I would like to add DCC sometime.
Hi, Justin!
Any small to mid-sized can motor should work. Keep in mind that you will probably have to remove the existing motor mount, and use an adapter on the can motor shaft to bring it up from 2mm to 3/32" diameter so you can re-use the original universal joint. On eBay, check out the seller called “microlocomotion” for a wide selection of motors at reasonable prices.
There’s plenty of room in the tender for a decoder, as well.
Thanks, I will have to check it out. Do they have motor mount?
I remotered my General some years ago before Mantua switched hands. They use to sell the MC-94, single shaft motor with an adapter bracket that fit the tender very well.
They use to sell the MC-90 MC-95 motor with an adapter for the larger steamers. I recall it had 1.5mm shaft on mine.
I just looked at my 1997 Mantua catalog.
Some time ago I saw an ad for the double shaft MC-94.
A flat can motor will work as they usually have the same size shaft, 1.5mm. I got one out of an old CD PC drive a few years ago. You can find them on ebay for a few dollars. I think they are about 27mm long.
General
The one on the right has the old can motor. All have DCC. Tender covers the rats nest wiring for the criticss.
Rich
With some batch caulk, you could install a flat can. Build up the caulk so the motor sits at a slight angle like the original. I have used bath caulk successfully for motor mounts. You have time to make slight adjustments.
With gear drive locos, you can set the gear lash quite nicely, also.
I find the caulk works better than silicone. Color is not important. lol
Rich
Just remembered. Get yourself a caliper. They can be had for a few dollars, depending on the brand and type. I did my changes with a plastic cheap one that has a dial in SAE and for metric, little tiny lines on the slider that where quite accurate.
I now have a digital one with metric option for under $50.00.
Rich
I’ll second richg1998’s suggestion of CD drive motors. Most of the new drives use small highspeed motors for all but the tray, but older drives often use a 12x15x27 can motor for the laser. I used one of these motors to repower a Varney Casey Jones 4-6-0, and it’s got enough torque to move the big metal engine with power to spare, and the speed’s not too bad either! For a more specialized type or size, I usually look to microlocomotion or NWSL, but the CD motor should fit in the Mantua tender fine.
With Hurricane Sandy making it miserable outside I spent a lot of time working on it. I cut the old motor mount off and smoothed the tender out. I had plenty of trouble making a adapter for the shaft. The shaft is not long enough so the adapter has to be an extender. It was a real pain trying to get it centered so it does not wobble.