What is a Repowering Kit?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

A suggestion was made that I look into a repowering kit for some of my older (as in pre-1900) engines. What is a repowering kit? If it is what it sounds like, it is something like replacing the engines on the 4-4-0s.

By the way, reconnecting power to the pick-up wheels only helped a little.

2

Kits include motor, flywheels, wiring hardware and instructions, sometimes even a new motor cradle. It’s like a complete power overhaul

3

Spacemouse, A re-powering kit is exactly that! Northwest Shortlines is one of the best companies for helping you do this. They have PDF files downlaodable from there website which will help you select what is needed to do this job. www.NWSL.com. They also sell re-gearing kits to allow slower, more realistic slow speed operation.

4

I have a question related to Spacemouse’s. Could repowering an older locomotive make conversion from DC to DCC any easier? Is there such a thing as a repower kit that includes a DDC socket??

5

I’m not aware of any including a socket, but given repowering a loco will involve some soldering (new motor connections), it would probably make it much easier to hard-wire in a decoder - there’s only four wires to hook up, and isolating the motor should be a lot easier if you’re fitting a new one - thin tape can be used to prevent it contacting a “live” frame, for example. Hope this helps!

6

MOUSE:

All the repowering kits i am familiar with are for diesels.Steam remotoring primaily requires finding motor’s that FIT.Then there is the possible need for re gearing…

  1. FINDING motor’s to fit small early steam such as IHC imports may become a problem.
  2. ‘Bargain’ engines often have built-in design problems that are not practical (worth) to fix.

Also Your sources are so limlted. NWSL is about IT.

7

Bowser also has some repowering kits for certain steamers. It is a decent fix for the older Bachmann 'J’s.