motor shaft supplier/vendor?

[ChrisVA]

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

[doctorwayne]

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

[7j43k]

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

[RR_Mel]

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.

[jjdamnit]

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.

[snjroy]

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