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Need a source for Mabuchi FK-280SA-14200 motors

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  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Fullerton, California
  • 1,364 posts
Posted by hornblower on Monday, November 30, 2020 1:23 PM

Hrvoje

You are correct that $9.00 for a quality coreless motor is a great value.  However, since I've already been impressed with the performance of the Mabuchi motors, I was all set to purchase at least 6 more (6 X $0.85 = $5.10 from Aliexpress).  If I only had one or two locos to remotor, I probably would go with the coreless motor.  However, a whole fleet of locos equipped with coreless motors could get expensive (6 X $9.00 = $54.00).

As the Mabuchi motors are manufactured in China, I am hoping the the COVID crisis is simply causing delivery delays that can be resolved once the Covid crisis is resolved.

Hornblower

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Zagreb / Croatia /Europe
  • 259 posts
Posted by Spalato68 on Monday, November 30, 2020 12:57 PM

Sorry, I did not see the first motor I suggested is not (hope just temporarily) available.

About the other one, maybe I need to clarify. The sound it generates is not louder or worse than the first motor I mentioned (and this is not noisy), or any other iron core motor - such motors are usually much louder than coreless motors (except maybe Canon, I was amazed how silent this motor is). But as I am used that in principle, coreless motors are (or almost) silent, this Namiki can be heard. But not so much that it would annoy. 

What is price concerned - coreless motors are usually more expensive, and this motor is really a quality motor. For 9 USD, I did not hesitate, I bought it and I am not sorry - it will stay in this locomotive, and maybe in some other to come (I bought 5). And with DCC, it will provide running performance that is hard to match by iron core motors, due to zero cogging.

Hrvoje

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Fullerton, California
  • 1,364 posts
Posted by hornblower on Monday, November 30, 2020 12:41 PM

Unfortunately, neither of the referenced motor information pages on the aliexpress website mention the availability of these motors.  If you click on the tab marked "view details and buy" you will then see the note that both these motors are unavailable.

The coreless motor is definitely an idea although the price would get me three of the Mabuchi motors.  I'm not too sure about living with a high pitched tone from the coreless motor either as I still have excellent high frequency hearing.  

Hornblower

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Zagreb / Croatia /Europe
  • 259 posts
Posted by Spalato68 on Monday, November 30, 2020 12:21 PM

I forgot to mention another excellent motor that could be used in some locomotives where high RPM is not required. This is Namiki coreless motor, 9000 rpm/18 V, dual shaft, 35 x 16 mm. There are at least two sources: Allelectronics (9 USD, read the only review there Wink) and ebay (23,95 USD). 

I tested one, in Genesis F7, and as this locomotive is advertised as "freight", I do not mind locomotive does not run fast. But this motor is very strong, runs good both on DC and DCC. It has zero cogging, so with DCC decoder, excellent slow speed performance is possible, as with any coreless motor. 

It is heavy and finish is excellent, when you have it in hand, it is obvious, this is a quality Japanese product. I found info somewhere else (I cannot find it anymore) that this motor was meant for some project that was abandoned in the meantime - therefore such attractive price, I assume. 

One more thing - motor gives some light sound (high pitched) - I do not mind it, but some maybe will. As I am getting older, I will hear even less from high frequency spectrum, so...

Hrvoje

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Monday, November 30, 2020 8:30 AM

If you aren’t into running at high speed early on before I ran across the FK-280 motor I used a pair of SF-266 motors in an Athearn SD40 frame.

The SF-266 turns at 7200 RPM at 12 volts, the Athearn motor is 12000 RPM at 12 volts.

It required filing the Athearn frame a bit but they work pretty good at about a scale 60 MPH.  The dual motors have plenty of power just not real high speed.

My E7s are Athearn SD40-2 frames with Cary E7 body’s weighing in at 2 pounds each.  With the 266 motors they have 7 ounces of drawbar each at wheel slip and don’t slow down on my 3½% grades.

I prefer the FK280 but if I can’t find them I’d be happy with a pair of 266 motors.
 

Mel


 
My Model Railroad   
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Zagreb / Croatia /Europe
  • 259 posts
Posted by Spalato68 on Monday, November 30, 2020 12:22 AM

Hornblower, you can try this one:

https://www.aliexpress.com/i/33049650588.html

It costs less than 1 USD, so no risk. According to my experience, it comes unlubricated, so add ONE drop of oil at each bearing before use. I bought it just out of curiosity, but it seems to be just fine motor. It has carbon brushes, so it should be durable. Rotor is skew wound (meaning cogging is negligible), therefore it works well with DCC decoders, I tried it and found no issues. 

Hrvoje

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, November 29, 2020 7:55 PM

hornblower
I recently remotored two old blue box F7 diesels using the Mabuchi FK-280SA-14200 dual shaft motor.  The results have been astounding!

They were so cheap I bought 20 of them... I am glad I did.

I cannot believe they are unavailable, they were everywhere.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    September 2003
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Posted by Overmod on Sunday, November 29, 2020 7:48 PM

As there will be at least some of you who don't know the Mabuchi motor code when assessing replacement types:

https://www.mabuchi-motor.com/product/knowledge/classification/designations.html

 

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  • 54 posts
Posted by Carolina Northern on Sunday, November 29, 2020 6:37 PM

Item is no longer available.

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
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Posted by RR_Mel on Sunday, November 29, 2020 6:24 PM

That is unexpected!  As many as there was on eBay I didn’t think they’d ever be unavailable.

I found some listed on Aliexpress, I haven’t bought from them before so that is an unknown.
https://www.aliexpress.com/i/4000371759600.html

Keep us posted!


Mel



 
My Model Railroad   
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Fullerton, California
  • 1,364 posts
Need a source for Mabuchi FK-280SA-14200 motors
Posted by hornblower on Sunday, November 29, 2020 5:47 PM

I recently remotored two old blue box F7 diesels using the Mabuchi FK-280SA-14200 dual shaft motor.  The results have been astounding!  These two diesels will easily pull a 12 car (NMRA weighted) train up my 22" radius, 2.62% grade helix as slow as about 5 scale miles an hour without a hiccup or hesitation.  Far better than the old Athearn motors with less current draw and a purchase price of only $2.45 each on Ebay.  I still have about six more locos to remotor.  Unfortunately, all the Ebay vendors previously selling these motors are gone and other sites state this motor is no longer available.  Does anybody know of a source where I can still buy these motors?  

Hornblower

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