I modified three of these Athearn U33Cs with dual motors and extra weight...
The motors are from Mashima, and are mechanically independent of one another - my thought, at the time, being that if one truck slipped due to track condition, the other might not....
Each of them weighed 33oz., although if I had kept them, I'm positive that I could have got them to at least 40oz. each.Other than running them with various heavy trains, I had no scientific way to determine their drawbar pull (I later acquired the test meter from MicroMark, but by that time, the diesels had gone to a friend in Wisconsin).
I did, however, manage to arrange for a nearby club to test (and quantify) their pulling ability, and they determined it to be 8.3oz. per unit....about what I would have suspected, relative to some info I've read on power relative to adhesion (weight), which works out to roughly 1/4 of the loco's weight.
My own tests with heavy trains (not so precise, I'd guess) was to use one of those U-boats on a train of loaded hoppers on the curving 2.8% grade between Elfrida and South Cayuga on my layout. It's an elongated S-curve just under 18' long, with a straight stretch of track about 3' long separating the two curves.I don't recall the test train's length, but it was 44 loaded hoppers with a total trailing weight of 22lbs.The single loco moved the train easily until it (the locomotive) left the curve at the top of the grade and entered straight track, where its wheels began to slip.
I would have liked to have been able to perform the test on the much longer grade to the second level (45' with two curves, left and right, and an S-bend near the top) but at that time, it dead-ended at the top of the hill, as the partial upper level had not yet been built. Two of those locos handled the train almost as if it were empty - plenty of power.
Other than for test purposes, I don't normally run long trains - 20 cars would probably be around the upper limit, and for loaded hoppers (live loads of Black Beauty blasting medium) on the longer hill, the limit for two Mikes or Consolidations is 12 2-bay hoppers and a caboose - a trailing weight of almost exactly 100oz.
Wayne
I ordered two of the Mabuchi motors from ebay a couple of weeks ago, haven't gotten them as of yet ..
As far as I can see the only drawback seems to be the single shaft, but for the price [2.60 cdn each] they are just wonderful ..
I'm really interested in these. I'm curious to know how consistent these are and if there are any problems to be had if one spins at a slightly different speed than the other.
I do have some oldies that could use an upgrade and this seems like a way to do so without investing alot in cheap locos.
Visit the Chicago Valley Railroad for Chicago Trainspotting and Budget Model Railroading.
Thanks for that!
I think I'll pick up a couple, even though I've got more pressing projects in the works now.
Nice find on those motors! I'll have to keep those in mind. Mabuchi's motors have done very well for me in my projects. Two of the somewhat small FK-130SH motors were powerful enough to drive a DD40!
By the way, here's a slight correction to the scale speed calculation based off motor RPM for you. I hope this helps!
2,250RPM ÷ 12 gear reduction = 187.5 wheel RPM42" x Pi = 131.9469" ÷ 12 = 10.9956' wheel circumferencecirc x 187.5 = 2,061.67 feet per minutex 60 = 123,700.2107 feet per hour÷ 5,280 = 23.43 scale MPH
To reach 40 scale MPH, the motor needs to run at about 3,840RPM. At the motor's maximum 6,700RPM, the maximum speed will be about 70 scale MPH.
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Darth Santa Fe Nice find on those motors! I'll have to keep those in mind. Mabuchi's motors have done very well for me in my projects. Two of the somewhat small FK-130SH motors were powerful enough to drive a DD40! By the way, here's a slight correction to the scale speed calculation based off motor RPM for you. I hope this helps! 2,250RPM ÷ 12 gear reduction = 187.5 wheel RPM42" x Pi = 131.9469" ÷ 12 = 10.9956' wheel circumferencecirc x 187.5 = 2,061.67 feet per minutex 60 = 123,700.2107 feet per hour÷ 5,280 = 23.43 scale MPH To reach 40 scale MPH, the motor needs to run at about 3,840RPM. At the motor's maximum 6,700RPM, the maximum speed will be about 70 scale MPH.
I ordered four of these on Oct 29th and they arrived today. Quick shipping from China. Not sure what I'm going to use them in, but the newest rule of Model Railroading is - If you see it, better get it, it may never be available again.
Don
How many pole motor are they? 3 or 5? I have seem some skew wound 3 pole that would give a 5 pole a run for its money. For now, I stick with Canon or a high quality coreless when I repower a brass model. Should be interesting to see how these motors hold up in some long term use such as on a club layout that puts the locomotive thru its paces for several hours at a time.
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
emdmike How many pole motor are they? 3 or 5? I have seem some skew wound 3 pole that would give a 5 pole a run for its money.
How many pole motor are they? 3 or 5? I have seem some skew wound 3 pole that would give a 5 pole a run for its money.
Sounds like a good replacment motor if it holds up in long term use. I use mostly the CN series from Canon and not the EN, wonder what the differance is in them? The motor in my PFM 2 truck Shay is a CN22. Mike
emdmikeI use mostly the CN series from Canon and not the EN, wonder what the differance is in them? The motor in my PFM 2 truck Shay is a CN22.
I think the EN22 has higher torque than the CN22. I have a Hallmark/Samhongsa E1A/B set that came with CN22 motors, and compared to the 3-pole DN22 in my Stewart/Ajin switcher, it's easier to stall under load. It's by no means a weak motor since I used one of them in my DJH 2-8-0+0-8-2 Garratt with great results, but it doesn't seem quite as strong to me.
Mel has done a great job in his testing and review of this motor. A big thanks. It is way more than I found in the Remotor/Regear "Groupsio" where I first read about this motor while looking for an EN22 alternate. That group included lots of success stories in DC and DCC loco uses. If anyone is still somewhat skeptical about using this never heard of motor, they should again consider the fact that their current cost, just over $2 each, makes them a great gamble AND they are easy to find. I bought 8 but have used only 2 so far on which I removed the plastic end cap and shortened the drive shaft on each to fit space available. Mabuchi makes this motor for automobile rear-view mirrors. So, they maybe could be a future model railroad go-to motor. Thanks Mel.
RR_Mel Back to back motors eliminate the Athearn flywheels but the pair of SF-266 motors are superior to the single Athearn motor and I can’t tell any difference with the missing flywheels. My much over weight E7 runs better than the original Athearn with the flywheels. Mel
RR_Mel EDIT: I thought I would post a picture of my RPM Meter It measures the RPM by counting the reflected Laser beam off the white stripe I painted on the universal. The meter is quite accurate for a cheapie.
Mel,
I got some of these motors from China through feebay and the price was right. Only took 3 weeks to get them here.
QUESTION: I also ordered one of those tachometers. I'm having a hard time getting a battery for it though. It seems there are no 6F22 9v batteries in NW Arkansas. Would a regular 9v battery work? I don't want to damage the thing.
Thanks,
oldline1
6F22 is just a plain old carbon-zinc 9V battery. The ones called "Heavy Duty" are usually just carbon-zinc batteries as opposed to the more common alkaline. An alkaline 9V is still 9V, so there should be no issue using whatever you have.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.