Atlas Motor Problem

[davefoxx]

Sounds good Dave!  Could I have motor B, pretty please?  I just fixed a tiny Sagami motor for VonRyan - and it was completely seized!    I haven't given him the good news yet, so keep it to yourself for now.    Just kidding - I'll take whatever motor you send me. 

As far as motor C is concerned, is is possible that there is nothing wrong with it - it is simply the slow-speed motor, as where the 125 Smiles/hr motor is simply the old fast-speed Atlas motor?

I could be wrong, but I don't think so.  Motors A, B, and C are identical, and (while I'm guessing at their age) I don't think any of these are from the fast-speed era.

I'll send you Motor B.  That will also put the slow-dying motor into Max's hands.

DFF

[Kisatchie]

Pay no attention to the Great Ape behind the curtain...


Hmm... send me a motor.
I use the "whack it with
a frying pan" method. It
works every time... well,
sometimes... ok, never...
jeez...

[mmagliaro]

Whichever one I get is fine with me.  Thanks for counting me in.

[central.vermont]

If I recall correctly one of the spotting features between a fast motor and slow motor was the color of the plastic housing. Slow being gray and fast being black I think. 

Jon

[mu26aeh]

And I think you are right.  Or used to be right.  I thought I read/seen that newer release slow/scale speed motors have returned to a black housing.

[peteski]

If I recall correctly one of the spotting features between a fast motor and slow motor was the color of the plastic housing. Slow being gray and fast being black I think. 

Jon

No longer true (unfortunately for us tinkerers). See:
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=31969.msg358627#msg358627
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=38738.msg469998#msg469998

[tom mann]

So @davefoxx has either an expanding shaft or a lubrication problem. Or both?

[davefoxx]

So @davefoxx has either an expanding shaft or a lubrication problem. Or both?

 

[peteski]

So @davefoxx has either an expanding shaft or a lubrication problem. Or both?

Um, maybe . . . although i  have never ran into a swollen steel shaft in any motors. Well, maybe except if it started oxidizing (rusting), as the runs takes up more volume than the unrusted metal.   In my experience I have also not encountered many rusty shafts either. Maybe they are made form some sort of steel alloy which is resistant to rust?  So, the entire swollen shaft concept is new to me.

More likely the problem would be with lack of longitudinal play of the shaft and armature between the bearings. That causes a bind of the armature. I just recently encountered that problem in couple of new-old-stock Atlas locos. We'll see . . .

[wazzou]

Um, maybe . . . although i  have never ran into a swollen steel shaft in any motors.

It was a joke man.   

[peteski]

It was a joke man.   

I don't know what's what anymore.    Usually a swollen shaft is not considered a problem - just the opposite. Some actually take pills to achieve that state.  If the swelling persists for more than 4 hours, that could lead to a problem. 

[Missaberoad]

TWSS

[nkalanaga]

Some other possible reasons for motor shafts not rusting are:

Most of our locos are over lubricated, and oil on the shaft would inhibit rust

Most of our motors are kept dry, and moisture is a leading cause of rust.

[narrowminded]

...  If the swelling persists for more than 4 hours, that could lead to a problem. 

... and we're now full circle.  It IS a problem and it's being sent to you to see why.   Ain't that just swell.

[davefoxx]

@mmagliaro,

I'm not sure what happened, but I'm trying to get to the post office with these motors boxed up, and I have lost the PM with your address.  Not sure how that happened.  Can you PM me your address once again?

Sorry for any inconvenience,
DFF