Any Minitrix motors out there?

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BAC - 14 Aug 2009 17:32 GMT

Does anyone have any suggestions as to a possible source of a replacement
motor (or armature) for an N-gauge Minitrix type 27 loco? Doesn't seem to be
anything on ebay.

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Nigel Cliffe - 14 Aug 2009 18:01 GMT

> Does anyone have any suggestions as to a possible source of a
> replacement motor (or armature) for an N-gauge Minitrix type 27 loco?
> Doesn't seem to be anything on ebay.

Try the N gauge Yahoo group, you might find something in someone's drawer
there.

Alternatively, I bet something in the Mashima range will fit.
Branchlines were the best source last time I bought a Mashima.

- Nigel

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Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

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Dragon Heart - 16 Aug 2009 22:46 GMT

A US company may have something ...... NorthWest Short Line http://www.nwsl.com/

They say they have stockist worldwide !

I understand removing the worm from the original motor can be a
problem :-(

Chris

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Nigel Cliffe - 17 Aug 2009 22:26 GMT

> A US company may have something ...... NorthWest Short Line
> http://www.nwsl.com/
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> I understand removing the worm from the original motor can be a
> problem :-(

Not an issue on the 27; the motor has drive dogs, which engage with more
dogs, that then drive the worms. So the motor lifts out without the worms.

Can't be that hard to remove with an appropriate few bits of tooling; some
decent pliers held across a vice behind the worm/dog and a fine punch to
knock the shaft out.

- Nigel

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Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

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BAC - 17 Aug 2009 23:05 GMT

>> A US company may have something ...... NorthWest Short Line
>> http://www.nwsl.com/
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> decent pliers held across a vice behind the worm/dog and a fine punch to
> knock the shaft out.

I don't think removing the 'dogs' would be too much of a problem, although
the Mashima shafts may be a different diameter. The MHK 1020 looks like a
close match, sizewise, to the original motor, although the bracket and motor
mounting holes do not match up, the shafts/dogs will need work, and I've yet
to determine what alterations to the wiring will be needed.

Having trawled the Web a bit, I haven't come across any reported instance of
anyone fitting a Mashima into a Minitrix 27, which seems a little
surprising, if it's a viable move. I shall certainly have a go, if I can't
rustle up a 'spare' Minitrix motor in the meantime - obviously a far easier
'drop in' solution.

Many thanks for the suggestions, folks, by the way.

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Nigel Cliffe - 18 Aug 2009 09:05 GMT

>>> A US company may have something ...... NorthWest Short Line
>>> http://www.nwsl.com/
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> I don't think removing the 'dogs' would be too much of a problem,
> although the Mashima shafts may be a different diameter.

Make new drive dogs from bit of brass.
Either use several lengths of sliding K&S tube to bring diameter up to size,
or drill centrally down a piece of bar. The outside diameter isn't
critical.
Then file the dog flats on the piece of brass before trimming to length and
fitting to the motor shafts.

> The MHK 1020
> looks like a close match, sizewise, to the original motor, although
> the bracket and motor mounting holes do not match up,

Make new ones, a simple bit of bent metal sheet.

> the shafts/dogs
> will need work, and I've yet to determine what alterations to the
> wiring will be needed.

The brush gear on the Minitrix presses on the lower PCB below the motor.
Suggest fitting wires onto Mashima brush gear, and attaching to upper PCB.
If going DCC, at least chop the components off the PCB. I might keep the PCB
if staying with bulb illumination, but replace it if going for LEDs.

( I have a couple of 27's due to arrive for DCC conversion, so have been
thinking about it).

> Having trawled the Web a bit, I haven't come across any reported
> instance of anyone fitting a Mashima into a Minitrix 27, which seems
> a little surprising, if it's a viable move. I shall certainly have a
> go, if I can't rustle up a 'spare' Minitrix motor in the meantime -
> obviously a far easier 'drop in' solution.

I don't know of anyone doing it to a 27, but Mashima's are a fairly common
drop-in to replace older Farish diesel motors.

regards

- Nigel

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Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

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BAC - 18 Aug 2009 10:15 GMT

>>>> A US company may have something ...... NorthWest Short Line
>>>> http://www.nwsl.com/
[quoted text clipped - 48 lines]
> I don't know of anyone doing it to a 27, but Mashima's are a fairly common
> drop-in to replace older Farish diesel motors.

Thanks for that - really helpful suggestions. Did I read somewhere that
Mashima is retiring soon? Better buy my motor sooner rather than later,
maybe.

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BAC - 19 Sep 2009 10:49 GMT

Yes, I've completed the transplant now, and it's running 'good as new'. I
was able to re-use the original 'dogs', after boring out the hole for the
driveshaft, and to adapt the original mountings. As suggested, I wired the
power feed to the upper pcb.

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Nigel Cliffe - 19 Sep 2009 17:05 GMT

>>> Having trawled the Web a bit, I haven't come across any reported
>>> instance of anyone fitting a Mashima into a Minitrix 27, which seems
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>> I don't know of anyone doing it to a 27, but Mashima's are a fairly
>> common drop-in to replace older Farish diesel motors.

> Yes, I've completed the transplant now, and it's running 'good as
> new'. I was able to re-use the original 'dogs', after boring out the
> hole for the driveshaft, and to adapt the original mountings. As
> suggested, I wired the power feed to the upper pcb.

Thanks for posting the update, its nice to know if suggestions worked out.

(BTW. the DCC conversions have been through my bench, and worked fine. Left
with red/white lamps front and rear using three surface mount LEDs on a
vertically mounted board at each end. White and Red at bottom, and white
only at top. With suitable resistors, it gives red rears and white lamps
and train number box. Owner was happy with this compromise lighting. Chip
has independent switching of reds and whites (four of the six outputs on a
Zimo MX620) so the reds can be turned off if not required (such as pulling a
train), and are set to be directional. )

- Nigel

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Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

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MartinS - 18 Aug 2009 03:33 GMT

>> A US company may have something ...... NorthWest Short Line
>> http://www.nwsl.com/
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> some decent pliers held across a vice behind the worm/dog and a fine
> punch to knock the shaft out.

Piece of cake.

Signature

Martin S.

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Model Forum / General / Railroads / September 2009

Any Minitrix motors out there?