Re: Life-Like vs Trainline train sets
- From: autobus_prime@xxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 06:47:39 -0800 (PST)
On Nov 11, 9:30 pm, whitroth <whitr...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
<snip>
Well, here's a related question: if I took a motor out of a Life-Like steam
engine that I might be able to pick up used at a train fair, might it a)
fit into my Penn Line Atlantic, and b) give at least a reasonable pulling
power?
mark, not wanting to spend *another* $40+ to remotor
w:
I think I know which Life-Like motors you're talking about...they're
an open-frame motor with a plastic brush holder, not much like a
DC60 at all. MDC used the same motor in some kits over the years.
It's not a very good one.
Your Penn Line Atlantic has a DC60. You can make it work
really well for $2, with no machining at all.
Measure the motor magnet. Now buy some NdFeB rare
earth magnets that will stack into the same sized cube, magnetized
in the appropriate direction. Remove the DC60's magnet, and replace
it with the stack of new magnets. You will be amazed at the
results, and it will cost you about $2 for the magnets.
Here's an example of a similar upgrade to a Mantua PM-1.
Despite the smaller size needed to clear the field screw, the
magnet has much greater strength...in fact, it can completely
overpower the Alnico, and "stick" to either pole.
http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b191/autobus_prime/rr/PM1-NdFeB.jpg
A similar Mantua 0-6-0, which could barely drag itself around, and
drew
an amp running free, went to .32A running free, .52A full slip, with
plenty of power and the ability to go from a barely perceptible creep
to
60 SMPH on a plain-Jane transistor throttle, no pulse power.
Here's the Trains.com thread where I talked about it:
http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/p/131024/1472782.aspx#1472782
Here are the magnets I used:
http://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=B842
The Penn Line drive was a good one, and your DC60's lack
of power makes me suspect a weakened magnet. This new
magnet will improve it well beyond the original specs. My
experimenting seems to suggest that the 1/2 x 1/4 cross section
provides pretty close to the optimum field strength for our typical
open-frame motors.
This is such an easy and cheap fix that I'm surprised it hasn't
taken our hobby by storm.
Cordially yours:
Gerard Pawlowski
President, a plywood world with dime store trees.
.
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