The completed motor and gearbox ready for fitting
Shortly after my last post on this topic I received a new motor and gearbox kit from IP Engineering. I opted for the full motor/gearbox assembly as I noticed that the existing motor was failing and often stalled. The new gearbox is to a different design, the components are laser etched from thick plastic sheet and are assembled using screws and nuts with brass spacers. It's a pity it is not made from black plastic instead of white which would avoid the need to paint any parts that are visible after fitting. I painted the offending parts black along with the motor after installation.
I had to reduce the length of the driving axle by 18mm so that it would fit between the frames of the railcar. It was only after cutting 9mm off of each end of the axle that I noticed the gear wheel was not central to the axle. As it had been forced on to a splined part of the axle to prevent slipping, trying to centre it did not seem to be an option. However a spare gear is provided with the gearbox and I happened to have a 1/8 inch diameter axle of the right length in stock. I was therefore able to make up a new axle and gear.
I had to cut away a substantial part of the upper section of the gearbox frame to allow me to fit the gearbox and motor under the floor of the railcar. I did not need that part of the assembly, it's there for locating a fixing pin when the unit is fitted between the frames of a loco. My motor unit is held in place by a strip of brass shaped to form a U bracket.
I have re-assembled the railcar and it runs better than it ever did with the old motor and gearbox, running smoothly in both directions. Something it only did in one direction before.
I had to reduce the length of the driving axle by 18mm so that it would fit between the frames of the railcar. It was only after cutting 9mm off of each end of the axle that I noticed the gear wheel was not central to the axle. As it had been forced on to a splined part of the axle to prevent slipping, trying to centre it did not seem to be an option. However a spare gear is provided with the gearbox and I happened to have a 1/8 inch diameter axle of the right length in stock. I was therefore able to make up a new axle and gear.
I had to cut away a substantial part of the upper section of the gearbox frame to allow me to fit the gearbox and motor under the floor of the railcar. I did not need that part of the assembly, it's there for locating a fixing pin when the unit is fitted between the frames of a loco. My motor unit is held in place by a strip of brass shaped to form a U bracket.
I have re-assembled the railcar and it runs better than it ever did with the old motor and gearbox, running smoothly in both directions. Something it only did in one direction before.
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