ChevelleSSguy
Member
Anyone have expierence with Micro-Marks HO can motors? I have a handfull of locomotives that would be nice to repower and MM has them on sale for 20 bucks each. Much more affordable then the Proto Power West motors.
I have not. There are many variables when considering a "can" motor (torque, rpm, current draw, bearings, etc.) The most important question is it really a can motor or is it an open frame motor that has been shrouded by a can? When I found some "cheap" motors, I bought 1 and tried it out, before I placed an order for 20 more..Anyone have expierence with Micro-Marks HO can motors? I have a handfull of locomotives that would be nice to repower and MM has them on sale for 20 bucks each. Much more affordable then the Proto Power West motors.
Northwest Shortline used to have a very good line of real can motors in various sizes shapes and shaft configurations. I do not know if they still do or not.Canon no longer makes them. I haven't really looked for the equivalent in performance, but I doubt I'll find it...exactly.
Please keep us posted on what you find out.I just broke down and ordered two, complete with flex shaft linkage from Micro Mark on sale for $20 each. Considering all the money i have spent on high end stuff that never lived up to expectation or value, I felt that $ 40 bucks to try and get a couple of old BB locos back in service was worth the risk. If the Post office ever gets around to delivering them, I will get to see whether or not I was "taken" again.
+1 on thatPlease keep us posted on what you find out.
Im also looking forward to seeing what you come up with. Ive been spending a lot of time today actually searching the web for any info related to the MM line of motors and there is not much out there. Plenty on the other common upgrades like Mashima/A line/proto power west kits, Helix Humper, NWSL, etc. But I have only found a few responses in various forums here and there over the many pages and posts of info regarding can motor swaps that its kind of dissappointing. From what I did find though, somewhere I read one guy used a few of the MM can motors and had good luck. I forgot where I seen it though as I was skimming through page after page of info regarding can motor upgrades. His review was favorable but there still isnt enough info regarding the MM can motors.
Ive since noticed that when you have DCC, the importance of using a quality can motor is more important for performance and you dont fry a decoder. I did also search for upgrading using a Kato motor like the HM-5 and did a search for Cannon can motors to see if any helpfull info comes up. So I have expanded a bit from searching for MM can motors specifically.
I wish there was more info on these MM motors though. The sale ends this Friday and then it goes back to 30 dollars. Which at that price point, might as well go with known reliable NWSL or Helix Humper motors if your going to spend 30 bucks (The PPW Mashima kits are 60).
MicroMark sells a lot of good stuff and some not so good stuff.
They can ship fast if they need to but they tend to be a bit slow to fill "regular" orders.
I am looking forward to your analysis of the motors. My fear is that they will turn out to be just ordinary, run of the mill, permanent magnet motors in a "can".
Hoping for the best.
I'm looking to try one in a "Yellow Box" SW1500 - which is really an SW7 - with metal truck sides. The other possibility is a Blue Box FM H24-66. The original Athearn motors draw too much current, and I intend to use these on a DCC layout.
In any event, I will document and post the results, good or bad.
Joe