Can motors for athearn blue box diesels?

[n&w coal]

Cruised the web and lot's of posts but seems like they are all from 10-20 years ago.

 

[bnsf971]

Well, Blue Box diesels are from 20+ years ago...

 

[n&w coal]

So? Am I the only person still using them?

 

[Marlin39]

 

[n&w coal]

Not for me. Everything I own is an antique except for this computer and it's wore out.

 

[AuburnCentral]

Up until about 4 years ago my blue box Atherns from the 70’s were my new stuff

 

[Colorado Midland Modeler]

I have a fairly good amount of Blue Box diesels, but most still have their original motors in them. I can usually get them tuned to run pretty smooth, just takes patience. This SD40t-2 and Alco PA1 just got an LED headlight upgrade, though. I also adjusted and painted the handrails and stanchions on the SD40t-2 since this photo was taken.

 

[JazzDad]

One of my best locos was a blue box with a can motor, flywheels and Ernst gearboxes. It ran smoothly and SLOW.

 

[KB02]

Kato motors with flywheels are still a good option. I re-motored a BB with one of those. I also tried re-motoring a loco without the flywheels... My advice: Get the motors with the flywheels installed.

I also re-motored a BB unit with an Athearn RTR/Genesis retro fit motor kit. They fit in the BB frame a little better if you mill the frame just a touch, but can be done without.

 

[TheXModelRailroader]

I have a fairly good amount of Blue Box diesels, but most still have their original motors in them. I can usually get them tuned to run pretty smooth, just takes patience. This SD40t-2 and Alco PA1 just got an LED headlight upgrade, though. I also adjusted and painted the handrails and stanchions on the SD40t-2 since this photo was taken.View attachment 214425View attachment 214426

Nice paint jobs!

 

[Colorado Midland Modeler]

Nice paint jobs!

Thanks! I also have a Blue Box FP45 that's in the process of getting the paint scheme that this SD24 has.

 

[TheXModelRailroader]

Thanks! I also have a Blue Box FP45 that's in the process of getting the paint scheme that this SD24 has.View attachment 215036

Nice. I have done a few, but they are not very good...

 

[Canalligator]

Well to actually answer your question, a lot of us are still using BB locos. They are inherently repairable, though parts for the older ones (thinking of the open frame motor era) are scarce. Athearn doesn’t carry parts for them, and the current staff doesn’t have extensive knowledge. (I was told by them.) I had to remotor one of these because the motor was failing.

If you’re planning to convert to DCC, be sure to get a decoder that can handle the current drawn by the older, less efficient motors. Some people remotor these as a matter of course, this gets you lower current drawn, better power output and a physically smaller motor for easier conversion.

For general repairs, YouTube and eBay are useful.

 

[Kusojiji]

I also remotored my Athearn BB's with the Kato motor. DD35, U33C and an Genesis SD70. One of the advantages is that not only are they much quieter, they also draw less amps and my motors came with the plastic motor mounts and fly wheels. All I had to do was buy the circuit board from Kato and it became DCC friendly. I 3D printed the motor mount and glued it all in. The DD35 had the biggest effect as those two motors were power hogs.

 

[Kusojiji]

Motor mounts for DD35 and Genesis SD70M. No modification needed to the Kato motor plastic mounts. No cutting or welding required.

One thing that I found out during these projects is how similar the Kato, Lifelike, Athearn mechanisms are. The flywheels all use the same size hex hole for the drive shafts. The biggest differences encountered were the drive shaft design. Some used a sliding collar with a keyed shaft and others just went with the simple shaft with hex on one end and dogbone on the other. It was easier to design and print the keyed shaft one... Went to A-line for the dogbone shafts.

 

[BSprings]

Im having an old Blue box SD40-2 converted to DCC. Bought it back in 1973 or 74. Paid for it bagging groceries at Winn Dixie.

 

[Kusojiji]

Winn Dixie, wow haven't heard that in a long time. I think the last time I went to one was '86 in Key West. Or was that food lion? Ah, can't remember.

Are you remotoring as well? Those old BB motors sure pull a lot of amps.

 

[bnsf971]

Winn Dixie, wow haven't heard that in a long time. I think the last time I went to one was '86 in Key West. Or was that food lion? Ah, can't remember.

Are you remotoring as well? Those old BB motors sure pull a lot of amps.

The old iron ring BB motors can draw nearly 2 amps. The gold "can" motors introduced in the mid 80's draw considerably less.
Winn Dixie was acquired by Aldi. Many of them are being closed, others rebranded as Aldi stores, some left as Winn Dixie stores, depending on area.
Food Lion and its subsidiaries are holding on, after retrenching over a decade ago.

 

[Kusojiji]

Need a stout decoder. Should have space for one inside the shell. Just remember to cut off that metal piece that is used for power and the light.

 

[BSprings]

Winn Dixie, wow haven't heard that in a long time. I think the last time I went to one was '86 in Key West. Or was that food lion? Ah, can't remember.

Are you remotoring as well? Those old BB motors sure pull a lot of amps.

I think so. Im having it done as I do not have the resources. Paul's Custom Trains has the task and seems very knowledgeable.