IHC motor replacement

[dpeterson3]

I found an older IHC (I believe) Pacific over the weekend for $30. The locomotive runs OK, but it isn't great. The motor is an older style (one of my first engines has this style motor). It is a 3 pole amature with a large plastic piece holding the brushes. The motor is coupled to the worm gear by a black plastic joint. I want to convert this engine to DCC eventually, so I am thinking replacing the motor now might not be a bad idea. I am not sure where to begin. How do I go about this. What is the best motor to get?

 

[UP2CSX]

First thing to do is make sure it's really IHC, AHM or Rivarossi, since that engine was distributed by all three companies and all ahd some differences. Does it say "Made in Yugoslavia" on the bottom? If so, it was made by Mehano for one of those three companies. The Mashima 1630 Motor at http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/116-40324 will usually fit the Mehano steam engines although you'll have to make some silicone mounts. It will usually mate up to the drive train using the black plastic joint or you may have to get a piece of rubber the right diameter to couple the motor to the drivetrain. It's definitely a trial and error procedure since no company I know of makes direct replacement motors for the old Mehano engines. You can also e-mail Mehano at sales@mehano.si and see if they have any modern motors to replace the old 3 pole types.