Motor recommendations instead of Mashimas

[Blandford1969]

Evening all, 

 

I have a pair of LSWR B4s ,but I'm not sure what motor / gearbox combination is recommended now that Mashima's are no longer avaiable.

 

Can anyone recommend any please?

Thanks in advance

[Pierview]

Mashima motors are still available from Branchlines and I bought one a couple of months ago. It depends on the size you need but it would be worth talking to Brian. I believe that he made a bulk purchase as manufacture was coming to an end.

 

As for alternatives i would suggest taking a look at the High Level website. I have used HL gearboxes for many years and recently I have had good results with the HL budget iron core motors. I have only used the 1015 and 1020 to date which are extremely good value at only £9.50 each. One of those should do the job for your B4 but Chris has other motors including the more expensive coreless ones. I am just about to experiment with one of those. 

 

Barry

 

[melmerby]

The HL coreless motors are pretty good, good torque and better than the cheapo Chinese ones seen around (even if the HL ones are Chinese.....😉)

[Jeff Smith]

I have just received a couple of HL 1020s which I have not yet run or installed.  I was a little surprised that the shafts aren't long enough for fly wheels.

[garethashenden]

1 hour ago, Jeff Smith said:

I have just received a couple of HL 1020s which I have not yet run or installed.  I was a little surprised that the shafts aren't long enough for fly wheels.

The advantage of all the reduction one gets with a High Level gearbox is that the motor can turn at a speed that is sustainable while the locomotive just creeps along. No flywheel needed. 

[Jeff Smith]

I have generally fitted fly wheels when there is room but must admit that that I cannot prove or demonstrate the advantages.  Being an old fashioned DC modeller I have also not experienced DCC stay-alive chip performance....

[Oldddudders]

8 hours ago, Jeff Smith said:

I have generally fitted fly wheels when there is room but must admit that that I cannot prove or demonstrate the advantages.  Being an old fashioned DC modeller I have also not experienced DCC stay-alive chip performance....

DCC stay-alive is purely to overcome interruptions in the track power, not for smooth stopping. Any DCC chip has a Configuration Value, set by the owner, and re-settable at a moment's notice, that governs how quickly or slowly a loco comes to a stand when the throttle is closed. Imagine a flywheel with almost infinitely adjustable powers. 

[Jeff Smith]

I was really only thinking of the momentum to overcome occasional power interruption.