@gunrunnerjohn posted:Some of the conventional and LionChief models use the very small and anemic flat-sided set motor, those are very prone to burn up with even reasonable loads. Any of the LC or LC+ models that use the Mabuchi 3xx series motors are far less likely to suffer the same fate.
FWIW, the new LC+ 2.0 0-6-0T Docksider also has the dreaded flat-sided small set motor, so I have some reservations about pulling more than a few cars with that one as well.
Agreed. The big motor I saw in these entry level Menards engine are a nice welcome over any of what I see in the LC engines that come in for repair.
For a short while there was a cheap electric water gun that I would buy at Wal-Mart just to salvage the motor to repair these engines.
Some of the newer LC stuff has a better motors but a great deal of the entry level items still use cheap "can" motors.
One of our kids layout is powered by a 14 volt DC power pack and for informational reasons we decided to run a brand new LC Christmas Express 0-8-0 engine with a five car consist and with an hour meter hooked up to see how long it will last. The last time I checked it was around 60 hours and still going. I'll let you know when the motor goes.
