@OddIsHeRU posted:I’d guess the choice of Mabuchi motors for the Williams brass Daylight (89) and J (90) was Samhongsa’s when these these engines came out thirty years ago (!). Apparently the same shortcomings inspiring the current thread were noticed by Jerome Williams’ “kids” in Columbia, MD (AKA Andy Edelman, Mike Wolf, et. al.) Andy soon offered an update kit on his own, consisting of a Pittman motor and a new fly-wheel (as I guess the Mabuchi and Pittman shafts were different). Then It developed that Samhongsa used different gender fly-wheel drive shaft couplings between the two locomotives, and Andy hadn’t caught that. He had provided the same gender for both. There was a “What the???” phone call, and Andy eventually shipped a revised fly-wheel (for the J). So I have enjoyed better running with these two Pittman powered locos for three decades now.
Richard I started a rant about the 21:1 VS the 42:1 gearbox before you posted your remarks and just finished. What gearbox does your J have ? The original Mabuchi motors were 3 pole motors and had a static resistance under one ohm they were an AMP-PIG of a motor. Mabuchi does make much better motors, suitable for locomotives, than those original motors. I have put 545s in all my Williams locos with the 21:1 box and they run great. I have not tried but I would not be surprised if a Mabuchi 735 would fit in that large firebox on the J. The fact the MTH used Pittmans in their premier steam locos is why I have so many of their steamers. I just can't buy new Pittmans at todays prices for anything but a prize loco. j
