Hi hi all. Today I decided to try my hand at installing a can motor in my Key brass NYC H10, the beginning of a batch of updates I hope to make, to get smooth and quiet running. The installation involved the worm, bearings, and shaft connector from a Kato mikado and a new mashima can motor. The next part of the project is to add all-wheel pickup to the tender, and then a working headlamp and DCC!
The motor installation was a resounding success! It runs nicely now, and very quietly, and has a much more realistic top speed and will creep along much more slowly now. For the all-wheel tender pickup I am unashamedly cheating and using a pair of trucks from a Bachmann tender I have laying around for parts. The trucks are still three axle, and quite close to the ones on the tender now, and I tested with an allwheel pickup tender today, and it runs SO much better. The locomotive has only 3 wheels which pick power up from the right rail (one has a traction tire) and was very stuttery. Now it glides along. I need to order some 30 gauge wire and a quick connector so I can still disconnect the tender if required.
Good for you! It is intimidating to dive into a brass locomotive, but you studied what could be done and you succeeded nicely. Did you say you used a Kato worm? And what about the linkage from the motor? - is that some kind of universal? It is hard to see in the photo.
Looks like nice work! I have one of these also, the only N Scale brass loco I've ever owned. Purchased way back in 1986. Currently not working at all, but about 999th in the queue...
I did in fact use a Kato worm, as well as the universal joint - thing from the Kato mike. This is not a true universal, though, and I would definitely use a proper universal from NWSL next time (and i intend to, in fact, when I remotor my H6). This H10 was a learning experience for me; a friend sold it to me at an incredibly fair price, so I wasn't QUITE so reluctant to "try stuff" with it! I'm always looking to expand my NYC roster =D
This loco is one of a pair of brass engines I wish to so upgrade; as the other is a much more pricey (and simply gorgeous) Key H6, I will try all of these changes and upgrades on the H10 first. Once I've got it down, then I can perhaps bring myself to get into the innards of that H6!