Need a new motor for a Kato F7B and of course Kato is sold out of them. Does anyone know if Kato uses the same motor in all of its models. I notice that some models' motors are in stock but their part numbers are different
You don’t say which run of the F units you are looking for, but the motor for the latest versions (at least last 15 years — the DCC friendly models) is in stock . P/N 926090
If you are like many who run Kato F units in ABBA or longer consists, you may wish to consider just making that B unit a dummy. I've got an ATSF one like that. I have films of ATSF F7's in an AABBBA consist pulling the combined Super Chief / El Capitan in the mountains, and there is absolutely no way I would ever need more than two or three of those to be powered. Just a thought.....
The motor I need is, I believe, part #926020. Kato lists these as for F3 & F7 (original). The newer model uses the #926060 motor which Kato calls 'revised'. Looking at motors for other models it seems they all have different part numbers. So why incur additional costs to design and make a new motor for each model? Why not use the same motor in all models. OR. . . . . . . . Is it the same motor with different part numbers?
Kato will not run parts to support prior design product.... only slight overage of parts needed for models being assembled. The second run of USRA Mikados was done primarily to get the Detail Parts and Tender Trucks to support the first run. Charlie Vlk
I think the motors themselves are pretty much the same. The differences in part numbers may be due to the pressed on pieces to the drive shafts like the motor mount rings, fly wheels and "U" joint pieces. Here is a kind of fuzzy photo of the original motor.
That also looks like an atlas Kato motor. I will look later today and post a pic of what I have if I have one. And the difference is probably the flywheels as they have different hubs for different dog bones drive shafts from f units to pa units and such.
Ok checked what I have have Kato motor without flywheels but you have to spin it to get it going so imho junk. And another one, doesn’t say Kato but doesn’t have markings so I’m believing it is an atlas as it has the same cradle as Kato and it interchanges with the kato. This one runs excellent and has flywheels but don’t know if they are different than yours , as shaft diameter and what be it. I’ll include a comparison photos you tell me if it’ll work. IMHO it will interchange. If you decide you want it I’ll send the other Kato motor along with it. I also compared a pa e-8 p-42 motor and looks to be the same also but I have a decoder soldered to that one.
I think the issue would be the motor mounting system. The old F units had kind of a knobby washer thing that supported the motor frame at each end. These had special tabs that centered the motor between the split frame chassis pieces.
Oh ok. Do they clip on or do the flywheels gave to come off? If the flywheels have to be removed it’s tricky but can be fine but have to put them back where they belong. You probably could rebuild that one with motor parts. Is it the brushes or armature that’s worn or bad?
Unit has very little run time (like less than 10 hours) One of the wires in the windings is broken. This is part of an analog ABBA set that I would like to keep as such. I am not planning on converting it to DCC and will eventually sell it in the future along with my other engines that I am not converting to DCC