[quote author=ge_rik link=topic=297966.msg303749#msg303749 date=1390377947]
Does anyone know the wheel sizes and spacings for this Piko motor block, please? I feel another scratchbuild coming on.
http://www.topslotsntrains.com/topslotsntrains/final.asp?ref=PIKO-36103-US-STEAM-LOCOMOTIVE-COMPLETE-DRIVE-UNIT&id=6060&manufacturer=%27PIKO%20G%20Scale%27
Rik
[/quote]
Wheels are 35mm dia, all flanged. Spacings are 56 and 58 mm (I assumed they were the same but not so). There is a lot of side play on the middle axle - about 6mm. No side rods supplied.
I have used two of them in these locos:
These are some of my comments....
I wasn’t too impressed with it once I got it home. As usual I start off by doing some bench electrical tests. Takes 400 mA with its wheels in the air - ie the motor and friction losses. That`s over twice Aristo blocks’ current.
Then I tried holding the wheels to get the stalled current, but I could hear the gears slipping. I noticed that 2 screws were missing from the top plate, so I assumed the looseness is a problem.
On the track, it couldn’t pull the skin off a rice pudding.
At least it`s easy to pull apart. I took the top plate off and added a bit of cardboard to provide more force onto the motor and put in 4 screws. Also no grease on any gears, so added some Vaseline.
While it was apart, I took the wheel pickups and skates off as I will use battery power.
Once I removed the skates it was better. With 300g weight on it could take 3 bogie wagons up 1:25 easy, taking 900mA. I only tested it at that load as it will be a small loco.
Speed worked out at around 4 to 5 kph per volt, so 50 kph will need a 10V (8 NiMH cell) battery.
I`m quite happy with both locos operation and pulling power now.
here`s links to the 2 write-ups I did:
http://www.gscalecentral.net/kit-building-bashing-scratch-build/a-small-0-6-0-tank-on-a-piko-motor/
http://www.gscalecentral.net/kit-building-bashing-scratch-build/scratchbuilt-2-6-4-tank-loco/