I'm in the process of replacing a dead smoke unit motor from a Premier H-3, 2-8-0, #20-3142-1, which has a different style smoke unit then normal. I'm using a new motor that I purchased from the MTH parts stand at York. The problem I'm having, is the two screws that hold the impeller housing to the motor are too long and hitting the armature inside the new motor, not allowing it to turn. The new motor is the same size but looks to be from a different manufacturer and must have a slightly larger armature inside. Does anyone know the thread size of these screws so that I can search the web for shorter ones? I believe trying to shorten these will be a failure and be too difficult to dress the threads after their damaged from the cut and loosing them while trying to shorten them is extremely possible. My only other option I could think of, would be to cut off the top of the old motor, drill the threaded holes out, then use it as a spacer between the new motor and plastic housing. I thought of trying to find tiny washers for spacers but the plastic of the housing is not ridged enough to keep everything straight so that the impeller won't rub inside. I really hope I can find shorter screws because I don't think the impeller will have enough holding power on less shaft. This impeller is not as robust as the common impeller used in the standard smoke unit.
Also, would anyone know which wire, green or gray, is the positive connected to the motor? Thank you all.
