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I have this motor out of a Lionel 7-11000 G-Scale Christmas Locomotive.  The one I have draws tons of current and only runs very slowly.  Of course, this results in frying the drivers!  I can replace the drivers, but if I can't find the motor, it's somewhat pointless.  Obviously, Lionel lists no parts for this locomotive.  This is the same one I needed the coupler for, I got that, only to find out the motor was bad@#%^&!

 

I know this is a long shot, but who knows...  It appears this motor is made by Gold Effort Electric Motors, for whatever that's worth.

 

 

Lionel G-Scale Motor

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  • Lionel G-Scale Motor
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I needed two motors for a project. A company sold motors I needed but the were $50!!

So I started looking on ebay. It took a few days on and off of refining my search but I found the exact motors....and they were $8 a pair from China!!! Many sellers on ebay post a spec sheet of some type that gives you all you need to find a replacement. (motor size, shaft size etc)

Originally Posted by RJR:

Have you contacted Frank Timko?  You could email a photo to the mfr in HongKong. 

 

I assume you've exhausted google.  I've had some luck lately following google to an images page, and then clicking on what looks like I want.

I have done some searches for motors, and normally the manuf sites, or those distributors are looking for orders in the 1000s.  They don't sell individually.

 

So, ebay or the thrift store like shops that buy out obsolete or excess stock are the way to find odd ball motors.  I usually search via the model number, or via a size.  It is hit or miss.

 

I guess the easiest method would have been to e-mail Lionel with the product #, if they had the part they would let you know, even if it wasn't something listed on their website.  G

My Lionel parts guide(76-90?) shows a similar motor in the 0-4-0, 4-4-2 etc. Here are the part numbers:

 

All large scale engines

18-5104-576 0-4-0

18-5102-576 4-4-2

18-5102-576 4-4-2 w/Railsounds

818-5120-576 Thomas the Tank

 

Because of the 576 being the same in all engines, I figure it is the same motor. Hope this helps, maybe you can find a donor engine.

 

The problem with working on stuff is all the time it takes to find things you need!  

Last edited by pennsydave
Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:

Stan, I thought of pulling it apart, but I suspect the chances of success are pretty low.

 

True. But even if you can't fix it, you might be able to measure the resistance of one of the armature windings which would help you choose a substitute.  I don't know if it's worth $20 to gamble on the Lionel motor but you might find someone who will measure the terminal resistance for you.  Len's post suggests it's an RS385SH which of course has a boatload of variants.

 

Out of curiousity how does the static terminal resistance vary around 1 revolution?

Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:

Len, do you know that's the same size? 

 

Obviously, the set isn't worth enough to get something like a Timko motor for it. 

 

They don't give dimensions for it, but when I was still doing repairs I found most of the Lionel G-gauge motors of that type had similar diameters and lengths. What mainly varied was the length of the shafts on the motors..

 

Similar to almost all of the O-gauge starter set motors. Same basic motor with different shaft lengths and gear types, e.g., spur or worm.

 

 

Last edited by Len2
Originally Posted by pennsydave:

My Lionel parts guide(76-90?) shows a similar motor in the 0-4-0, 4-4-2 etc. Here are the part numbers:

 

All large scale engines

18-5104-576 0-4-0

18-5102-576 4-4-2

18-5102-576 4-4-2 w/Railsounds

818-5120-576 Thomas the Tank

 

Because of the 576 being the same in all engines, I figure it is the same motor. Hope this helps, maybe you can find a donor engine.

 

The problem with working on stuff is all the time it takes to find things you need!  

Since I don't have the parts guide, do you have the part number of the motor?

Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:
Originally Posted by TrainLarry:

Here is a picture of the 18-5104-576 dual shaft motor used on the older Large Scale locomotives, as documented by pennsydave, courtesy Brasseur trains.

 

Larry

The worms appear smaller on that one, I'd sure like to know it works before I order one.

 

John,

 

I believe the motors were Mabuchi  RS-385 SH. The different part numbers are for motor with gears, without gears and single shaft with gears and dual shaft with and without. I have  818-5104-521 that are large scale. I use them to replace motors in O scale, I just cut down the shaft. The 818's that I have, have a 1 1/2'' can, 1" dia. and 3 1/4 shaft end to end.

Last edited by Boxcar Bill

Bill,

 

This motor is 1 1/4" long, 1" in diameter, and 2 3/4" total length to the ends of the shafts.

 

The shafts are .090" in diameter, and the gear is .350 in diameter.  The gear pitch appears to be about .090".

 

Since the place the motor fits is pretty fixed, there's no way the wrong length or diameter are going to fit.  If I had the right size double-shaft motor, I could try to remove the gears from this one.

John I know you did, I was trying to be diplomatic at point out the motor you need is not a 385.  Lionel G gauge use bigger motors, I think the Christmas express while G gauge is the cheap toy train.  That motor is more like the starter set motors just a little bigger.

 

I think some of those blow out stores have the G Scale PE for about $30 now.  I wouldn't be surprised if it is the same motor you need.   

 

I also noticed Lionel sold most of that G stock to the web based company.  You may try them.  Lima I think.   G

Last edited by GGG

I knew the motor wasn't the 385, it's the wrong size.  Besides, it's a GEE motor, a company I had never heard of before I ran across this one.   However, if the 385 would fit, I'd consider giving it a go.

 

Yes, it's a cheap plastic train, they just want it to run.

 

The parts went to North Lima Train Works but I haven't gotten a reply from them to my query about the motor.

 

Last edited by OGR CEO-PUBLISHER
Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:

I knew the motor wasn't the 385, it's the wrong size.  Besides, it's a GEE motor, a company I had never heard of before I ran across this one.   However, if the 385 would fit, I'd consider giving it a go.

 

Yes, it's a cheap plastic train, they just want it to run.

 

The parts went to North Lima Train Works, but I haven't gotten a reply from them to my query about the motor.

 

Lots of companies use the same model # as a standard for can size now.  If you have a Premier MTH diesel you have a 385 motor  So you can measure it and compare to the stock motor for dia and length.  The 365 is also a possibility since it is shorter in height.  Shafts can be cut to fit need.  The 5 motors are 5 pole, if you got a 380 it would be a 3 pole so there are alternatives in those sizes also. G

 

I am sure you have a bad 385 in the junk bin to test fit.  G

Last edited by OGR CEO-PUBLISHER

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