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 MTH SD70Ace and SD70M-2.
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upcsx
New Hire

USA
35 Posts

Posted - 05/28/2012 :  4:10:12 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I need replacement motors for the MTH SD's,can any other motor work,Thinks.

Russell

BNSF Fan
New Hire

47 Posts

Posted - 05/28/2012 :  4:42:46 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Russwll,

I can't provide you with information; however, I would be interested in knowing why you want/need to swap motors.

Respectfully,
BNSF Fan
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upcsx
New Hire

USA
35 Posts

Posted - 05/28/2012 :  7:57:16 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Have a couple of them with bad motors and MTH will not repair them without a reciept,hope i spelled that last word right.And i do have two more that started to run bad with about two years on them.

Russell
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BNSF Fan
New Hire

47 Posts

Posted - 05/28/2012 :  9:24:26 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Thank you and good luck.

Respectfully,
BNSF Fan
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wc581
New Hire

USA
15 Posts

Posted - 05/29/2012 :  08:59:15 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
MTH may not repair them ,however they should be able to sell you motors.

Mike Slater

Model Railroading is Fun
Mike Slater

Member of TCA, LCCA, NMRA
SE Wisconsin Free-mo
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simon1966
Fireman

USA
2861 Posts

Posted - 05/29/2012 :  09:45:18 AM  Show Profile  Visit simon1966's Homepage  Reply with Quote
OK, I understand that MTH would not repair for free under warranty without receipt, but not repair them at all, even for a fee? If that is the case then that is really poor because the implication is that service is only provided to the original owner that has the wherewithal to keep their receipt indefinitely!
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BNSF Fan
New Hire

47 Posts

Posted - 05/29/2012 :  12:03:31 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
If I had two units with bad motors and two more units with motors going bad...there is no way I would want to buy motors from MTH.

Respectfully,
BNSF Fan
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nhguy
Fireman

USA
3665 Posts

Posted - 05/29/2012 :  2:46:59 PM  Show Profile  Visit nhguy's Homepage  Send nhguy a Yahoo! Message  Reply with Quote
Russel,

What are the engines/motors doing that you say they are going bad? Are simply losing power or are they bucking and stalling?

Have you cleaned the wheels of your locomotives lately? That could be you whole problem. Do you know how to clean the wheels Russel? Simple way is to lay a sheet of paper towel on the track, pour on some 70% alcohol. Then holding one end of the loco by the trucks apply medium to full power and let the other end run over the paper towel with alcohol. Move it back and forth slightly. You should see the crud come off the wheels. Move the paper towel slightly to the side of the rails and do the same with the other end. You always want a clean place to start from to clean your wheels. See if that helps.

Or are the motors just not pulling and getting to full RPM's?

The other reason I ask is Athearn had the same problem with the motors they got from the C.H. Ina company a few years back with the first run of RS3's. What we found was there was too much spring tension on the motor brushes. I took the motor apart and trimmed down the brush at the spring end, cut off an 1/8th inch with a razor saw, and reinstalled them. They ran like Swiss watches after that.

If MTH won't fix them without a receipt for warranty work, I can see that. If they won't even repair them, like Simon says (I always wanted to say that Simon-VBG) then I wouldn't even bother with them. If that is the case try trimming down the brushes. It won't void the warranty anyway now.

In case you don't know where to get replacement motors, NWSL and Mashima motors are pretty decent. You just have to measure the length and width of the motor shafts. If you get them long you can cut them down. The diameter of the shaft is the important measurement.

Try cleaning the wheels first. Always start with the simplest things before you go tearing apart your locomotives. That is usually the problem.


Bill Shanaman
Superintendent, New Haven RR in the 1948 to 1952 era
PMRA President 2013-14, OpSIG Member
NCE User Since 1999
Sugar City, Colorado

Edited by - nhguy on 05/29/2012 2:57:01 PM
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traindude
New Hire

USA
17 Posts

Posted - 05/29/2012 :  6:54:50 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hi, I'm new here from the Atlas forums.

I also have had problems with 3 MTH SD70ace motors. One would do the slow, fast, slow, fast routine. This one I sent back under warrantee and it came back fixed ok. On the other 2 the motors run very hot. One of the 2 will run awhile and then just short out the DCC system. This motor runs so hot it will burn your fingers.
I have noticed that these motors have MTH stamped in ink on the sides of them. I am in the middle of an experiment where I ordered a new motor from MTH. This motor came with the flywheels and had a Cannon label on the motor. So it would seem that they may have 2 makers of motors for these locos. I just tested the Cannon motor and it seemed fine but I not have time to install it in the loco yet. If this works I will probably buy another to replace the other motor that runs hot.

I was wondering if anyone else had these types of problems with MTH motors?

traindude
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upcsx
New Hire

USA
35 Posts

Posted - 05/29/2012 :  7:49:58 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
That is the sane problems traindude i am having with mine also one unit MTH fixed and another unit went out and i had MTH to send me the next motor and the lady that sent it to me sent another bad motor so i said the heck with them and my other two started last weekend to mess up and i have two others that run hot but runs good,but for how long i dont know,now i have one sound unit the first unit MTH came out with it runs great.

Russell
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traindude
New Hire

USA
17 Posts

Posted - 05/29/2012 :  9:32:50 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
UPCSX
I would think that MTH would replace the bad motor that they sent you as a replacement. Try giving them a call to see. My other question to you is do the bad motors have the ink stamp MTH on the sides or are they a Cannon motor? My problem motors have the MTH ink stamp. I'm not sure of any other motors that would just drop in without some work involved. I was looking at other motor options also but decided to go with another factory motor as an experiment as I didn't want to send the loco back and wait another 2 months or so for it to come back.

On your other 2 units that the motors run hot be careful and check that the shell doesn't become warm enough to start distorting.

traindude
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upcsx
New Hire

USA
35 Posts

Posted - 05/30/2012 :  4:44:30 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Thanks traindude,they have MTH stamped on them just like you said will try and call them.

Russell
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pat
New Hire

USA
16 Posts

Posted - 06/06/2012 :  09:58:47 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
yikes, i am nervous after reading these posts. was planning on purchasing a few mth ho models, but after reading these posts i am having some red flags go up. is this a glaring problem with their motors or is what russell is experiencing just isolated incidents? pat.
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nhguy
Fireman

USA
3665 Posts

Posted - 06/06/2012 :  2:05:05 PM  Show Profile  Visit nhguy's Homepage  Send nhguy a Yahoo! Message  Reply with Quote
IT sounds like to me that MTH went cheap on the motors and is a 'known' issue. They should fix it or send a replacement under warranty. If not, I wouldn't buy from them. I would also put in a quality motor and forgetaboutit!

Bill Shanaman
Superintendent, New Haven RR in the 1948 to 1952 era
PMRA President 2013-14, OpSIG Member
NCE User Since 1999
Sugar City, Colorado
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coal drag
New Hire

USA
25 Posts

Posted - 06/06/2012 :  3:20:57 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I've quit buying MTH after experiencing too many QC issues when they have their own factories. I can see dropping the ball when you hire a third party with a language barrier between you, but when you own the factories, it's no one's fault but your own ....
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tdspeedracer
New Hire

USA
16 Posts

Posted - 06/09/2012 :  7:03:29 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Well, keeping in line with the MTH way. I would find as many people as possible with a motor issue and threaten a class action law suit.
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