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brief summary of some DC Electric Slot Car MotorsA
brief summary of some DC Electric Slot Car Motors
This is an archive from my old site, Slot Car Racing on the Net. I am going to leave this here as a resource to the many people getting into the hobby. I will probably start a new section for slot car motors when I have some time.
This is a ever growing resource on old and new slot car motors for home racing. With any slot car motor, it all depends on the amps it takes, horsepower, torque, and its power range. I will give you an idea of what motors are out there, a cross-reference of motors & chassis, and a few photos to help you identify the motors. Last Updated on August 11, 1998.
Pla-Fit Motors Ever since I bought one of each to sample, I have to recommend them to all for home slot car racing. The Cheetah motor is priced right at $6.40 and provides great power and speed. They can easily keep up with and pass a Parma Deathstar 16D on my 4 lane oval. The best part is it will bolt right in a chassis for a 16D so you can use it in older chassis that need an endbell drive 16D and newer chassis that takes the current 16D motors. Note that it will not work in a chassis that calls for an older can drive 16D motor. My pick for the best current slot car motor :) These currently made Mabuchi motors are produced for use in the Pla-Fit chassis and can be used in place of 16Ds. The power band and braking is top notch and they plain beat the pants off the Parma/Trinity home set 16Ds!!! The enclosed endbell Rabbit motor kicks butt too. A great set of motors.
16D Motors - Good all around power in a nice package. This is the style of motor that lasted from the era of the 1960s. Picked for its ability to make horsepower, light weight, and low center of gravity. Still currently available in a newer, improved form with versions available for us home track racers also. This new style is not really a can drive or endbell drive but mounts as a endbell drive motor.
Trinity Slotworks Home Set 16D #S1002
While most racers do not have the amps to use the commercial style 16D motors, some with larger basement and home tracks have the privilege. The commercial 16Ds take about 1 to 2 amps and if you have a good enough power supply you can run them. The Parma Deathstar 16D is the current evolution of the Mabuchi tin can. I tried it on my oval track against some Plafit Cheetahs and it can't keep up on a small home track. The power band calls for larger tracks and possibly with the right gearing can match the Plafit Cheetah but not at the moment. Its an ok motor but the Cheetah still reigns supreme. The home set versions such as the American Line gray Mabuchi 16D are available at a retail price of $10.00 but I didn't have any luck with the motor. Being an endbell drive motor with a blind bearing does not help with getting the pinion gear on. For the price, I would recommend getting a Trinity or Parma Home Set 16D motor. And if you want to save some money, go with the Plafit Cheetah.
Motor Chart - You see the terms Endbell drive, Can Drive, Reverse Endbell drive, etc. used often when you look at catalogs, etc. The terms refer to where the armature shaft exits the motor. If the armature goes out of the brush/endbell side its called an endbell drive or bell drive type motor. If the armature comes out of the can side of the motor, its deemed a can drive or reverse endbell drive motor. Many chassis are made for only one style of motor. Some motors also have the shaft out of both ends and those are noted as double shaft motors.
What's a 13D you ask? Well, its basically a 16D armature with a smaller more compact can to fit in F-1 and cars like the Monogram Midget Racer. Most of the versions came as candrive and can take the place of an older candrive 16D motor.
26D Motors - Designed for racers who wanted more power than the 16D and less weight of the 36D. Most of these came with ball bearings. Versions include mostly endbell drive ones but can drive and double shaft models were also produced. A bit harder to find motor thus the street price hovers around $15 and up in collector catalogs. Discontinued since the end of the slot car boom of the sixties. Some New-Old-Stock still available.
36D
Motors Another Mabuchi motor from the 1960's that did not last
after the slot car boom - still currently available from Parma as
#471 Mabuchi 36D Can Drive. REH has them available in various styles
under American Line, Motors, and their own brand. They range from can
drive, bell drive, and double shaft versions. Still available in
quantity from many sources. Great power and braking.
More on 36D Motors... They are the workhorses of the slot car motors. If you are looking for a nice, low priced motor for your track, they are the ticket. REH has them available at $8.98 retail. Can be found NOS as low as $8 up to $20 if you want to buy from a Collectors catalog. Many chassis are available for these motors such as Dynamic to the Parma Whisperjet. I pick them next to the Plafit Cheetah as one of the best motors to use for home track racing. They were used heavily in the 1960s but later dropped because of their size and high center of gravity compared to the 16D.
A Can Drive 16D motor and 36D have the same end so you can use them
interchangeably. I am pretty sure that the 13D motor will work
where a 16D is called for. Remember that the size of each of
the motors are different but otherwise the candrive end is the same.
Pittman706 This is an example of a sidewinder motor with the integral rear axle and gear. Other similar motors are the 704, 705 from Pittman, Ram 426 - 426A - 222, Strombecker Devastator, etc.
Laminated Pole Motors Here is the Ram 850 and Pittman 85 motors. Most of these were used in dragsters for slot car drag racing. Wheels were most of the time directly mounted to the motor and commonly ran on 18 to 24 volts. Other examples include Kemtron X503 - Mustang - Bronco, etc.
