Ride On Railways

Motor Assembly

Due to the power of these motors we recommend that the metal gears are keyed on to the motor spindle. This is achieved using a pin.
Place the supplied metal motor gear spacer piece over the motor spindle. Rather than use scrap pieces of metal we now supply the motor spacer piece as a combined spacer and track gauge. Then slide on one of the metal gears. This sets the correct spacing of gear to motor and the point at which to cut the spindle down.

Above - the new motor spacer piece. Also combined back to back and rail gauge.

To take pressure off of the motor by clamping the spindle end in a vice and cut down the outer face of the gear with a hacksaw. Support the motor while cutting and be careful not to drop it as you cut.

Clean the end of the gear and spindle with a file and make sure there are not sharp or rough pieces sticking out

To help support the motor while drilling, stand it on three of the axle guides - as shown in the picture to the right. This will support the motor and keep it level while you drill.

If you don't have a pillar drill, then try and drill at the correct angle. Cheap pillar drills are around the £40 at most DIY superstores and are a very good investment. Once you buy one you will wonder how you ever managed without it.

Keeping the spacer between the motor and the gear, drill a 1.5 mm hole down between the spindle and the gear (as diagram below) to a depth of about 6mm.

Hold the metal gear while you drill to stop it turning on the motor spindle.

Once drilled remove the gear, clean and apply thread lock to gear and spindle. Leave the spacer on the motor slide the gear back onto the spindle. Line up the two halves of the 1.5 mm hole and insert a 1.5 mm pin. Make sure this pin goes in the full depth of your hole. Do not drive it in hard as you may damage the motor. The best 1.5 mm pin is the shaft of the 1.5 mm drill bit. Stick the back end of the drill bit in the hole and using a pair of pliers snap it off as close to the gear as possible.

Turn the motor on its side, remove the spacer and clean any stray thread lock from the spindle. Leave the motor on its side until the thread lock has set (check that the thread lock hasn't run down the spindle) before filing smooth the end of the spindle, gear and locking pin.

Repeat the above for all four motors.

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