(click on the pictures to see a larger (800x600) picture)
Lima makes a very nice model of the Norwegian El13 class. Unfortunately it is
still equipped with the well known Lima 'pancake' motor. Over the years
various manufacturers made replacement motors for the old Lima motors. One
of these manufacturers is SB-Modellbau
from Germany, their re-motor kits have the famous Faulhaber motor. This page
will show you what it takes to re-power the Lima El13 with a SB-Modellbau
kit.
This picture clearly shows the kit, which is a brass piece with all
the gears and motor already mounted/assembled. To the right the Lima model.
The sheet with instructions (in German) is also visible.
The shell has been removed, by pulling out the "buffers". The old pancake
motor is now visible. This model shows the 'classic' style of the old
Lima models. A pancake motor is powering one truck, the other truck is
used for electric pickup. In the middle of the frame is a big piece of
cast iron mounted to give the model some weight. In the past I've added
some weight, this can be seen to the right of the Lima weight block.
The pancake motor is removed from the frame, this can be done by
unscrewing the two Phillips screws which mount the truck sides to
the motor frame.
The gears, at the back of the pancake motor frame, are removed. The device
in the front will be used to remove the wheel sets. Some care must be taken
while doing this since damaging the wheels (or wheel mounts) will hurt
the future performance of the model.
The wheels have been removed. The wires have been cut so the old pancake
motor is now completely removed.
The wheels have been mounted in the SB-Modellbau motor frame. The wheels will
be carefully adjusted to the right gauge.
The wheels in the other truck have to be 'swapped' according to the
instruction sheet. This was probably true when this kit was introduced but
in the meantime Lima changed the electric pickup of this model and now
all wheels (both left and right) are used for electric power pickup. So
swapping the wheels is not necessary. When soldering the wires back on the
motor some care has to be taken to make sure the proper wires are attached
to the motor pickup points.
The re-wiring is finished. The old iron cast block doesn't fit anymore. The
flywheel will touch it. The instruction sheet recommends cutting a piece
from this block to make it fit again. I choose not to use the block anymore.
I used lead weights (from A-line) to add some weight to the model.
The proper weight has been added. The trucks has been assembled again. Only
the shell has to be mounted and this model can be put back into service.
