5 replies to this topic

[TSR]

In 1967 Pactra was marketing their "X98", a large motor of roughly the same size as a Mabuchi FT36D. The Pactra motor was basically the same as used by Strombecker in their 1/24 scale kits and RTR models, both manufactured by Strombecker's business partner in Japan, Igarashi.

Pactra also marketed for a brief time, some rewound and balanced versions of the X98, and these are quite scarce today. Below are two that I restored for the LASCM. Both their plastic boxes were in sad shape with tape residue and scratches and had to be polished, while their stickers were cleaned and repaired.
Below is a picture of the two motors as well as that of a stock X98 in its original packing:



The two motors were more than likely produced within weeks of each other, and show two different prices, but the least expensice actually has the bigger wire and better commutator...



Under close observation, it is likely that the armatures were rewound, epoxied and balanced by the good people at Mura, as the characteristic sheet-metal drill was used for some of the balancing, and the color marks at the end of each pole match some Mura motors.



The cans and arms were very rusty, the cans damaged by the usual disintegration of the foam inside the boxes. Tough to remove the damage...







I would be interested to find out if there are other rewound versions of these big Pactra motors, or if these two are... it.

[don.siegel]

Philippe,

Have you seen Steve O'Keefe's page?
http://www.theindepe...tters Guide.htm

I seem to remember that Pactra also had a mild rewind with static balancing Hemi 300 type motor, along with the Testor Turbo with the Pittman style brushes...

Another question: if you look on the back of the Hemi X-98 box, you'll see that there was also the Pactra Tornado 66 and 72 12V motors: what were these???

Don

[TSR]

Don, the ones I posted are the BIG Igarashi motors, the 36D size. The page on Steve's website are for the smaller 16D sized ones.

I have pictures of the 16D sized Tornado 66 and 72 motors. I have to dig them up and post them.

[don.siegel]

Thought you were talking about rewound hemis in general...

Be very interested to see the Toronados!

Don

[TSR]

Tornado Don, not Toronado.
There is a mistake in the listing that Steve did, Hitachi, HIT and Igarashi have nothing in common. I made the same mistake a few years back in thinking that "HIT" was something done by Hitachi, but a kind person who had the inside story set me straight.
HIT is a subdivision of Marusan that produced 8 low-priced semi-RTR models using the lower cost Hitachi motor, the very same as used by BMW in the UK and Russkit ("28") in the USA.
The mysterious P1 Lola and Ferrari RTR models are fitted with the large Igarashi motor similar to the X98, and are closely related to Strombecker and Igarashi, but it is very difficult to find exactly how, other than Igarashi themselves may have engineered and issued the two models.

Sherlock is still active...

[Prof. Fate]

Hi

Never had one of those.... by the time they came out they were irrelevant in my circles. No serious racer in the A through F mains would have a 36d anymore. And for the kids...the retail price was as much or more than a whole car without a real reason. Rare probably because no one bought them. If it had come out in 65 now....

Do you off hand remember the ohm readings? Or..better did you actually figure out the winds?

Fate