31 replies to this topic

[dc-65x]

First up is this November 15, 1968 MRJ article, "Want To Get Exotic?  Try A Low-Profile Motor":

 

 

 

December 30, 1968 MRJ article, "Cukras On  - Motors - ":

 

 

February 30, 1969 MRJ article, "Setting Up The Mura/Lenz Motors For Can Drive":

 

 

 

Here's a bit of clarification on the Mura A-Can (16D) endbells. The Korrect endbell for this series is the early "plastic spring post" style shown on the top-right below. It's very much like a Mabuchi FT16D endbell but with pent roof brush hoods and made from a high temperature plastic:

The later style on the bottom-left was redesigned after the introduction of the B-Motor to take the great B-motor brush hardware. The plastic spring post of the early version is replaced with a screw and brass sleeve. This style of endbell served Mura well into the 90's on their C-can motors.

 

July 6, 1969 MRJ article, "Bullet-Proofing The 16D-Size Endbell":

 

This article starts out saying it belonged in the June 16th issue but there wasn't enough room for it.

 

 

 

August 28, 1969 MRJ article, "Setting Up The Mura Super B":

 

This article was published after the last race in the series. But after reading it, it seems to describe how the Pros were working the bugs out and setting up the B-motor during the series.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Champion Motors:

 

Champion motors don’t show up in this West Coast series coverage but they were available. I did some snooping to try and get some dates for the different motors.

 

The Champion 525 seems to have available throughout the series with its white bullet proofed endbell, black can with aluminum gimble bearing housing and DZ yellow and red dot magnets in a 2-piece shim.

 

I’m not sure when the black can with the large bronze bearing came out to replace the aluminum gimble bearing can.

 

The Team Champion Signature and Thumbprint motors with their black, molded in bearing endbells show up in a MCS Feb. 1969 ad.

 

Champion promoted the Orange Picker motor in the May 5, 1969 MRJ so perhaps one could have been used in the 5^th and 6^th Sports and GT car races.

 

I'd like to include Morrissey's article on setting up the Champion can for can drive, but he didn't publish it until December. The modification he did isn't rocket science but then hindsight is 20-20 I guess.

 

 

All this certainly isn’t necessarily “gospel” but it’s period published documentation I’ve come up with so far.

[Pablo]

How in the world did you know I was looking for the "can cutting" info yesterday ?

Ouija board ?    Thanks Rick

[SlotStox#53]

Awesome posting Rick ! With the "B", can you use all the modifying "hop up" tricks in the other B can article you have in one of your other threads?

 

The one where you can remove half side of the can & cut the large cooling holes under the brush hoods/into the side of the can... 

 

With the "hot" armatures for the series would a bubble gum arm be period Korrect , or would I need to use regular single & double wind arms?

[dc-65x]

Glad my Ouija Board did the trick Pablo

 

Paul, At first blush I think sticking with only what's shown in the posted article will be most appropriate. The two other MRJ B-motor how-to articles didn't come out until February and May 1970.

 

As for the Bubble Gum Arm, let me know what you think: 

Dave Bloom "bubble gum" arm

[SlotStox#53]

I guess thats a "yes" to the bubble gum then but no go for the B can I have Already modified as per those other 2 later articles at least as far as the cooling "tunnels" under the brush hoods & either side of the can.

 

Thanks for the link Rick ,love looking at this stuff

[dc-65x]

Paul, now you've got an excuse to get an additional B-motor. You can have early and late versions. I know I'm going to

[SlotStox#53]

Paul, now you've got an excuse to get an additional B-motor. You can have early and late versions. I know I'm going to

This is true! Was just thinking I needed a fresh B can    Will leave the heavily modded one for another project (with it's #24 S arm) and obtain a couple of B cans to use a bubblegum 27/28 and one to house a Certus 27/28
 

Got those 2 arms just minus the setups

[SlotStox#53]

One thing I do know is that I hate "Pin Tabs" !!!! that is all, move along .

Two came out fine the others decided to be very rusty and the heads crumbled away!!

[dc-65x]

You can't hate pin tabs worse than me!

[S.O. Watt]

Does anybody remember "thee tool" for removing the dastardly pin tabs?

 

 

 

 

 

Finger nail clippers.

 

But don't try trimming your nails with them after a few uses on pin tabs.

[SlotStox#53]

You can't hate pin tabs worse than me!

probably not but they're still mighty frustrating !!

I was using thee tool but the 2 in question were just too rusty and fragile and just crumbled... time to drill em out or at least enough for the EB to come off.

[Bill from NH]

Paul, see if you can grind off what's left of the heads with a dremel, then push the shank inward with a piece of .032 piano wire. I'm guessing the pintab holes are drill through the endbell's mounting flanges.

 

 

I always wondered what pintabs were originally used for. Were they to be used to make the first motors for sealed motor racing? I don't know, but they sure weren't intended to made slot car motor building easier.

[SlotStox#53]

The heads are already gone as the crumbled Bill. But will try the piano wire trick, it's so close to coming off just a little remaining pin tab shank remaining & it's holding the endbell & won't let go

[S.O. Watt]

The correct industry name for pintabs is "Drive Rivets". Many sizes are used just about everywhere. They are not considered as a removable fastener.

I hated them things, too.

[Bill from NH]

So drive rivets is what they really are.  I still keep nail clippers with a chipped cutter in my slot box, right beside my Cracker Jacks hand pinball game. Thanks Tom.

[dc-65x]

 

They are not considered as a removable fastener.

 

They sure aren't!

 

Thanks Tom! 

[Pablo]

I won't print what I call 'em

Paul, maybe you bought endbells that came from the same drag racer as I did -  the idiot glued an entire lot of Mura EB's to their cans solid with pre-environmentally friendly 2 part epoxy   If that is the case, no tool or chemical or procedure can help you.  Even if you manage to get 'em off the cans, they are unuseable.  Unless someone knows a solvent that cuts 45 year old epoxy without harming the EB.

[SlotStox#53]

Definitely no epoxy Pablo! Motor was out of a hand built pro plate type car that was the worse for wear off of epay

Endbell moves it's just held on with the shortest remains of pin tab that's in the endbell & goes into the can hole.. level with the outside face of the can where the head crumbled ......

This A can better be worth the effort May end up "going exotic" with this one and attempt a low profile hack job!

[Mr. M]

Does anyone have a referance about a complete Tom Malone story? Where did he race? Where is he now? What did he do for a living?

Chris

[Champion 507]

Chris, I've wondered about Tom Malone for 15 years. I've never been able to find out anything about him including what you're wanting to know. I've even asked Dokk and he either didn't know or didn't give a straight answer.

 

I still have a number of issues of Car Model with his columns in there and still enjoying reading them even today.

 

I'm sure he got burned out on having to answer a bunch of kids' questions, like what motor is fastest, etc. Every once in a while he got a good question and you could really tell he enjoyed answering it.

[tonyp]

I dont think he ever raced. 

[dc-65x]

Champion Motors:

 

Champion motors don’t show up in this West Coast series coverage but they were available. I did some snooping to try and get some dates for the different motors.

 

The Champion 525 seems to have available throughout the series with its white bullet proofed endbell, black can with aluminum gimble bearing housing and DZ yellow and red dot magnets in a 2-piece shim.

 

I’m not sure when the black can with the large bronze bearing came out to replace the aluminum gimble bearing can.

 

The Team Champion Signature and Thumbprint motors with their black, molded in bearing endbells show up in a MCS Feb. 1969 ad.

 

Champion promoted the Orange Picker motor in the May 5, 1969 MRJ so perhaps one could have been used in the 5^th and 6^th Sports and GT car races.

 

All this certainly isn’t necessarily “gospel” but it’s period published documentation I’ve come up with so far.

[SlotStox#53]

Been reading some of the race results/tech charts and some of the motor combinations mention "Champion can" with "Mura endbell" .. Is this referring to the 525 can Rick?

 

The Mura/Cobra  East /West coast spectacular in May '69 plus the 1st Mid Atlantic car model race in March '69 both mention the very combination of Champion can with Mura endbell.. Does this help ?

 

 

Plus my Champion cans are the later (don't know by how much ) large bronze bearings, I have DZ mags & 2 piece shims , so hope someone can shed some light on when they were available... Otherwise it's a Mura motor part hunt all round for my cars !

[tonyp]

Mura cans were the choice back then on the west coast while east coast guys like Kean and Greenaway were using champion cans.

[dc-65x]

 

Been reading some of the race results/tech charts and some of the motor combinations mention "Champion can" with "Mura endbell" .. Is this referring to the 525 can Rick?

 

The stock Champion 525 had a bullet proofed white Champion endbell. I've see built up "race motors" with the Champion can and Mura endbell combination. I would think that's what the tech charts are referring to. I don't believe the white Champion endbell was much loved.