3573 replies to this topic

[Marty N]

So...does that mean you'll look into it?

[havlicek]

I always do Marty. If you want me to wind a #23, all I need is an arm...or at least specs on what the arm should be as far as overall length (top of com to bottom of tail spacer), length of stack, and position of stack.

-john

[Marty N]

Keep it in mind. I need to build the set up first to get some measurements. This may take awhile as I have allot on the plate for the next few weeks. I'll get back to ya. Thanks John.

[havlicek]

Hi Marty,

Sure but no worries, there's nothing to keep in mind. When anyone asks me for work, I do what I can and each one is a "blank slate"

-john

[havlicek]

Sometimes I find it necessary to clarify where I'm coming from, and this is one of those times

1)I am NOT doing a business here. A full motor build takes me around 8 hours, sometimes more. Just an arm takes me a couple of hours not including the time to clean and strip those arms that are reused. Anyone who has gotten work from me will confirm that I work either for a loss or for free.

2)I am NOT in competition here with anyone and hope that people who are interested enough in motor work will post right here in this thread. This is not "my" thread and I only post here with the permission of the owners and moderators. If anyone does post their work in this thread, I'm tickled pink. If they get to do motor work for someone else because of that...even better! I think it's cool that there are people here doing work for profit...but it definitely ain't me!

3)I do what I do because I get enjoyment from it, and I generally just like to get better at doing things. Not only do I not make a profit from winding and building motors, I lose a LOT and often will even cover the return postage

4)If I've satisfied people with my motors or arms, that's really what it's all about for me. I think people I've done work for will confirm the above...I sure hope so!

This is all stuff I've said many times before, but like I said...sometimes it should be said again.

-john

[Victor Poulin]

John,
I think most everybody here that knows you, knows that you do it for the love of doing it like many of us If your able to make a couple of bucks while doing it, doesn't make you a bad guy lol. You have overhead and cost just like anybody else. As you know, I build and rebuild motors 1 for the love of it, 2 for the learning, and 3 I sell some on ebay from time to time to help me earn a few bucks to buy supplies and such.

In the short time you and I have been friends, you have taught me alot ! You gave me the sack to go for it and try something totally different form the every day motor builds. I have to say that it's some of the most fun I've had since being involved in slots.
Even though I haven't wound my own arms yet, that's only a small part of the big picture. There's still so much to learn as we try new things. Anyone who thinks they know it all, is sadly mistaken lol.

One of the big reasons this thread is so popular is because even us old farts can learn a few new tricks
Keep up the good work my friend !

[havlicek]

Hi Vic,

I think most everybody here that knows you, knows that you do it for the love of doing it like many of us

I would hope so by now!

If your able to make a couple of bucks while doing it, doesn't make you a bad guy lol

See that's the thing, I have yet to "make a couple of bucks" on a motor, and don't remember breaking even on one! Let's just say for a second that I figure my work at minimum wage and then "cost" for materials. Even at that pay scale, I'm probably down thousands at this point. I'm only hoping to lose less on each job now!

Anyway, this is all really no big deal so back to your regularly-scheduled Saturday evening programming

-john

[Marty N]

John, if you figure out how to just break even let me know. That would be a trick. I can't find a way to do that simply rebuilding for locals, can't imagine the expense of winding.

[havlicek]

I'm pretty sure that isn't going to happen Marty...but it would be nice In the end it doesn't really matter, I do it because I enjoy it.

-john

[Robert V.]

Hi guys a couple of rewinds for Rob Fredrick, the one he wanted was the Champion 36D with the arco mags i just did a basic rewind with 80 turns 29 agw tied and a coat of heat cured epoxy and button head screws on the can i sent the arm out to be balenced and when i got it back i was told it was tested and didn't need it i find that hard to believe, the second motor i did for him was an old parma 16d 55 turns of 29 agw tied, epoxy new springs and those button head screws i like so much he really didn't ask for the 16d but he gave me extra stuff so i gave him something else to play with runs pretty good to 1.5 amps at 6 volts.

[havlicek]

Hi Robert,

Very nice work! On the balance situation for the 36D, it's not as impossible as you might think. On such a large heavy arm, minor imbalance is a much smaller percentage of the total weight of the arm. I don't remember if I've had one the worked out that well, but I do remember having them where they needed very little. Those are both solid winds and they should be strong runners!

-john

[Robert V.]

Thanks John for the info never thought of it like that guess there was just a little luck involved that and i am trying to be a little neater with my rewinds any way they both run decent so i hope he will have fun with them.

[havlicek]

Hi Robert,

The neatness thing is no doubt paying off!

-john

[Rob Fredrick]

Robert, the arm and motor look great...I am looking forward to its arrival. Thanks for the extra work on the Parma...an unexpected treat. I only run a few Parma set ups as I'm crazy into the 36ds. It comes at a great time as I was about to pick up a new Death Star from Parma but obviously now there is no need. Thanks.
J H and you have been a great help and very dilligent. I now have 2 great 36d rewinds wtih Arcos. 1 endbell drive and 1 can drive. I will be posting photos soon as to their final disposition. I am not a frame builder and mount my 36ds in Flexicar and JK chassis in an anglewinder format. Not pretty and probably crude by the standards of the purests and artistic builders on this blog but these cars are quick, have outstanding handling,
perform well at both commercial and home tracks and most importantly as in all slot car racing: tons and tons of fun.

I use both standard 36d motors and have been fortunate to pick up a few "special" motors or arms from P, BB, BJH & GAR and Champion/Arco cans from PM (AS). J graciously contributed some chassis he no longer used.
Thanks again, Robert...look for my chassis photos soon.
Rob

[boxerdog]

Attached is a picture of one of John's 36D beasts in a vintage American Line chassis...these are "out there" along with older Dynamic, Riggen and other chassis which can be a lot of fun to race.

[Robert V.]

That's a cool chassis David and with the John Havlicek motor i am shore it has plenty of power and runs great, have fun running that one.

[havlicek]

Wow Dave...that's a pretty darned nice build! You don't get to see an FT36D anglewinder very often, but it looks right at home in that chassis. Were you able to get the motor shaft and axle in the same plane for a good gear mesh? I really dig those fronts too, heck...I dig the whole thing.

-john

[boxerdog]

Now I am a little embarassed...that car is a racer made out of an old RTR and as such is not particularly neatly done. The pic will show that the gear alignment is less than optimum, but through trial and error in picking gears, it is OK. We used to race these things out here with vintage Can Am bodies. They were very competitive and a lot of fun once you get the tires and gears sorted out. Eight of these on a flat track is pretty impressive. I'd encourage any of you 36D guys to find these on Ebay if you haven't already...thanks, John!

[havlicek]

Hi Dave,

Why would you be embarrased? I realize the chassis isn't a new build of yours of course. I think it's a cool way to run a 36D anyway, and those old chassis represent a bunch of work for whatever guy sat in a dank poorly lit room cranking them out for pennies...they're "hand built"! On the gear mesh thing, it looks like there's maybe enough room on the rear uprights so that you could jig the chassis up and just raise the rear axle carrier. Even if you had to add some material to raise the axle carrier, you would then be in better shape to get a good mesh. Anyway...I still DO really dig the 36D in an anglewinder thing and your car looks like it would run and handle really well!

-john

[don.siegel]

Yep John, I like the 36D anglewinders too, but rear wheel drive is too easy....

[Bill from NH]

A friend has had one of those brass chassis for a few years. I believe he said REHCO sold & made them. Dokk would know for sure.

[havlicek]

Yep John, I like the 36D anglewinders too, but rear wheel drive is too easy....

Yikes Don, it's a little crude...but it proves the old thing that there was always someone in slots doing it "differently" just to see if it could be done. I had a couple of front wheel drive cars I did way back (inline) that ran pretty well from what I can remember, but never 36D!

A friend has had one of those brass chassis for a few years. I believe he said REHCO sold & made them. Dokk would know for sure.

Could be Bill. All I know is that various people spent a lot of time back then making chassis for various distributors that sold cheap. They may not have been the most hi-tech, but when you look at them now they have character and I think a little intrinsic value because they were handmade.

-john

[Prof. Fate]

Hi

Back in the 36d days, the best of the kits/rtrs were the AMTs. After they were obsolete, some company converted a bunch of them to front wheel drive to sell under another name!

The 36d went from "hero to zero" in a few months and there was an amazing amount of, er. "stuff" created to sell off the stock cheap.

Fate

[boxerdog]

John, that 36d is a monster! I have 2 of those cars, and I need to slow down the one with the "H" motor or get off the flat track. It is so much faster than the period-correct rewind in the other car...it's going to need a smaller pinion and fresh tires at the very least. Pretty impressive!

[havlicek]

John, that 36d is a monster! I have 2 of those cars, and I need to slow down the one with the "H" motor or get off the flat track. It is so much faster than the period-correct rewind in the other car...it's going to need a smaller pinion and fresh tires at the very least. Pretty impressive!

Hi Dave,

Thanks very much for the update Truthfully, I forget which 36D was yours, but I probably kept the wind on the "safer" side as I've done for a while now. Sometimes I'll do a double wind on them, but even a #30 dbl is risky in those motors. I'm glad it's a solid runner...sometimes I get lucky!

-john