I was very excited to run my RS-3 a couple months ago after installing battery/sound/AirWire, but found that one of my motors was hosed. Also, the end of the engine with the battery in it was heavy enough to collapse the suspension to the point where my Kadee coupler was dragging its hose below the railhead. I decided to just go ahead and upgrade the motors to the newer ball bearing type. I bought two of the Bachmann reproduction motors.

Ted has a vignette on Greg’s site on doing this upgrade, but for me, it’s easier to just 3D print an adapter. I thought I’d share that here, in case anyone is similarly inclined.

Here is the adapter:

It slides into the stock bracket like this:

I will epoxy it in place. The new motor will just screw into the provided holes with #4 wood screws.

I shimmed the journal boxes up 2 mm. Here is the finished product:

Nicely done Eric,

-Ted

Ditto, a great solution, especially since the only replacements need this modification.

Greg

These are the 2 mm shims for the journal boxes.

very cool again, was going to ask if you were going to paint the shims in the earlier pictures.

Greg

Greg Elmassian said:

very cool again, was going to ask if you were going to paint the shims in the earlier pictures.

Thanks. Those were just cardboard I shoved in to line up the axles.