Athearn rotary snow plow

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tiddles
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Jan 30, 2022 7:37 pm

Athearn rotary snow plow

Post by tiddles »

Piked up an old Blue Box Athearn rotary snow plow with rubber band drive, no tender.

Is it possible to motorize this and run it on DCC?
mec_alf
Posts: 62
Joined: Fri Jul 03, 2009 7:05 pm
Location: Cheshire

Re: Athearn rotary snow plow

Post by mec_alf »

Yes; I've got one that I've fitted with a micro-motor and 30:1 reduction gearbox. There's obviously plenty of room inside the shell for a chip, and a speaker if you want to go down that route.
I have mine semi-permanently coupled to a "snail", in this case an Athearn F7B without motor or worms but keeping the metal wheelsets for power pickup and using micro-connectors to link the two units.
I'll get some photos and send a link to them later.
From Rigby Yard to the Hill - MEC and SP live on.
mec_alf
Posts: 62
Joined: Fri Jul 03, 2009 7:05 pm
Location: Cheshire

Re: Athearn rotary snow plow

Post by mec_alf »

From Rigby Yard to the Hill - MEC and SP live on.
tiddles
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Jan 30, 2022 7:37 pm

Re: Athearn rotary snow plow

Post by tiddles »

Thanks. Where did you find the motor and gearbox?
Is it an easy fix as I am very limited on skills.
mec_alf
Posts: 62
Joined: Fri Jul 03, 2009 7:05 pm
Location: Cheshire

Re: Athearn rotary snow plow

Post by mec_alf »

It came from eBay. I'll dig out the link later.
The wiring is straightforward and for the mechanical connection you could use either a length of model aeroplane fuel line or some brass tubing, depending on what you have to hand.
From Rigby Yard to the Hill - MEC and SP live on.
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