Pet niggles

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Just a pet niggle of mine……

 

If the motor manufactures had any common sense, they would have made the motor base 1″ wider……….Then we could reach the screws easily!

 

I would also like to see the shaft protrude at the back end……….Would be handy for ganging up?

 

What`s your pet niggle?

 

Bob

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

I have found this too Bob. Removing a motor becomes like a chinese puzzle where you have to think three moves ahead- especially in the confines of a smaller hull. I am going to have a go at making the mounts for my next boat to accommodate this and watercooling coil problems.

I see you got round it by making another wooden mount. Cunning!

 

Ian

[Robert jenkinsParticipant @robertjenkins44209]

Hey Guys,

 

 My first post on a modelling forum so please chastise where justified.

All motor bases unless flange mounted are no larger than the overall dia of motor.

Thats my experience with motors up to 3.3kv motors. No problem when fixing with 30mm bolts.

Have you considered using BA bolts cut to length, then mounted up through bed.

you will be able to tighten nuts much easier than using a screwdriver.

As stated granny and eggs spring to mind, but only trying to help.

 

Rob 

 

[Rick DevonshireParticipant @rickdevonshire]

I got roud this problem with a flexible blade fitted to my scewdriver. It was from a multi-bladed screwdriver kit purchased in Maplins.

Rick.

Another niggle – I would like to see an earthing screw fitted to the commutator end of electric motors to save the unsightly blob of solder when fitting the capacitors.

 

 

Edited By Rick Devonshire on 02/02/2010 07:48:31

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

It may seem a good idea, Robert, having BA nuts and bolts, but motors are usually fitted in the depths of the hull.

 

So fiddling down below is not convenient……..We need clear, easy, vertical access

 

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

What is wrong with the solution displayed in the first post of this thread?     If the base is too small for you, bolt it onto a bigger piece of metal plate with countersunk bolts through the bottom and drill new mounting holes in it!

Bob

Edited By Bob Wilson on 02/02/2010 16:30:12

[ron hawesParticipant @ronhawes49865]

i always make my own motor mounts i just go to our local iron mongers and buy a cpl of off cutts for the price of a cuppa tea, then drill bend etc to fit, my last 4 mounts have cost me 50p and a little time.

[Robert jenkinsParticipant @robertjenkins44209]

See your point Bob. I thought perhaps epoxying the bolts in place, but then if for some reason you uprate the motor with a different frame size that would cause problems.

 

Rob 

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

I am afraid that Ron has it, making new mounts is the easiest way round it. if you have to go to the trouble of special mounting plates and wot not, you may just as well make a new mount in the first place. I must say that I normally use a clamp arrangement for my motors avoiding this problem. Oddly enough i had to remove the motor to fit water cooling on the Seahawk, wot used the standard mount and only just managed it by removing the motor first whith the front screws, …HOWEVER..when replacing the motor i used cap head screws at the front and it was much easier to put back in. An allen key will hold a capped screw on its end , and the bend of the key means you can get to the screw directly underneath the shaft no probs.

 

Ashley

 

 

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Well that just prooves the point I was making!

 

Why should we have to make our own mounts or even mess about with them?

 

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

It depends on whether you are just interested in the finished object so you can just enjoy sailing it.    For myself, I am one of the very few who actually build models for the fun of it.         The great enjoyment for me is planning, adapting, experimenting, building, solving problems etc.     To make a new base for the above motor would take about 20 minutes at the most.     I would just love to cut the metal to size, see the drill biting into it, to countersink the holes and then find the motor is a perfect fit.

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

The point of the thread is…………WHY WHY WHY WHY……SHOULD WE BE MAKING OUR OWN MOTOR BASE?

 

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

I suppose you could buy a ready made boat!   

 

The answer to the question (for me) is that I am a model builder, and I enjoy every aspect of building them!

 

If they did make motors with a large base to suit your requirements, you could be sure that someone else would say “why do they make them so big?”

 

Bob

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

‘For myself, I am one of the very few who actually build models for the
fun of it.         The great enjoyment for me is planning, adapting,
experimenting, building, solving problems etc’.  

 

I wonder what I’ve been doing all this time then!

 

Ian Gardner

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Ian,

 

That is what I meant, if you like building models, these things don’t bother you.      The problem with motor mountings is that the manufacturer cannot please everyone.    If the mounting was made large, I suspect a lot of modellers would say that they were “puished for space” in the hull and the large mount messed it up.     But if the mount is as small as possible, it is no big deal to bolt it to a thin plate that is the size you require! 

 

Bob

[Rick DevonshireParticipant @rickdevonshire]

Ian and Bob are making an interesting point here, some of us enjoy the planning and construction for its own sake, dare I say moreso than actual sailing.

I enjoy the the process of solving the problems I encounter as my project advances, Yes, it can be very frustrating at times but I gain tremendous satisfaction in finding solutions.

I must admit after the the initial ‘shake down cruises’ I sometimes feel a sense of anticlimax as the project is at an end.

Our son is still modelling, but now lives 200 miles away so the ‘bouncing ideas chat’ has to be done over the phone and we don’t get much chance to sail together.    

However as a lone modeller I find this forum very valuable.

 Many thanks to Model Boats!

Rick.

 

Edited By Rick Devonshire on 06/02/2010 05:56:54

Edited By Rick Devonshire on 06/02/2010 05:57:37

Edited By Rick Devonshire on 06/02/2010 05:58:36

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

I think the answer to the question as to why the mounts are not larger has absolutely nothing to do with modellers practices, but is all due to manufacturing economies etc etc.

 

The manufacturer (who is making hundreds of thousands of these things) is sort of obliged to provide a mount, and so they do. The minimum. Any extra metal is a cost both to the raw materials and to the finished packed size (shipping costs).

 

Or am I being too cynical here?

 

Ashley

 

 

[Robert jenkinsParticipant @robertjenkins44209]

Hi all,

Ashley I think you are being a little too cynical. The base’s are correct. 95% of motors are mounted on bed plates which are in turn mounted to the machine structure. So what modellers are doing in affect is building bedplates to suit the desired installation, as each motor can be used in a variety situations. The manufacturer cannot be expected to produce a infinate range of mounts to suit everyone. It is the engineers job to  ‘ think up mini engineering solutions to every little crisis that crops up!…..’ .Quote from Bob Abell PS Great Eastern build ( amazing by the way Mr Abell).

 

Rob 

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Well said….Rob!

 

And I`m very pleased you`ve browsed the epic Great Eastern thread!

It was a fascinating inventive build at the time and also pleasing to read the quote you`ve picked out

 

Thanks for posting………Bob

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Me…cynical..?? never !

 

We should have a quick straw poll of methods of mounting motors.

 

Out of 15 boats / flying-boats and a car…8 of them use my favourite method….threaded posts either side of the motor and a saddle across the top with nuts…and 6 use commercial metal mounts, although only the two kits have powerful engines, the rest being tichy and indeed the mounts are simply araldited to the floor. Motors for the Sunderland were GLUED on to the wings. (toddy 140 can sized things)

 

Thats surprising really.. I though that I only had a few with mounts…just shows you.

 

SO SAYING. All the metal mounts have good access, and so motor changing is easy. I have used the clamp arrangement in a few of the boats as it would be difficult if not impossible to get at the mounting screws of a metal mount once they were fitted in and the rest of the boat was built up.

 

Ashley

 

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

I know this was a while ago now but I realised that one of the things holding me up with my present build was the thought of making two motor mounts for Graupner 700 size motors. I knew that Graupner made mounts for them and so decided to order a couple. When they came I found there was no room for the water  cooling coils!  Grrrr!

 

Hope we’re  all enjoying a bit of Spring weather.

 

Ian

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

http://www.action-electronics.co.uk/pdfs/MOUNTS01.pdf

Second down on the page, with dimensions.

DM

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

Thank you very much! I’ll be in touch.

 

Ian

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

I expect I’m preaching to the converted on this forum but I rang a certain Mr Milbourn yesterday afternoon regarding motor mounts and they were on my doorstep this morning. They are excellent- just what is required and very fairly priced. A small order I know but  what brilliant service!

 

Of course when I need anything electronic, no prizes for  guessing where I shall be looking.

 

Thanks very much indeed.

 

Ian Gardner

 

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