Zerogee
Clencher's Bogleman
I posted this yesterday as an addendum to my KoF review thread, but since that is quite old now I don't know how many folks will get to read it - so I thought I'd repost it here as a separate topic for discussion.
When I reviewed the new LGB HSB KoF, Alyn asked me if I'd taken the gearbox apart to see what motor was used - as apparently there have been some rumours that Marklin may have started to use cheap Chinese motors instead of the classic and bulletproof Buhler ones; I didn't go into the gearbox on my KoF, but yesterday I got a sample copy of "Volldampf" magazine (see my separate review thread) which contained a picture which sort of answers the question - or at least appears to:
"Hi Alyn - further to this old post, today I received a sample copy of the German "VOLLDAMPF" magazine - and as luck would have it, there is an article in it about the new KoF, including a photo of the opened-up gearbox!
From that, I can tell you that the motor certainly LOOKS to be a standard LGB Buhler type - it appears to be identical to those in most of my other LGB locos, same casing and brushgear, with the short shaft at each end with brass worms, meshing with idler gears which then transmit power to the axle gears (the idler shafts are to permit the longer wheelbase than the old standard LGB 4-wheel motor block). So, I think any fears of Marklin using cheap Chinese motors instead of Buhler seem to be unfounded at present - unless, of course, the motor is actually a Chinese copy that just LOOKS exactly like a Buhler one...."
Jon.
When I reviewed the new LGB HSB KoF, Alyn asked me if I'd taken the gearbox apart to see what motor was used - as apparently there have been some rumours that Marklin may have started to use cheap Chinese motors instead of the classic and bulletproof Buhler ones; I didn't go into the gearbox on my KoF, but yesterday I got a sample copy of "Volldampf" magazine (see my separate review thread) which contained a picture which sort of answers the question - or at least appears to:
"Hi Alyn - further to this old post, today I received a sample copy of the German "VOLLDAMPF" magazine - and as luck would have it, there is an article in it about the new KoF, including a photo of the opened-up gearbox!
From that, I can tell you that the motor certainly LOOKS to be a standard LGB Buhler type - it appears to be identical to those in most of my other LGB locos, same casing and brushgear, with the short shaft at each end with brass worms, meshing with idler gears which then transmit power to the axle gears (the idler shafts are to permit the longer wheelbase than the old standard LGB 4-wheel motor block). So, I think any fears of Marklin using cheap Chinese motors instead of Buhler seem to be unfounded at present - unless, of course, the motor is actually a Chinese copy that just LOOKS exactly like a Buhler one...."
Jon.
