Not All Scalextric Lotuses are Created Equal...

[strummer57]

My first example of the Lotus 16 has a brass axle gear assembly; since the ends of the axles are "buggered" up, they won't accept wheels, so it's basically useless. A fellow Forum member graciously supplied me with a donor "16", which I am using for parts, including that rear axle.

I had assumed that the axle would simply be a drop in replacement, but this donor has a nylon gear assembly. Here are the two side by side:


The "collar" (to the right of the motor's gear) on the brass example is 21/64", or .328; the nylon "collar" is 23/64" or .359. The motor gears (pinions?) apparently are not at the exact same place on their shafts, so that gear contacts the collar if the motor on the right is tried with the axle on the left. So these items (motor and axles) are not really compatible "as is" and cannot be simply exchanged between units. Luckily the donor motor runs well, so I can use it.

I find this to be a little odd, and am posting this here so that anyone else out there like me (who doesn't anything!) can be aware of this anomaly...

Mark in Oregon

[Mitch58]

Mark,
That's why several of my 1/32 "restorations" end up with Slot It running gear, and the old 1/24 scale stuff comes out of a deep spares box.

[strummer57]

Mark,
That's why several of my 1/32 "restorations" end up with Slot It running gear...

Interesting. So something like the "Slot It" might be a drop-in replacement?

Mark in Oregon

[Mitch58]

Interesting. So something like the "Slot It" might be a drop-in replacement?

Mark in Oregon

Not a direct drop in, you'd have to make it fit.
In this case you just need to move your gear, with a puller or press you can move the pinion on the shaft until it fits.

[chrisguyw]

Interesting. So something like the "Slot It" might be a drop-in replacement?

Mark in Oregon

As stated above, the simplest fix is to move the pinion...bear in mind that your Scaley motor has a shaft dia. of .093, not .078, so while "pulling" there will not be an issue with most pullers,....."pressing", may be an issue, depending on your press.

You could also turn/file/sand the nylon boss on the Scaley Crown gear a touch.....(easy and no real tools needed)

While lots of folks do substitute "newer" parts (Slot-it/Scaleauto/SCC. etc. etc.) into some of the vintage cars, there are a few things to consider...............

Your Scaley uses 48P gears (pinion and Crown), and while they can be used with the more modern .5 Module (roughly 50P) gears (Slot-it etc.).....they won't have the best mesh, and will be nosier than normal, so, it is best to change both pinion and Crown.

Additionally, your current motor has a shaft dia. of .093, so any current .5 module pinions (Slot-it/NSR/Scaleauto etc. etc.) will need to bored out to fit.

While changing to newer parts is not difficult, it is not "plug and play"

Cheers
Chris Walker