Trainaud(LegoRailCreaties) Posted November 10, 2020 Hello everyone While I was testing my HLE 21 Locomotive moc, I noticed that the speed seemed very slow. It uses 2 L-motors that are gearend with a 20 tooth gear and a 12 tooth gear. This is then connected to another 12 tooth gear that drives the other 12 tooth gears connected to the wheels Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
High_Admiral Posted November 10, 2020 First thing I'd check is if the gears are meshing correctly. I once had a model that while moving would work itself loose and the gears would just keep skipping teeth until it just didn't mesh at all because it knocked itself that far out of alignment. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1963maniac Posted November 10, 2020 Make sure your motors are not spinning against each other? This also sounds like too much backlash. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trainaud(LegoRailCreaties) Posted November 10, 2020 46 minutes ago, High_Admiral said: First thing I'd check is if the gears are meshing correctly. I once had a model that while moving would work itself loose and the gears would just keep skipping teeth until it just didn't mesh at all because it knocked itself that far out of alignment. I have checked it and it doesn't skip gears ,but thanks for the help anyway 29 minutes ago, 1963maniac said: Make sure your motors are not spinning against each other? This also sounds like too much backlash. They aren't spinning against eachother. Thanks for the help. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Duq Posted November 10, 2020 What do you call very slow? Crawling, or just slower than a train motor? If it's the latter - that's normal. Is it slow in a straight line or only around curves? If it has a problem in curves, remove friction bands on one side of the engine. If it's really crawling, test individual parts; are the motors spinning ok outside of the model? Do the wheels spin freely when the motors are removed? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr_spock Posted November 10, 2020 The L motor isn't very fast. You would have to gear up more to go faster. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Selander Posted November 11, 2020 (edited) Normally there is room within the bogie itself to put a horisontal 20T gear which in turn drives the vertical 12T which are on the wheel axles. That way you get a slight boost in speed. A bit like this, although this shows a fixed motor, not a bogie. But I think you get my point... Edited November 11, 2020 by Selander Spelling mistake. Picture inserted Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trainaud(LegoRailCreaties) Posted November 11, 2020 2 hours ago, Selander said: Normally there is room within the bogie itself to put a horisontal 20T gear which in turn drives the vertical 12T which are on the wheel axles. That way you get a slight boost in speed. A bit like this, although this shows a fixed motor, not a bogie. But I think you get my point... Thanks for the help. I think I'll use that 20T gear instead of a 12T, but I don't have it in my collection , so I have buy it on Bricklink. 14 hours ago, Duq said: What do you call very slow? Crawling, or just slower than a train motor? If it's the latter - that's normal. Is it slow in a straight line or only around curves? If it has a problem in curves, remove friction bands on one side of the engine. If it's really crawling, test individual parts; are the motors spinning ok outside of the model? Do the wheels spin freely when the motors are removed? https://youtu.be/NjiPCW93AhM Here is some footage of it running at top speed. It's remarkably slower than a train motor at top speed. It handles curves fine in my opinion. There shouldn't be any problem with the motors because they're brand new, but thanks for helping. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dtomsen Posted November 11, 2020 (edited) That speed is normal and fine for two L-Motors with 20 to 12 tooth gearing. I had exactly the same reaction when I transitioned from Train motors to Technic motors with much lower rpm (but much more torgue) You are comparing ~1.458 rpm to ~453 rpm max. speed with completely fresh AAA batteries.https://www.philohome.com/motors/motorcomp.htm One of the (few) ways to get more speed is to send more voltage to the L-Motors. Either by using a BuWizz battery box or by using rechargeable 1,6v NiZn batteries in the standard AAA battery box. The L-Motors can easily handle more than the stated 9v. Or buy a L-Motor with more rpm from a competitor Max. speed using the same configuration as you with 7,4v: Max. speed using the same configuration as you with 9,2v: Max. speed using the same configuration as you with 10,2v: Edited November 11, 2020 by dtomsen Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trainaud(LegoRailCreaties) Posted November 11, 2020 3 hours ago, dtomsen said: That speed is normal and fine for two L-Motors with 20 to 12 tooth gearing. I had exactly the same reaction when I transitioned from Train motors to Technic motors with much lower rpm (but much more torgue) You are comparing ~1.458 rpm to ~453 rpm max. speed with completely fresh AAA batteries.https://www.philohome.com/motors/motorcomp.htm One of the (few) ways to get more speed is to send more voltage to the L-Motors. Either by using a BuWizz battery box or by using rechargeable 1,6v NiZn batteries in the standard AAA battery box. The L-Motors can easily handle more than the stated 9v. Or buy a L-Motor with more rpm from a competitor Max. speed using the same configuration as you with 7,4v: Max. speed using the same configuration as you with 9,2v: Max. speed using the same configuration as you with 10,2v: Thank you very much helping me. I was thinking about maybe buying a BuWizz battery box, but now you have convinced me to actually buy one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
