Mabuchi motor - timeline?

[WillyChang]

Can anyone confirm for sure when Tamiya changed from:-

1) black endbell to white endbell?

2) white endbell to metal endbell?

[WillyChang]

hoo... wuttha... seems to have doubled up.

Can we delete 1 pls, Chris?

[Shodog]

Willy you only need to type your question on one of your computers rather than both. It's hard to say whent he switch was. my Fav and wild one came with the black endbell motor while. the monster beetle and black foot had the white endbell.

Jim

[RichieRich]

Interesting question. When I first started in the hobby, all my kits came with a black plastic endbell. Then I took a break around 1990. When I started up again, all the endbells went to black metal. I don't even recall seeing white plastic.

[snollan]

I don't think its a matter of switching endbells. Mabuchi just ships what they have stocked at the time. Its like Chrysler in the mid 60's. They made intake manifolds with the distibutor in three different spots. You could get a 440 wedge with the dis in the front(FORD like), side (Most Chryslers), and back (GM). I'm sure that for a wile it was black, then white, then metal.

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I am so smart, I am so smart! S-M-R-T..I mean S-M-A-R-T!!

[DJTheo]

Very early cars had even white endbells before the black ones, RS-380 on 934-935, propably on more...

http://www.vintagetamiyarc.com/

[WillyChang]

I only bought 1 new Tamiya in the 1980s... and it was a SuperSabre kit which came with a Johnson 05 white endbell.

We now have a "newbuilt" Hotshot from the 'states which came with a metal endbell RS540SH... which looks a little odd, as I'd think its too new for a Hotshot - but its impossible to tell on catalog pix as all the Hotshots have a rubberbag over motor. Maybe I should just swap in a blue-butt BlackMotor; or get me a rubberbag.

Every WildOne kit I've seen has come with a black endbell 540.

Mabuchi 540s are generally black plastic endbelled.

Johnson 05s are generally white plastic endbelled.

Yes the *early* 360 Mabuchis were white, but when the 380 came along new-in-kitbox all I've seen are black ones.

Yes Tamiya today uses the metal-endbell Mabuchis (round sticker) and Johnsons (ink code printed) interchangeably in their kits. These usually have a Chromed can... but the pix of the TT01 (RTR "XB" TB01) is interesting - the can looks unchromed.

[DJTheo]

HotShots all are from the black endbell era, as its also from the time of Wild One.

quote: Yes the *early* 360 Mabuchis were white, but when the 380 came along new-in-kitbox all I've seen are black ones.

id=quote>id=quote>

No, the early 380s had a white endbell, can see it on my 935, 312T, Laborghini Countach, Renault F2, guess changed around Holiday Buggy...

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/getuserimage.asp...002133708_3.jpg

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/getuserimage.asp...002184448_3.jpg

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/getuserimage.asp...002184112_2.jpg

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/getuserimage.asp...002140835_3.jpg

http://www.vintagetamiyarc.com/

[WillyChang]

Pretty sure my 936 has a black butt.

Would it have been common for Tamiya to have used both maybe.

Are they both Mabuchis? Are any "380" made by Johnson?

[DJTheo]

Maybe your 936 was retrofitted a black one? Think they are Mabuchis, will check tonight...

http://www.vintagetamiyarc.com/

[WillyChang]

quote:

Maybe your 936 was retrofitted a black one?

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id=quote>id=quote>

No chance, built it new from kit in 1978.

To a little kid, when the manual indicates "grease the rear axle", one greases the WHOLE rear axle... heeheehee. And the whole diff, and the whole pinion - no chance of rust anywhere!!