Hi,

Recently there have been some threads related to performance, durability and reliability of Märklin models (old/new, one type of motor/another, and so on). Somebody stated that old SFCM/LFCM motors were better than DCMs, and even that "old" DCMs were better than "new" DCMs.

As I own far too many locos, I'm trying to make some kind of inventory in order to write down when they are oiled, price, modifications, and everything that could be of interest.

Today I took all the BR89s out of the place where I store them and checked them. I own four of these and it's funny to see that they show many differences, even if theoretically all of them are the same model. There's also a CM800 around which is mechanically the same as the other analog BR89s. One of the differences is the motor type. Some of them have SFCMs, some others have DCMs. There are some new models with 5-pole DCMs, as far as I know, and perhaps some have a can-motor. I'm not sure about this, but, at least, new BR81s have a can motor instead of the SFCM that used to have. In any case, I can not comment about 5-pole BR89s. I do not own any of these and it's clear that I do not need any other BR89.



OK, let's go ahead. The oldest one is a 89 006, SFCM, analog. It has no serial number. metal hook couplers, metal cylinders. 2 intermediate sprockets. It ran somewhat roughly, but after some oiling it has improved a lot. It's not silent, but I wouldn't say it's noisy. It runs quite smoothly, but not as much as the next one. Got it from eBay, the wear in the pickup shoe shown that it had been used a lot.





The next one is mainly the same as the previous one, but it already has a serial number. It came with a start set I purchased for cheap (29201) because the locomotive was "non working, for parts only". It had not only been used but abused. Wheels were out of place, shafts were crossed and the coil was cut. In the pictures you can notice the "wrong" bolt and also a missing bit in the body. After repairing and oiling it, it turns to be the smoothest and best running BR89 I own:





Next one: a BR89 from 2915 start set. The motor is already a DCM, it has a Delta unit, plastic couplers & cylinders. It keeps the intermediate sprockets. It's clearly noticeable that its running characteristics are worse than the analog locos. It's noisier, also, but it's still OK.





Now the last one: This is the loco which was included in the 29145 set. The painting scheme is slightly different, the road number also. While it keeps the DCM motor, the delta unit and the plastic couplers & cylinders, the intermediate sprockets are not there any more. I removed the bulb because in digital operation it was always ON (even when the loco was stopped) and I don't like that (why did they change this if the previous locomotive had the "good" lighting?). This loco operation is a disaster: it's extremely noisy, running characteristics are very, very poor, to the point that I try to avoid using it. It will move when the regulator it's almost at full, and shows always a jerky running. Oiling it improves nothing (and it's not dirty or mistreated, in fact it's the only "new" BR89 I own, it has been properly run-in, there should be nothing wrong with it).





So far, I do not know if it's the DCM motor or the Delta unit what makes a difference. But even between "old" and "new" DCMs+Delta there are some noticeable differences, regarding performance & noise. Maybe Oscar was right. What do you think?

**UPDATE** I'm adding the CM800 pictures as today I've oiled it and I've seen that, in addition to the external "obvious" differences (lettering -89 028- and two bulbs in CM800 model), the motor is also different. This motor is mainly a primitive SFCM with a different motor cover, which does not include the housing for the oil foam but has a brass bearing:





The last Delta version can not withstand a comparison with the primitive CM800 in terms of constructive quality.

I have a CM800 from around 1958, and a 3000 which is only about a year younger. Both are mechanically identical with SFCM motors.

The CM800 is still analogue and runs very smoothly forwards, but runs more slowly with a high pitched whine when moving backwards. I suspect I've run it much more in one direction and this has worn the gears unevenly. It's still a lovely runner though.

The 3000 was modified with a delta decoder a couple of years ago. It runs just as smoothly as the CM800, except at very low speeds, where it "lunges" slightly as the motor rotates. Considering that it's using it's original AC motor I am satisfied with its performance.

Hi Ray,

I have another CM800 as well, although this one is in need of a complete overhauling (as some others).

I had a loco once which did exactly the same as your CM800. It ran smoother in one sense than in the other. At the end the problem was that, due to the fact that it had been run mostly in one sense, the hard brush got an "angle" wear. In my case, a new brush solved the problem.

Hi Roland,
I think your post summarize it well in regard to the variety of Marklin motors and what leads to the present.

On the subject of marketing/communication of their Sinus motor - I can't agree more completely. Marklin obviously trying to look distinctive - pointing out that their version of brushless motor is more superior than all other types, but ends up confusing customers.

(well, to be fair, car companies started this "marketing" practice with dozens of different acronym pointing to the same thing - like VTEC, VVTi, VANOS or VSC, VSA, ESC, and so on..)

"SDS" hype in particular is misleading to existing customers as the basic motor in use is still exactly the same as the original Marklin "compact-design (sinus) motor" introduced in 2005 - as it turns out, this only points to updated electronics for models with this motor.

But then models released before 2007 that are still being produced now are still regarded as non-SDS in the database although the newer batches are obviously would had been built with up-to-date electronics. Confused yet?