How to wire two motors and one reverse unit

by John D LeBaron published 2023-03-18 and 19 on Facebook in the Custom Marx Trains group

For those wanting to wire to motors and one reverse unit, here's how I did it.
I had to tweak my instructions a little. the brushplates must be wired to each other, not to the pickup shoe. The motors weren't running correctly the other way, the trailing motor was overheating the field coil. Here's the new improved correct version: for those wanting to wire to motors and one reverse unit, here's how I did it.

First remove the reverse unit from one motor by unsoldering the two wires on either side that go to the field coil as well as the pickup shoe wire and brush plate wire from the reverse unit.
Run jumper wires from each end of the field coil of the "master" motor (the one with the reverse unit) to the corresponding wires on the "slave" unit. Make sure to get them right or the motors will run in opposite directions. (red & yellow arrows)
Run a jumper wire from upper terminal of the master brush plate to the brush plate wire of the slave. (white arrows)
Run a jumper wire to the each brush plate post to ground both units. (pink arrows) You can also run a jumper wire to both pickup shoes together for better conductivity through switches and such if you wish (wire directly pickup shoe to pickup shoe, NOT to the brush plate of either motor)

Photo 1 – Overall Plan

brush plate wires get wired directly to each other (white arrows) frames get grounded to each other from jumper wire to brush plate mounting post on each motor (pink wire).

Photo 2 – Side View

Brush plate wires get wired directly to each other (white arrows) frames get grounded to each other from jumper wire to brush plate mounting post on each motor (pink wire)

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