Look closely at the headlight on your engine while it is running - it should of course be shining steadily. Pay careful attention to the light when the engine stars to jerk around - if the light remains steady the problem is likely mechanical, if it flickers in correspondence with the jerking, the problem is likely electrical and is probably a pickup problem.
walt
Check your track, most engines with slides for electrical pickup will run as long as contact with the rail is present. Having the problem all of your b Mann engines sounds like u may have dead spot in a short section of track. 3-6 inches long.
Dave
The head is gray, hands don't work , back is weak, legs give out, eyes are gone, money go's and my wife still love's Me.
Also check if there are pick up "pads" on the bottom of the locomotives. Often, these collect dirt and cause problems.
Another idea....Bachmann uses plastic gears in almost all of its locomotives. If a tooth is in the process of breaking, or has already broken off and is falling around inside the gear box, you might have stalling. However, if ALL of your Bachmann locomotives are having the stalling problem then this probably isn't a likely scenerio.
Could there be a small depression in those areas of your track? USA engines are heavier and a small depression or low spot in the track probably wouldn't bother them. But, might put the Bachmann engines into a tizzy.
I do not suffer from insanity...I enjoy every minute of it!!! Over 60 and still playing with toys!
The only thing I can think of that is common among the Bachmann engines you have is electrical pickup from the trucks.
I have a Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 Consolidation, a Spectrum 2-truck Shay, and a Big Hauler 4-6-0, but I have converted all of them to battery power and don't remember how they were originally wired.
My suggestion would be to find where the pickup wires are connected to the trucks and make sure those connections are tight, especially if they are not soldered.
my bachman engines ,jerk/sputter when running,they run fine at first then they go into this convulsion for a few feet then run fine for a few feet and then repeat all through the course ,track is clean,polished and connections tight,wheels on engines are clean-no dirt or grime and properly lubricated, when running my usa engines there is no problems,they maintain a constant set speed no jerkiness so what should I look for or focus on the bachman engines to get then back up and running right,the engines are a 0-4-0,4-6-0,a two truck shay and a heisler,,I' at my ropes end with these engines,thanks,Bryan
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