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Spectrum Consolidation

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  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
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Spectrum Consolidation
Posted by cacole on Saturday, September 6, 2003 9:35 PM
[?] Does anyone have a better wiring schematic for a Bachmann Spectrum Narrow-Gauge 2-8-0 Consolidation than the one that is packed with the locomotive? I just bought a new one and three wires have broken loose from their soldered connections -- one from the motor and pink and red wires from the NMRA/NEM switch in the smoke box. The schematics that are packed with the locomotive don't show wire colors, and I can't tell where the wire should go that has broken away from the motor. The soldering of wires on this particular locomotive is extremely crude and appears to have been done by someone who was just learning how. These locomotives are so heavy, that sending it back to Bachmann for repair seems to be a no-win situation, even though they would repair it for free since it is only two months old and hasn't even been run yet.
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Spectrum Consolidation
Posted by cacole on Saturday, September 6, 2003 9:35 PM
[?] Does anyone have a better wiring schematic for a Bachmann Spectrum Narrow-Gauge 2-8-0 Consolidation than the one that is packed with the locomotive? I just bought a new one and three wires have broken loose from their soldered connections -- one from the motor and pink and red wires from the NMRA/NEM switch in the smoke box. The schematics that are packed with the locomotive don't show wire colors, and I can't tell where the wire should go that has broken away from the motor. The soldering of wires on this particular locomotive is extremely crude and appears to have been done by someone who was just learning how. These locomotives are so heavy, that sending it back to Bachmann for repair seems to be a no-win situation, even though they would repair it for free since it is only two months old and hasn't even been run yet.
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Smoggy L.A.
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Posted by vsmith on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 11:03 AM
Try to contact Bachmann thru their website and go to "ask the Bach man" . I have had pretty good response from them I am sure they can get you the info you need.

www.bachmanntrains.com

   Have fun with your trains

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Smoggy L.A.
  • 10,743 posts
Posted by vsmith on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 11:03 AM
Try to contact Bachmann thru their website and go to "ask the Bach man" . I have had pretty good response from them I am sure they can get you the info you need.

www.bachmanntrains.com

   Have fun with your trains

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Friday, September 19, 2003 8:43 AM
Bachmann's reply to another person who asked about the wiring was told that the manufacturer in China is just using whatever color wire happens to be available and there is no color coding. Evidentally, no two locomotives are going to be wired with the same colors, so it appears that the only thing to do now is trace each wire individually, or tear the whole thing apart and rewire it myself.
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Friday, September 19, 2003 8:43 AM
Bachmann's reply to another person who asked about the wiring was told that the manufacturer in China is just using whatever color wire happens to be available and there is no color coding. Evidentally, no two locomotives are going to be wired with the same colors, so it appears that the only thing to do now is trace each wire individually, or tear the whole thing apart and rewire it myself.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 8:21 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by cacole

Bachmann's reply to another person who asked about the wiring was told that the manufacturer in China is just using whatever color wire happens to be available and there is no color coding. Evidentally, no two locomotives are going to be wired with the same colors, so it appears that the only thing to do now is trace each wire individually, or tear the whole thing apart and rewire it myself.



That seems a bit scary to me. Yikes! Does this pretain to all Bachamann Locos. I was thinking about opening one up for some tampering, but there goes that idea.

Capt Carrales
  • Member since
    April 2003
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 8:21 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by cacole

Bachmann's reply to another person who asked about the wiring was told that the manufacturer in China is just using whatever color wire happens to be available and there is no color coding. Evidentally, no two locomotives are going to be wired with the same colors, so it appears that the only thing to do now is trace each wire individually, or tear the whole thing apart and rewire it myself.



That seems a bit scary to me. Yikes! Does this pretain to all Bachamann Locos. I was thinking about opening one up for some tampering, but there goes that idea.

Capt Carrales
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 9:16 PM
Read my post under Battery Power / Radio Control about the AirWire 900 DCC Radio Control System for more information about my experience with the Bachmann Narrow Gauge Consolidation's wiring problems. According to what I have read on Bachmann's Web site, this wiring problem is not unique to the Consolidation, but is something all of their G-scale products are subjected to.
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 9:16 PM
Read my post under Battery Power / Radio Control about the AirWire 900 DCC Radio Control System for more information about my experience with the Bachmann Narrow Gauge Consolidation's wiring problems. According to what I have read on Bachmann's Web site, this wiring problem is not unique to the Consolidation, but is something all of their G-scale products are subjected to.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 10:27 AM
quality built by 8 year olds [B)]
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 10:27 AM
quality built by 8 year olds [B)]

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