For Christmas, I purchased a Bachmann Shay for my garden railroad. The person I purchased it from told me that it was new in the box and was never run. The problem was no paperwork, mainly no manual. I understand before running the engine you need to special oil the drive units. Does anyone know where I can get or download a manual? What are the things I need to do before running and what oils or greases is need to prepare the engines. I have tried "Ask Bachmann" but got no answer at this time.
John Murray
John, get in touch with Curmudgean/TOC here, he great with all things Bachmann and would have the answer for you.
Send him a e-mail at nwrcs.mindspring.com
Hi If you have any other Bachmann locos just follw the pre grease and oil, Live by the addage if it moves oil it if it drives IE grears grease it but do not over do it too much can be as bad as too little.
Enjoy running it over Christmas
Age is only a state of mind, keep the mind active and enjoy life
First of all, I would contact the person you purchased the locomotive from and find out what he did with the manual and video tape -- they should have been in the box if it had never been opened, as he claimed. Was it still in its original red Bachmann box, securely surrounded with styrofoam? The manual and video tape were in a recess on top of the styrofoam. If not, then the engine is not new and unopened.
Lubrication procedures are very detailed and complex, including pictures of everything, and are explained on the video tape or in the manual. If you can't find one of these, send me an e-mail and I will either copy the video to a DVD or scan a copy of the applicable pages of the manual and mail to you if you'll pick up the postage costs.
I can't locate the video tape offhand, and the printed manual has no part number on it, but their contact information is given as follows:
Bachmann Industries, Inc., 1400 East Erie Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19124. Phone 215-533-1600. Fax 215-744-4699. e-mail service@bachmanntrains.com
The manual states very emphatically, "As it comes from the factory, your Shay requires lubrication before you run it for the first time. Failure to perform this initial lubrication may result in damage to your locomotive."
There are some hidden areas on the bottom and inside the locomotive that require lubrication through a small oiling hole, and the manual warns to never remove the cover from the bottom of the trucks to perform this lubrication. Without the manual, you're not going to know where to look. Just saying "oil everything that moves" doesn't work with the Shay because there are some small rubber plugs in the holes where it needs oiling, and some of these are hard to find.
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