Bachmann On30 0-4-0 vs 0-4-2

[Anonymous]

First off I'll say "I woundn't give you a plug nickel for all the old Bachmann Spectrum 0-4-0's ever made." I bought two of them. Both quit before they had run an hour. Those d#$%^&mn crappy spring loaded power pickup pins stuck in both of them. I installed a decoder in one before it quit. That was the most pain in the caboose installations I've done. I wouldn't recommend anyone wasting the time to do one.

Now, I just bought a 0-4-2. One of the new ones. After checking it out in the LHS, I see that Bachmann finally got it together a little better with the new ones. They got rid of the spring loaded pins. They now have bronse wipers on all four drivers. Mine has been running now for about 18 hours with out a problem. It ain't no slow runner, but what the heck, at least it still runs.

Did a decoder install also. After a few wrong turns, I finally found a forum article that gave me enough clues to get the job done.

It's one heck of a lot easier to do than the 0-4-0. The trick seems to be taking the gear cover plate off the wheels, removing the wiper assembly and unsoldering the wires from it. Pull the wiper wires up thru the frame, and solder some new wires to the wiper assembly and pull them up thru the frame so they come out in front of the motor. They need to be about four inches long.
The motor comes out similiar to on the 0-4-0. I had a problem getting the boiler off and ended up giving up. The exploded view shows a screw in the stack. Mine was full of glue or something and I could never get it out. Seems you don't have to. Take out the two screws at the back of the boiler and lift the back end up just a little. You can snap the motor out then. It comes out much easier than the 0-4-0 did.
You still have to grind a channel in the underside of the water tank to clear the wires , and a groove in the cab front for the wires. lead all the wires out to the cab. The cab is still glued on like the old ones. Just pop it loose with a knife and glue it back on when done.
Double stick tape the decoder in wood bin and hook up the wires. Put everything else back together, make it look like ran through a mud hole, and there you are.
Mine ran fine, first shot. Hope yours does too.
Conclusion:
If you want a decoder equiped 0-4-0 or 0-4-2, get the 0-4-2 (late one with the brass wipers). O-4-0? Just take off the rear truck.
I would never buy another of the older 0-4-0's. I plan on buying a couple more of the late 0-4-2's.