I have a Bachmann Spectrum GE 44 Ton switcher that has been on my shelf for years. Got it out recently to discover that only one motor is running. I checked the wiring over with my OHM meter and it appears that I have a connection from wheels on each side of the truck up to the circuit board. I'm thinking that maybe the motor is dead? Both lights work according to direction. So my two questions are: is this worth repairing (very subjective, I know), and where can I find a replacement motor?
I also just noticed that it has a lifetime warranty. I even have the reciept from 2001. Is it worth pursuing this?
Given prior reports on the dual motor versions, I'd say chances are quite good you have a bad motor. Bachmann does honor the warranty though, so you can get it fixed. The newer versions have a more conventional diesel drive system with a signle motor and are considered much more reliable - to the point of people buying the new ones in whatever roadname they could find and swapping the shells.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Hi!
I had the old version (atsf) and it ran ok for some time. I dropped it once and had to rebuild a good portion of it so I was pretty familiar with the two motor version. I always thought having two motors would be a plus, but it was just OK operationally. Ha, OK is pretty good actually! Anyway, I eventually sold it on Ebay and bought a new one with the single motor.
May I suggest you open it up and run two wires from your powerpack directly to the motor in question. I doubt your problem is the motor itself, and would guess it lies in the path from the rails to the motor.
Hey, FWIW!
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
I had the same problem. Bachmann, for u$s 15.-, will send you a new motor. Bye
Thanks, everyone, for the response. I went to Bachmann's website and entered a ticket for warranty service, but I haven't heard anything back after 3 days. Does it normally take them some time to respond, or are they blowin me off? $15 for a motor - that's not a bad deal. Just bothers me that the motor doesn't even have an hour of run time on it...
I have an old model with the two motors. After about 30 minuts, it lost traction on one motor. I opened it up and found a cracked gear, letting it slip on the shaft. I wrote Bachmann, and they sent me a net of gears with a bill for 7.50. It doesn't soundf like much but it ticked me off having to pay for the gears while it was on warenty.
BOB
Sandy Southern R.R.