Hello all
I have a Bachmann HO Heavy Mountain that is not getting any power from the track through the left hand side drivers.
Just wondering, before I pull it apart, if anyone else has had the same problem and what the fix was.
Bill
Losing power to one side on that loco seems weird.
At one time, I had two of the Spectrum Heavy Mountain locos.
One was fine, but I sold it on eBay.
The other had all kinds of pickup problems, so I returned it to Bachmann for repairs. They claimed that they no longer had the necessary repair parts so they sent me a replacement. Different style steamer, different road name, so I dumped it on eBay.
The pick up problem had to do with the wipers. I bought that steamer in 2004, the non-sound version. The pickup arrangement was a thin sheet of copper with the wipers fitting up against each driver. Those wipers had a tendency to get bent out of position, often getting mangled in the process.
Before you disassemble it, take a real close look at the power pickups to see how they are designed and whether they are making contact with the drivers if they are wipers.
Rich
Alton Junction
If it's anything like what the above poster says and like the N Scale Model Power Mikados and Pacifics, then it's the wipers. I'm going to guess and say that the wipers are no longer soldered to the wire that they're supposed to be soldered to.
They could also just be real dirty or covered in grease or oil. Pick-ups are almost always neglected, when a person cleans an Engine, of any kind. I would do that first, before anything.
Frank
You might also want to check the plugs between loco and tender. I run DC and have re-wired my locos to eliminate the Bachmann plugs, but the stock set-up runs the power from the drivers back to the circuit board in the tender then through the decoder, if installed, and then to the motor.Mine are wired directly from drivers to motor, and with additional current collection from the tender trucks.
It would be unusual for all the wipers on one side to not be contacting, unless you've recently had the bottom cover plate removed and misaligned the wipers on re-assembly.
Wayne
I also agree with Doc Wayne, I forgot to mention..the plug, which makes the most sense.
Below is the diagram for the Spectrum Heavy Mountain.
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/H825X-IS001.PDF
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
In that diagram, Part No. H816X-MT018 is the power pickup for the driver wheels. Those copper fingers extend down from the copper pad and rest against the driver wheels picking up power. Make sure those fingers, or wipers, are securely in place.
Thank you all for replying. As suggested I have checked the wipers and cleaned the inside of the wheels. What I did eventually find is that one of the wires coming from the two pin plug had broken but the wire was still attached by the insulation.
Not sure how to fix though. Is this a standard two pin plug?
BILL,
You should be able to get replacements from Bachmann:
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/index.php
Or you can cut the wire where broke, insert a piece of heat shrink tubing on the wire, solder two wires that you cut and stripped, covering with the tubing.
zstripe BILL, You should be able to get replacements from Bachmann: http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/index.php Or you can cut the wire where broke, insert a piece of heat shrink tubing on the wire, solder two wires that you cut and stripped, covering with the tubing. Frank
I have done that but some years ago. Forgot about it. Never did find those connectors at a couple online industrial electronics parts site and they show many different varieties of connectors.
zstripe BILL, You should be able to get replacements from Bachmann: http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/index.php
Yes, found it. $4.00 from Bachmann.
Thank you all.
Bill.
bagal zstripe BILL, You should be able to get replacements from Bachmann: http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/index.php Yes, found it. $4.00 from Bachmann. Thank you all. Bill.
Bill,
Good for You.
When You get the new one...see if you can fix the other one for a spare, can't hurt nothing.
Take Care!