I had visitors over Christmas who wanted to "play with my train set". Unfortunately, my steam loco got disconnected from the caboose - brute force separation that pulled all the DCC wires from the connector block to the loco.
My question is can this be fixed. I see my options as trying to rewire the plug - but not sure my eyesight is up to that. Buy another wiring harness from Bachmann and solder the new one into place. Give up - and put it down to Christmas goodwill to all men - event those who wreck your trains.
Happy New Year 2015.
Chris.
Loco Guy - is a state of mind - not an affinity to locomotives.
Sit back and enjoy your track...
Chris:
Did you mean, the steam engine got disconected from its' tender, (the car that carrys coal (or oil or wood) behind the steam loco i.e, wiring btw the two with a DCC plug? Caboose???
Victor
Go to the Bachmann site. They sell the harness. I bought a set couple years ago.
With small hands, i strongly suggest letting them use a diesel. No steamers anywhere around.
Rich
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.
Victor - yes - the tender not the caboose :-)
Rich - I'll check out the Bachmann site and order the harness.
Thanks for the help guys :-))
Rich,
It wasn't small hands that did it - it was my son in his 30's with hands like a quaterback who can wrap the entire ball with one hand. It was his first time handling any locomotive so it's to be expected. He just wanted to have some fun.
But I think we'll be okay with a new harness - so no harm done - and he had a lot of fun with my other diesels - pulling 20 or more cars behind each one. Newbie enthusiasm - I think I got him hooked. So hopefully a new model railroader in the wings.
Yeah, the tender can easily be unhooked from the loco. hope you know how to solder. In my loco the wires attached inside the tender so not a problem and I have been soldering since 1953. I use a solder station now with fine tip.
Lots of good info at the Bachmann site and you might consider joining the forums. company reps there also. Forums for different scales.
Hi, You might find it easier to send the loco off to Bachmann for them to do the repair. Over the years I've sent a number of locos away to Bachmann for servicing / repairs and received faultless service every time. Also much easier than trying to fix fiddly wires (with the usual degree of frustration this involves!)
Ian
challenger3802 Hi, You might find it easier to send the loco off to Bachmann for them to do the repair. Over the years I've sent a number of locos away to Bachmann for servicing / repairs and received faultless service every time. Also much easier than trying to fix fiddly wires (with the usual degree of frustration this involves!) Ian
Good idea. Check the Bachmann Parts and Repair page.
rich
Thanks for the info guys.
I checked the service page and it says "repairs free for 1st year" - I just wonder does that include "accidental damage". I'll fill out the form and let you know how I get on.
A BIG thank you to challenger3802 and richg1998.
I sent the loco back to Bachmann for "free" repair and they sent me back a complete new unit.
I guess they ignored my attempt to make the loco more "my style" meaning the custom paint job - or perhaps they were horrified by it. Anyhoo - I got a brand new loco back.
Bachmann exceeded my expectations and that is rare these days.
That is typical of Bachmann. Seems to me that they could have replaced the broken harness. But the current practice is to just send a new loco as a replacement. Consider yourself fortunate if you got the same type of loco in return. Usually, Bachmann won't have the same type of loco in stock so your only choice is to select a different type of loco.
Alton Junction
I'm not surprised. Bachmann has been moving up in the world as a supplier of locomotives. I've got 4 of them now, and I'm happy with them all. I've swapped e-mails with them to get information, and they always responded quickly and accurately.
Repair is expensive and can take time. While your engine might have been a fairly easy job, others might not be, and it probably actually costs them less in the long run to simply replace engines rather than trying to fix them all.
You're a happy customer, and even better, you've spoken well of Bachmann in a place where your words will be heard and taken seriously. Enjoy your engine, but keep it out of the hands of quarterbacks.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Like most made in China equipment, I doubt they have many if any spare parts stocked. Since not every loco is out of production the minute it hits the shelves, they DO have complete replacements available to honor the warranty.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker Like most made in China equipment, I doubt they have many if any spare parts stocked. Since not every loco is out of production the minute it hits the shelves, they DO have complete replacements available to honor the warranty.
I have owned seven Bachmann steam locomotives. I had to return two for repairs and in each case had to settle for a different type of loco as a replacement. I wound up selling both of those replacement locos plus three of my other Bachmann locos, leaving me with only two.
I wouldn't buy another Bachmann loco, mainly because if anything goes wrong and I need to return it for repairs, I am unlikely to get it back or an identical one as a replacement. So, ehy bother to buy it in the first place?
richhotrainmainly because if anything goes wrong and I need to return it for repairs, I am unlikely to get it back or an identical one as a replacement.
I tend to agree with you. Of course one could also say that if some other brand of loco develops a serious problem then one could end up with nothing.
maxman richhotrain mainly because if anything goes wrong and I need to return it for repairs, I am unlikely to get it back or an identical one as a replacement. I tend to agree with you. Of course one could also say that if some other brand of loco develops a serious problem then one could end up with nothing.
richhotrain mainly because if anything goes wrong and I need to return it for repairs, I am unlikely to get it back or an identical one as a replacement.
I have 3 Proto Heritage steam engines, and none of them ever has needed repair.
So, my only disappointment is with Bachmann.
Well Guys (and Gals),
I got my replacement on the layout and it runs just fine - same loco as purchased in the original set - not hard to do as it was an ECHO VALLEY train set.
Put it on the programming track and adusted a few CV's and now it working just fine.
I hear all of the other opinions but for an old guy like me to have the manufacturer replace the item free of charge gives me peace of mind.
I wish I could afford some of those fancy locos that are built to much higher standards but the safety net of buying a mass produced item that is well supported is a better option for me.
Thanks for all your help here on MR.