Hi All, I'm wondering how to fix shorting problems on Older Bachmann Engines (mines the Bachmann Hogwarts Express an old model, I got it for Christmas 2018)
Would electrical tape work to insulate the chassis, would that not work or what would be the best way to fix my situation? Thank you for any replies regarding my problem
Safety Valve Hi All, I'm wondering how to fix shorting problems on Older Bachmann Engines (mines the Bachmann Hogwarts Express an old model, I got it for Christmas 2018) Would electrical tape work to insulate the chassis, would that not work or what would be the best way to fix my situation? Thank you for any replies regarding my problem
What kind shorting problems are you getting? The minute you put it on the track ( or turn the power on)? Or is it when it is running? Is it intermittent or a dead short?
The Hogwarts Express has a split metal frame with plastic spacers, so I'm not sure where you would insulate it with tape. I suppose the motor tabs could be shorting between the frames, so you could put tape on them.
Gary
Do other trains short on the layout? The the Hogwarts short at certains spots on the layout?
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
If yours is like mine, the tender is totally insulated from the engine. In other words, the tender does not pick up any power for the engine, correct? So it cannot be a tender issue. Does it always short, or only intermittently? Unless there is a track problem, it is probably some kind of lose wire or power pickup issues on the drivers. After screening out the possibility of a track problem - such as crossing over switches or a wye - you might have to open up the engine and see what is going on. I'm at work now, so I can't look at mine and give you any guidance on how to do this. It can't be that hard because I managed to hardwire a DCC decoder on it... I just can't remember without seeing it.
Simon
I just went to the Bachmann site and below is the diagram. Not much to it. To my knowledge. the tenders had all plastic wheels and plastic coupling to the loco.
https://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=68_161
I have a 0-6-0 and it is a split frame. Mine is converted to DCC.
Don't use electrical tape. Messy. Use Kapton tape. Thin and tough. Used in DCC mods.
Look for a electrical short between frame halves.
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.
BEEN THERE DONE THAT, ORDER NEW MOTOR FROM BACHMANN FOR $16.00 AND 2 NEW INSULATOR FOAMS . THE CHASSIS IS SHOWING SHORT BUT ITS THE MOTOR, WILL NOT START TO TURN IF YOU HOLD YOUR FINGER AGAINST IT, BUT HARD TO STOP ONCE SPINNING. SOMETHING INTERNAL, MOTOR WILL GET VERY HOT , THAT IS WHY YOU WILL NEED NEW FOAM. MOTOR HAS NO USER ACCESS.
CREATIVEDAVE BEEN THERE DONE THAT, ORDER NEW MOTOR FROM BACHMANN FOR $16.00 AND 2 NEW INSULATOR FOAMS . THE CHASSIS IS SHOWING SHORT BUT ITS THE MOTOR, WILL NOT START TO TURN IF YOU HOLD YOUR FINGER AGAINST IT, BUT HARD TO STOP ONCE SPINNING. SOMETHING INTERNAL, MOTOR WILL GET VERY HOT , THAT IS WHY YOU WILL NEED NEW FOAM. MOTOR HAS NO USER ACCESS. Safety Valve Hi All, I'm wondering how to fix shorting problems on Older Bachmann Engines (mines the Bachmann Hogwarts Express an old model, I got it for Christmas 2018) Would electrical tape work to insulate the chassis, would that not work or what would be the best way to fix my situation? Thank you for any replies regarding my problem
Could very well be. The motor in mine went bad, so I replaced it. It ran very poorly at first, then seemed to be overheating. I don't believe it shorted out, but that's the next step.
You can buy a nearly identical motor very cheaply, but getting the worm off the old one and on the new one can be tricky, so buying from Bachmann may be the best course.
I did add pickups to the tender, and installed a DCC decoder as well as an MRC Steam Sounder. I bought a junked set just for the cars and to use the loco for parts, in case the motor dies again. I got some Harry Potter figures from a dicers game that are about HO scale, so I thought I was set...then my daughter completely lost interest.