Does anyone know a replacement for the electrical wipers for the Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0?
I finally figured out why my loco's are running poorly, the electrical pickups are "wimpy" at best, plus I don't understand why Bachmann didn't use the tender wheels for pickup.
Anyone have any insight on either replacement part(s), modifications or any other suggestions to make these better runners?
Thanks in advance!!!
Already tried that, the wipers are so thin they are flimsy and just don't make good contact.
I could send it back to Bachmann but eventually the same problem will probably reoccur.
I have the spectrum model, that's the one I'm having problems with.
The front and rear tender wheels pickup from the track. One truck the right rail, the other truck the left rail. Use Kadee #5 springs to make pickups for the opposite side of each tender truck. I drilled and tapped for 00-90 machine screws. Used very flexible #30 wire for connecting. Found this idea at Harold M site that went away quite a few months ago. Make sure the axles are clean where the original wipers pick up. Clean wheels, drives and tender trucks.
Drivers.
http://members.shaw.ca/the.trainman/LV_Workshop/pesky-pickups/
Store in Favorites for future use.
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.
Ben,
I doubt if you have the 'Spectrum' 2-8-0. It has electrical pickup in both the engine and tender. The Bachmann 'Standard Line' 2-8-0 has a cheap drive with poor electrical pickup in the engine itself. It is a model of a Reading prototype and has a wide firebox ahead of the cab.. I have a pair of the Spectrum 2-8-0's from different runs - both run very nice.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Nope I have the Spectrum model.
The electrical pickup from the tender is very poor also. I am going to try the additional pickups on the tender trucks as suggested. I still stand by my original observation that the pickups on the loco itself are very poorly done. And no my track is not dirty my diesels hum along perfectly fine as well as some of my other steamers.
At first it sounded as though you did not have any tender pickup. Of course the Spectrum 2-8-0 has always had tender pickup, even before the DCC versions and the two I have always have run fine. Must be a defective engine? Did you buy it used?
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
Bought it brand new, just over time the pickups are failing. I am going to update it with some of the ideas that were given here and I'll re-post and let everyone know how it works out.
I found Harold's idea for truck pickups. Harold and I have done that with the old time 4-4-0 locos with the motor in the tender.
http://forum.atlasrr.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=55057
Again, below is an article about the 2-8-0 driver maintenance.
The Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 Consolidation, along with many other model steam locomotives, uses bronze fingers to pick up power from the metal rims of their drivers. Cleaning and adjusting these pickups for peak locomotive performance is tricky, but it can be done. Here is how.
The new Roundhouse steamers are nice. They come with all wheel pickups for the tender. I was able to buy the trucks and new tender with speaker opening frames that fit my older MDC locos.
When all else fails, such as when the bronze fingers become wimpy, mangled and/or can't be reshaped , a replacement bottom plate assembly complete with fingers and two motor wires and micro connector (to tender) can be ordered from Bachmann.
This also is a reasonable and inexpensive solution if a motor wire breaks off at the connector, as I've found.
Isambard
Grizzly Northern history, Tales from the Grizzly and news on line at isambard5935.blogspot.com
" I finally figured out why my loco's are running poorly, the electrical pickups are "wimpy" at best, plus I don't understand why Bachmann didn't use the tender wheels for pickup."
I don't understand did the tender pickups magically appear? first you didn't have them now you do? I have at least 6 spectrum steam locos that have never had a single pick up issue not saying it can't happen, but not sending it back to Bachmann just because you feel it's only going to happen again is just plain silly. All manufactures make improvements to their products or maybe you just got a poorly made hook up. If you really want to cure the problem box it up and purchase either a BLI or a Proto Heritage 2000 locomotive.
Apparently there are others who have had the same problems as I did... read the posts proceeding yours...
The pickup from the tender was so poor I assumed that it was non-existent.
bmvernilApparently there are others who have had the same problems as I did.
I hesitate to relate my experience with my brand new DCC Spectrum 2-8-0 because it is not good at all. My new engine ran half way around my layout and then stopped. I cleaned the wheels and put it back on track and it ran a little ways and became intermittent and stopped. Then I noticed most of the pickups on the main drivers didn't even touch the wheels. So, I sent it along with a note to Bachmann for repair.
When it came back it was again intermittent and would only run on a 15 ft straight stretch of track and derailed at turnouts. I found the front drivers were out of gauge, too wide. Then the gears started grinding and I sent it back to Bachmann for the second time. I directed it to the "Service Manager" along with a note describing the problems.
It recently came back - just as it left - again with no repairs made and a note saying no problem found and it just needed break-in. When I looked at the driver contacts they still didn't touch the wheels. I tried it anyway and now the gears only grind about 10% of the time. The engine still won't go through a turnout without stopping, and it still derails at #6 turnouts.
Nuf said.
It's not that unusual for an engine to run poorly right out of the box. I find after a break-in run of 15 min. continous running forward and then 15 min running in reverse, engines generally run much better.
Also, I'd suggest checking the connection between engine and tender for a couple of things:
First, if you have the drawbar on the closest setting, move it out to the other hole to allow more room. I have one or two Spectrum engines that will derail on my layout (31"R curves and No.6 turnouts) when the tender is in the closest connection. I think it has less to do with the tender hitting the engine than it does that the close-connection may create tension with the wiring between the engine and cab.
Second, check the swing-down "apron" between the engine cab and front deck of the tender. It's very easy to get that stuck under the lip at the front of the tender, lifting up the rear of the engine and causing electrical pickup troubles and derailments. I always put the apron all the way up, then put the engine on the track, then when all the wheels are on, reach in with a pencil or screwdriver etc. and put the apron down.
Having a fairly large fleet of Bachmann spectrum locos, I have a few thoughts:
wjstix First, if you have the drawbar on the closest setting, move it out to the other hole to allow more room. I have one or two Spectrum engines that will derail on my layout (31"R curves and No.6 turnouts) when the tender is in the closest connection. I think it has less to do with the tender hitting the engine than it does that the close-connection may create tension with the wiring between the engine and cab. Second, check the swing-down "apron" between the engine cab and front deck of the tender. It's very easy to get that stuck under the lip at the front of the tender, lifting up the rear of the engine and causing electrical pickup troubles and derailments. I always put the apron all the way up, then put the engine on the track, then when all the wheels are on, reach in with a pencil or screwdriver etc. and put the apron down.
The above recommendations are of the utmost importance with these locos.
I have found all of the tenders to be too light to insure good tracking and reliable electrical pickup. This is compounded by the loco/tender wiring harness. As built it is easy for the loco or the tender to loose contact because of pressure from the wires at the drawbar. Addtional weight in the tender and careful placement of the wires and deck plate is necessary for good operation of these locos. The additional tender weight makes the tender pickup very reliable and easily compensates for one or two drivers not always being in contact with the wipers.
I have eight Spectrum 2-8-0's, ranging from the earliest to most recent production runs. Yes, sometimes the wipers get out of ajustment, sometimes they do wear out after extended use, but as mentioned they are easily replaced. But overall they are smooth and reliable runners from my experiance.
Their slow speed performance on ANY DC source can be improved by the removal of the motor noise suppression capacitors on the circuit board.
ANY new Bachmann loco that runs poorly should be returned. in my experiance they often simply send new replacements unless you specificly request that they try to repair your orginal loco.
All my experiances with the service department have been very good. I have 26 Spectrum locos, two had to be returned and where replaced. All run great.
Other Spectrum hints:
On the USRA Heavy Mountain, I bend a small "U" in the drawbar to make better clearance for the wires/plugs and also add tender weight.
All spectrum tenders are not wired the same, anyone wishing more info on Spectrum tender swaps and rewiring should send me a PM.
Are you running DC or DCC? If you are running DCC I strongly suggest you buy a new decoder and hard wire it removing the Bachmann circiut board. The Bachmann factory decoders are truely "budget" in nature and much better performance will be seen with a higher quality decoder.
I'll admit to the ocasional quality control "DUD" from Bachmann, but in my book they are one of the best values out there. I've had just as many "problems" with all the high priced "stuff". They too always need tweaking and ajusting for good performance.
Sheldon
wjstixIt's not that unusual for an engine to run poorly right out of the box. I find after a break-in run of 15 min. continous running forward and then 15 min running in reverse, engines generally run much better.
I agree that break-in usually improves performance. Did I mention that most of the wipers don't even touch the driver wheels? I don't care how much "break-in" you give this thing, most of the wipers should contact the wheels, period!
wjstixSecond, check the swing-down "apron" between the engine cab and front deck of the tender.
I have about 9 steam locos, all DCC, and I have checked such normal things as the apron and wires, and I have the drawbar in the longest setting. Did I mention the front drivers are out of gauge? When the drivers are too far apart they tend to ride up and derail when they encounter a slight discontinuity in the track work, such as at a turnout. This is what is happening. My 8 other steam locos run fine, even my old converted Riverossi's and my 2-4-0. And my 26 diesels also run flawlessly.
My layout has a double track with a main run of about 320 feet round trip, and this Bachmann has made the complete circuit about 8 to 10 times. That means about 30 minutes of operation. So it has been operated a bit. However, I need to follow it around to give it a little shove about 3 or 4 times per trip and to re-rail it. Not cool!
I think you missed my point. I have found the problems with this loco. I have outlined these problems in my two letters to Bachmann. Bachmann has failed to service these problems. Shoddy work - period. The only question is, do I sent it in again or just repair it myself? (Kind of makes me want to just throw it in the trash can.)
ATLANTIC CENTRALANY new Bachmann loco that runs poorly should be returned. in my experiance they often simply send new replacements unless you specificly request that they try to repair your orginal loco. All my experiances with the service department have been very good. I have 26 Spectrum locos, two had to be returned and where replaced. All run great.
This is my first Bachmann loco and their service has failed me two times. Obviously, others have had better luck.
ATLANTIC CENTRALAre you running DC or DCC? If you are running DCC I strongly suggest you buy a new decoder and hard wire it removing the Bachmann circiut board. The Bachmann factory decoders are truely "budget" in nature and much better performance will be seen with a higher quality decoder.
This Spectrum 2-8-0 has factory installed DCC and it has great low speed performance. No problem with the decoder at all! Just the pick ups, driver gauge, and grinding gears.
60YOKID,
I don't doubt that you have a dud, what I don't understand is why you are having problems with the service department at Bachmann. I have known many people with good experiances with their service, very few with bad, except those who require instant gratification and expect their loco back in two days by overnight delivery. That does not sound like you.
Have you weathered or painted the loco which would possibly make them reluctant to just replace it?
These locos don't actually have many gears, just a worm and the driver gear. Power is transfered to the worm via a rubber drive belt. The worm gear bearings are known to fail after MANY, MANY hours of operation (like on commercial/club display layouts), but it is possible they are bad or misaligned on your loco.
I suggest you return it again or call first and speak to the service department. I'm not saying or implying anything about you, and the miscommunication could be on their end, however, after following the Bachmann forum for many years, it seems most of those unhappy with Bachmann service where those who simply decided all Bachmann products where junk because they got one bad one.
As I explained, I've had a few duds too, and, I have had a few with minor issues I simply fixed myself. And, in my view, the little tweaks I recommended are "must do" for good performance, at least for what I do. My trains are long, locos must be able to back up with them, etc.
I use two 2-8-0's double headed and pull 40-50 car trains. I'm actually considering getting a couple more 2-8-0's and a couple more 4-8-2 Heavy's.
While I understand the factory DCC does have great slow speed, I have heard many who use DCC complain about other limited features of the decoders. Many I know with DCC use other plug in decoders or hard wire other decoders removing the Bachmann circuit board.
I use DC, Aristo Craft Train Engineer wireless throttles to be exact, and dispite the fact that some "experts" don't understand why, on DC all Bachmann locos run much better with the motor noise reduction capacitors removed. Some other brands of decoders also require this.
I just delt with Bachmann service as recently as last week, ordered some parts for kit bashing and to repair a mistake of my own. They went out of their way to understand my unique needs and provide what they could.
One more thing you shold know about Bachmann, except for specificly identified commonly needed service parts, they do not have a regular parts inventory. Most parts are salvaged from the returns. Those wiper plates for the 2-8-0's are one of the exceptions, they do have new ones and should be able to repair that, OR replace your loco. I have never known them to be reluctant to replace a loco, again, unless you somehow conveyed that you would rather they fix yours.
My other steamers include Proto, BLI/PCM, IHC, Genesis, Mantua and few older brass pieces. The Proto ones are the only ones I have ever found to be "perfect" out of the box. Everything else seems to require some sort of tweak or ajustment for good performance. So, for me, "Why pay more?" than Bachmann prices. And, admittedly, the locos Bachmann has chosen to produce fit my needs/wants better than most of the offerings from those others.
Sorry your having such a bad experiance, hope you get this resolved, I have 26 of Spectrum Steamers, two more on the way and about 5 more "on my radar". I have found them to one of the best values out there.
djpereiraHi Sheldon, have you ever had a problem with the worm and drive gear. The worm has worn out the drive gear laterally. Any idea if i could just buy the gear from somewhere? Bachmann sells the entire wheel assembly.
Not that I know of. The only people I have seen wear one out are those using them on display layouts. Guess you really ran it a lot. At only $70-$90 street price, maybe you should just consider it used up and buy a new one. OR, return it to Bachmann with $25.00 and get a new one.