I have a few of the 1st gen (2 motor) and 2nd gen (one motor, DCC) Spectrum 44 and 70 tonners, all with split gears and rather noisy mechanisms. I know there's been a new one out for a while now. Any comments on how it stacks up? Dan
Hello all,
I have both the 44- and 70-ton Bachmann HO switchers.
The OEM decoders are EXTREEMLY basic and limited.
I replaced them with Digitrax DH166PS (non-sound) decoders.
With the ability to adjust CV’s 2,3,4,5 and 6 their performance vastly improved over the stock decoder and the motor noise has been greatly reduced.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
I should have mentioned I'm running them all on DC. I mainly want to know if there are any real mechanical improvements, especially in the splitting gears area. Thanks. Dan
I guess I have second generation 44 ton and 70 ton single motor.
The OP could inquire at the Bachmann forums. There are company reps there. I watch the forums a lot.
I pulled the electronics and put in LokSound Micro v3.5 about seven years ago with the oval speaker they came with. Also a styrene baffle.
Took the upper weight out of the 70 ton and made my own weights.
They both run great.
No more photos here because of Photo Bucket. I have the photos but not going down that path again.
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.
Closest I can come is my experience with the 45-tonner - I'm impressed at how well it runs, and it'll even get 4 cars up our 3% grade! The 45 tonner is smaller than the 44 so I don't know how much of the mechanism carries over. It's a lot quieter than an old 44-tonner I have and since I only bot it a few months back it's too early to tell about cracked gears.
Well, I was starting to wonder about that 45 tonner also
Autonerd Closest I can come is my experience with the 45-tonner - I'm impressed at how well it runs, and it'll even get 4 cars up our 3% grade! The 45 tonner is smaller than the 44 so I don't know how much of the mechanism carries over. It's a lot quieter than an old 44-tonner I have and since I only bot it a few months back it's too early to tell about cracked gears.
Well, I was beginning to wonder about that 45 tonner also. Nice to hear good things about it. Are you running it on DC or DCC? And does that have any bearing on the noise levels? Dan
Southgate Well, I was starting to wonder about that 45 tonner also Autonerd Closest I can come is my experience with the 45-tonner - I'm impressed at how well it runs, and it'll even get 4 cars up our 3% grade! The 45 tonner is smaller than the 44 so I don't know how much of the mechanism carries over. It's a lot quieter than an old 44-tonner I have and since I only bot it a few months back it's too early to tell about cracked gears. Well, I was beginning to wonder about that 45 tonner also. Nice to hear good things about it. Are you running it on DC or DCC? And does that have any bearing on the noise levels? Dan
I had one that I ran on DCC. They buzz like a typical Bachmann decoder. Got too annoying to even run it a little bit, so I sold it off.
- Douglas
How 'bouit on DC, anyone?
SouthgateAre you running it on DC or DCC? And does that have any bearing on the noise levels?
I run it on DCC. It's not as noisy as the Spectrum 44-tonner I bought (used), which probably needs lube and TLC. But our club layout is 70'x72', and it's hard enough to hear the sound locomotives from so far away, let alone the 45 tonner. :)
It doesn't seem excessively noisy to me, certainly quieter than the cheapie Bachmann GP40 I use to rescue trains that try to go up the hill with insufficient power (we call it the Bachman Penn Central GP40 of Shame).
I may eventually use the 45-tonner for some light switching on our industrial branch, but for now I use it to run the "museum train" that consist of a homemade open-top car (a gondola with park benches bolted in), an old-time MDC coach or two, and maybe a caboose. The loco looks cool as all get-out with those side rods twirling away!! Bought it on sale from TW and never regretted it.