Advise needed on servicing a bachmann shay

[rs2mike]

Hi gang. Just bought a new old stock shay brand new in black box.  Sat on a shelf for the last 10 years. Got it for $50.

 So before I go and run it what should i do to it to get it ready to run?  What needs to be cleaned or lubed before starting out?  Any advise from the group would be much appreciated.

Thanks

mike

[snjroy]

Hi Mike. I own one and I am extra careful with it. I believe they all had fragile gears. I don't run mine very often, but I lube the gears (lightly) with Labelle oil at least once a year. And I don't pull anything heavy with it. Enjoy!

Simon 

[rs2mike]

Do you get inside at all and lube the gears and bearings at all?

mike

[richg1998]

Yes, be careful. I have belonged to the Bachmann forums for some years and have seen that they crack gears in the HO and On30 models.

Bachmann has parts list, forums and diagrams there. I have to assume, HO.

https://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=68_92&zenid=alq35vn9vup7dink3avds97t90

Go look. Company reps.

Did you get the 70 ton or 80 ton? They come with sound or DCC ready and an eight pin socket.

Good luck.

Rich

[BigDaddy]

I have an 80 ton I bought new and I don't think there was DCC when I bought it at Modeltrainstuff's downtown Baltimore store.  I only ran it for an hour to "break it in"  It ran fine.

I can't decide whether to convert it to DCC or sell it.  I also have a set of NWSL replacement gears, which I have not installed.  With NWSL going out of business, they will be unobtanium.

[RR_Mel]

Good Luck!  I bought a HO Bachmann Shay new in the box from a Bachmann dealer about six years ago that didn’t run out of the box.  Returned it to Bachmann got a replacement that wouldn’t run out of the box.  Returned it again with a hidden Mel Mark to see if it was the same Shay that I sent back.  Received the third one only to find out it wouldn’t run either, I didn’t have the Mel Mark.

 

I finally opened it to find a miserable engineered motor mount with only one screw to hold the motor and adjust the worm to the gear.  Adjusting the screw worked until the shell was put back then NO RUN.

 

I used some Amazing Goop to glue in the motor to the proper worm/gear alignment waited for 24 hours replaced the shell and it ran perfect.  Six years later it’s still running fine.   

 

 

Mel

 

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

[rs2mike]

I got yhe black box spectrum 80 ton 3 truck greenbrier one. Which if i am not wrong is not dcc easily ready.  

 

[richg1998]

This diagram from the Bachmann site shows an eight pin socket for the 80 ton so you must have an older version.

What you see on the socket are two three pin adapters to permit the loco to run on a DC layout. I had some of those adapters at one time.

https://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/81907.pdf

Rich

[snjroy]

rs2mike

Do you get inside at all and lube the gears and bearings at all?

mike

 

Unless you've done this before, I don't recommend opening it. Just put the loco on its back and put tiny drops of oil on the gears you can see. There are also gears on the wheels- lubricate them as well. If after that the loco sounds squeeky, then you might want to go further.

Simon

[richg1998]

If you have any issues, this loco has been discussed here before.

A fellow in the MRH forums about a year ago measured the steel shafts with a dial caliper and they were all the same. Apparently gears are made in plastic molding machines and the I.D.'s are not always the same. Whatever method they use, is not good. Some locos come out of the box new with cracked gears according to some people. Even replacement trucks from Bachmann. It has been happening for a few years.

NWSL was making steel gears but they are going out of business last I heard.

Just Google, bachmann ho 80 ton shay gears

You will find many discussions on the 'Net with repairs and suggestions, photos, You Tube videos.

Bachmann forums are not as active as they use to be a couple of years ago.

Rich

[railandsail]

RR_Mel

.....

 

I used some Amazing Goop to glue in the motor to the proper worm/gear alignment waited for 24 hours replaced the shell and it ran perfect.  Six years later it’s still running fine.   

 

 

Mel

 

Was that specific Goop you used?. Don't they make several varieties,.....marine, etc??

[RR_Mel]

Brian

 

I use the Crafters Goop, it’s my go-to for mounting motors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mel

 

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

[rs2mike]

Thanks guys for the replies. I put it on the track today and it runs really smooth and quiet. I ran it at different speeds and changed directions every so often to break it in. Has about an Hr on it so far. I started off running just the engine. Right now I added a caboose to it for a little bit more weight. Mike