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Bachmann's Baldwin 2-8-0 problem and questions

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  • Member since
    July 2009
  • From: North Tonawanda, NY
  • 111 posts
Bachmann's Baldwin 2-8-0 problem and questions
Posted by Fox14120 on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 3:19 AM

 Has anyone else had problems with the gear attached to the wheels wearing out on their Baldwin 2-8-0's? Bought mine back in Sept and slowly did the break in period over the next few months and everything was fine till i set it up in a display at xmas. It ran fine for a few hours (ran it at about 60% also to not put extra strain on the motor) then the train started to spudder like it was loosing traction. After checking and seeing it was more then a derailment problem parked it till later that night when i could take a better look at it. What i found was the wheel gear (which was plastic) worn down all the way around and half the gear was near bald so the high end just barely meshed with the motor's worm gear (which was brass or some kind of metal) and the low wouldn't at all. The engine only had about 4-5 hours of break in time on it before that point and it wore down the teeth on the gear and didn't just break them off. Has anyone else had this happen with theirs or was i just the luck one to get the lemon? Also when i took it apart i noticed that mine was missing 2 of the 3 plastic spacers that go between the left and right parts of the diecast part of the upper body on it.  I've got the exploded view sheet that came with the 2-8-0 and it gives some part numbers but only for the major parts not the smaller ones. Does anyone know a book or site where i can find the part numbers for Bachmann HO trains or am i going to have to order and replace the whole lower half the engine in order to replace the gear? I'd also like to be able to find the spacers for the upper half so it'll be easier to put it back together if i do have to take it apart again. Checked Bachmann's site but they have no info for part numbers and very few parts for sale online. When i order the parts i'd really like to know the part numbers rather then discribeing it to the person on the other end of the phone and hope they got the right part ordered for me.

Tags: Baldwin
  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Maryville IL
  • 9,577 posts
Posted by cudaken on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 6:49 AM

  More than likely the gear had no lube on it. I had a BLI M1 A go bad in about the same time frame. I replaced the tower gear my self (BLI sent the gear) and there was not a drop oil to be found in the tower?

             Cuda Ken

I hate Rust

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,852 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 7:07 AM

Send the loco back to Bachmann with proof of purchase and they will send you a new one. I have heard people have this problem after hundreds or thousands of hours of display running, but not in the short time you discribe.

I have eght of these all with various amounts of time - no problems ever.

Again send it back, they will make it good. they will just send yo another one - brand new. Their adress and phone number is on their web site and on the warranty card that came with the loco.

Sheldon

 

    

  • Member since
    February 2011
  • 299 posts
Posted by BillyDee53 on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 9:18 AM

One of my engines had the same problem, a number of years ago.  IIRC I was able to buy a new set of drivers and rods from Bachmann.  I think they are great engines;  I own 50 of them.

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 11:13 AM

What SCALE is this locomotive?   Bachmann has made them in N, HO, and G scale.  I own several of the HO and G scale versions.  Only the G scale one has had a similar gear problem.

  • Member since
    July 2009
  • From: North Tonawanda, NY
  • 111 posts
Posted by Fox14120 on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 8:00 PM

 Mine is the HO version, Looked at it again after writing this and looks like they didn't put any grease on it. Thought about replacing it but the RR is more important to me then the engine and there's no garentee they're going to give me the same RR back even if they give me the same style engine.  A friend of mine knows someone who'd fix it for me but would charge parts and labor on it . All i need is the parts and can do it myself plus i like working on mechanical stuff like this again getting the right parts are my problem.

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: St. Louis, MO
  • 941 posts
Posted by river_eagle on Thursday, April 1, 2010 12:47 AM

Just let them know you want to keep the same road, and if they don't have it, they will put your old shell and tender on a new drive, just be sure to ask nicely.

Please and thankx go a long way with the tech guys and gals. 

When in doubt, rule #1 applies  Central Missouri Railroad Association cmrraclub.com
  • Member since
    January 2022
  • 7 posts
Posted by Andy Miller on Tuesday, January 25, 2022 10:17 AM

I realize this is an ancient post but did anyone ever find the gear or drivers and gear for the Spectrum 2-8-0?  I have two older units (2 Screw chassis type) and both have worn out the worm gear (not the worm) on the driver axle.  The only thing Bachmann has to replace is a whole complete chassis at $150.00 which I did purchase one but requires me to rewire my Tender as the new plugs do not fit the receptacles on the Tender.

Let me know if anyone has a source.  I did check over at Shapeways to see if anyone did a 3D print but didn't see any.

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Tuesday, January 25, 2022 6:28 PM

Andy Miller

I realize this is an ancient post but did anyone ever find the gear or drivers and gear for the Spectrum 2-8-0?  I have two older units (2 Screw chassis type) and both have worn out the worm gear (not the worm) on the driver axle.  The only thing Bachmann has to replace is a whole complete chassis at $150.00 which I did purchase one but requires me to rewire my Tender as the new plugs do not fit the receptacles on the Tender.

Let me know if anyone has a source.  I did check over at Shapeways to see if anyone did a 3D print but didn't see any.

 

Bachmann has this? not sure if they fit your version. I have never tried swaping parts between the versions.

https://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=68_86&products_id=11571

I've got 10 of those locos, no problems yet in 20 years.

Sheldon

    

  • Member since
    January 2022
  • 7 posts
Posted by Andy Miller on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 10:04 AM

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

Awesome.   How did I miss that?  I even contacted service and the didn't refer me to that.  A big thanks! 

 
Andy Miller

I realize this is an ancient post but did anyone ever find the gear or drivers and gear for the Spectrum 2-8-0?  I have two older units (2 Screw chassis type) and both have worn out the worm gear (not the worm) on the driver axle.  The only thing Bachmann has to replace is a whole complete chassis at $150.00 which I did purchase one but requires me to rewire my Tender as the new plugs do not fit the receptacles on the Tender.

Let me know if anyone has a source.  I did check over at Shapeways to see if anyone did a 3D print but didn't see any.

 

 

 

Bachmann has this? not sure if they fit your version. I have never tried swaping parts between the versions.

https://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=68_86&products_id=11571

I've got 10 of those locos, no problems yet in 20 years.

Sheldon

 

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 1,176 posts
Posted by mvlandsw on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 8:22 PM

I had one that although not worn out, was heading in that direction.

I got some gears from Northwest Short Line about a year ago.

Part #2132-6 Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 18 tooth delrin axle gear

Mark

  • Member since
    January 2022
  • 7 posts
Posted by Andy Miller on Thursday, January 27, 2022 10:21 AM

Thanks.  

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, January 28, 2022 11:50 PM

mvlandsw
Part #2132-6 Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 18 tooth delrin axle gear

I have a dead Bachmann 2-8-0 also. I am going to get one of these gears.

Thanks.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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