Hi all,
I just received a new Bachmann DCC & sound HO 2 truck Climax yesterday. Looks great.
I installed the sound module and placed it on the tracks. Round and round it went forward then backward (a little too fast for a climax) built it ran nicely.
I purchased the painted unlettered because i wanted to put my one lettering on. Yesterday I decaled it. Today I weathered it.
Back on the layout runs fine (Forward) does not move in reverse. Side bar moves but wheels don’t turn. I can’t see anything broken.
What’s next?
Gary
I don't know how new this is but the old ones break gears pretty easily. Bachmann seems to have fixed this in the Shay, but I've not heard anything about the climax.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
gdelmoro What’s next?
Quite possibly the NWSL re-gear kit: #2802-6 at $34.95
Ed
I would discuss with Bachmann the issue, and a possible fix or repair you could do.
Their factory reps monitor their forum, so drop them a note there.
Unless you want to do the fix yourself, you will most likely lose the custom lettered shell.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
gdelmoroI purchased the painted unlettered because i wanted to put my one lettering on. Yesterday I decaled it. Today I weathered it Back on the layout runs fine (Forward) does not move in reverse. Side bar moves but wheels don’t turn. I can’t see anything broken. What’s next?
While it could be mechanical, is it possible you got some weathering or decal material on something that you shouldn't have? Ran fine before decaling and weathering; not so afterwards. Correlation?
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Broken gears in the trucks, look at the first axle driven in each truck, you will find the bevel gear on the drive shaft broken. Super common, as in they ALL do it, some sooner than others. The NWSL gears is the only option that works long term, even the replacements from Bachmann tend to split again. The job isnt the easiest to fix, but there are others like "The Shay Fixer" that do the repair job for a price. No connection, just someone I know that does the work. I move away from plastic logging engines a few years ago, saved my $$ and got a PFM/United brass Climax and Shay. no gear issues with those, only real upgrade needed is a can or coreless motor. Good Luck. Mike the Aspie
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
About three years ago, someone in the MRH forums measured the steel drive shafts and all the same diameter. The assumption is the gears are produced by injection molding machines and there is the issue. Not all have the proper ID when pressed on the shaft.
Last I checked, NWSL still sells the quality replacement gears. NWSL machines the gears. They do not need running in like most most model trains. Even NWSL plastic gears are machined. No burrs.
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.
Just got off the phone with Bachmann. They are paying for me to mail it back and they will repair it.
The Bachmann HO 2-truck Climax is "just right" for my layout and era. I have had three (3) and all failed.
One was sent back to Bachmann and they offered a 3-truck Shay as a replacement. That HO Shay is still operational AFTER installation of the NWSL replacement gears for the Shay.
For the other two, I had professional installation of the NWSL replacement Climax gears, and then both suffered split gear failure up in the gear tower. There is not a fix for that. I thus have two of these Bachmann HO Climax models, with extra expense given for replacement gears, that sit in the box and could be used as paperweights. Not a mistake that I will make again.
Bill
Please keep us informed if they actually fix your Climax or offer you a different engine due to lack of parts to fix yours. Not a fan of Bachmann's geared models, beautiful models yes. Durable..ah...NO. Money is better spend on a 2 truck PFM/United Climax that will last your lifetime. Mike the Aspie
THIS was the first Bachmann I have purchased. I have 2 DCC RS3’s one with Sound Value and one no sound. Both were gifts. They do not have good pulling power but they run fine.
I waited for a long time for a DCC & Sound Shay, Climax or Heisler because all reports of the Bachmann models were that the gears break consistently - regularly - all the time! When the forums began reporting that bachmann finally replaced the plastic with metal I coughed up the $325 for the Climax and Sound Card.
It looks great.....
If they CAN fix it and it breaks again (this one lasted about 2 hours) in a short time I think I’ll ask for my money back.
They are sending the return label via snail mail . So I’m guessing I wont be able to post the results for a while.
I have a MDC Shay that I built from a kit in 84,Still runs like a top.
It’s been several weeks since Bachmann has had my loco. I got this email today. No mention as to what the problem was. Don’t really know why they are sending the ol;d one back?
We are sending you a new train with sound unit placed inside also sending back your old train as well. It will go out in the mail tomorrow. Thank you Margie
They just sent this email
Does that make any sense?
well, the loco’s arrived today. a new one in a painted scheme unlike the one I purchased which was painted unlettered and a part of the old one!
The old one they said they were returning has no trucks. Oh well, guess i’ll Strip the lettering off the new one and save the other for spare parts.
Can you just swap shells? Does the replacement work Ok?
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
BigDaddy Can you just swap shells? Does the replacement work Ok?
replacement working fine... so far....... Only about an hour so far. Several loops around mainline forward and then in reverse.
I would not know where to begin removing or replacing the shell so i’m not attempting that.
They said the decoder was bad but the returned loco has no wheelsets or connecting shafts. They said they didn’t have a decoder to replace the bad one.
Wonder if there is a way to re-install the trucks and drive shafts? Then i could just replace the decoder. Maybe that’s why they too the trucks.