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Bachman On30 engines

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  • Member since
    December 2018
  • 57 posts
Bachman On30 engines
Posted by schief on Sunday, December 2, 2018 1:07 AM

I am looking for some info on the Bachman On30 engines.  It seems there has been issues in the past with the gears.  From my internet searches, I "think" that has been solved, but I can't find anything definitive, only articles on how to fix them.  Does anyone here have any experience with these?  I am most interested in the climax and the railbus. If it has been fixed, does anyone know what to look for when buying online?  

I realize narrow gauge isn't the hottest topic on this forum, but it doesn't hurt to ask.  Also, it gives me a reason to stop lurking and join.  

Thanks for any info you have!

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, December 6, 2018 4:03 PM

Welcome !  Ya know, I have an 0n30 2-6-0 that I bought a while back (5yrs?) that I have never run.  The guy I bought it from ran on HO track, and that looked just wrong.

Bachmann also has a great forum where Bachmann personel participate.  It might be a good idea to check it out.  You can get to it through their web site.

Mike.

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Thursday, December 6, 2018 4:14 PM

My wife and my mother-in-law bought me a Christmas On30 train set from Bachmann, the Thomas Kinkaid one that was vastly overpriced (but it's the thought that counts.....................................right?)

It's a decent product.  Mine runs well and silently.  I'm thinking about putting a decoder in it.  It's DC as it stands.

I am most of the way through constructing a fourth HO layout.  I made sure all my clearances would accommodate this larger scale item.  When the grandsons show up in a week, I will run that for them, and teach them how to do it themselves.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 10,582 posts
Posted by mlehman on Friday, December 7, 2018 12:24 AM

schief
I am most interested in the climax and the railbus. If it has been fixed, does anyone know what to look for when buying online?

I don't recall hearing about any gear issues with the railbus. That said, I see that NWSL has a set of gears that fixes it.

With the Climax, yes the first run was definitely affected. The second runs with DCC and sound? I seem to recall that Bachmann  knew of the problem by then, but not sure whether the parts were upgraded from the factory or simply became available so the issues could be fixed. That's not clear in the best explanation I found of the issue and fixing it, which is this link:

http://www.ngtrains.com/blog/the-bachmann-0n30-climax/

That said, it is a fixable issue if you encounter it.

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

  • Member since
    March 2012
  • 716 posts
Posted by trwroute on Friday, December 7, 2018 8:29 AM

To the best of my knowledge,  the 2-6-0 didn't have gear problems.  Now, the climax, shay, railbus and railtruck all did.  I had a gas mechanical that also had split gears.

I would say test run first and maybe plan on replacing the gears eventually.  If you get a great deal on one, go for it.

Chuck - Modeling in HO scale and anything narrow gauge

  • Member since
    December 2018
  • 57 posts
Posted by schief on Saturday, December 8, 2018 8:24 PM

Thank you for the info everybody!

Mike, that website was great information.  I bookmarked it for later reference.

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