Improving Bachman Spectrum 44 tonner

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by smyers

As the 44 tonner and the 70 tonner appear to use the same running gear, has anyone tried to re-motor either? The three pole motors seem to cog a bit on mine. I have two 70 tonners and plan on aquiring more if I can. Terrific little engines.

Best,
smyers

The 70T has a slightly longer wheelbase and larger diameter wheels. I stupidly painted and detailed a 70T. After some running, the motors fried. I purchased a single motor 44T(supposedly the better of the two 44T's) and, after running it a while, adapted the mechanism for the 70T. The slight difference in the two mechanisms was tolerable, and I could hide the 44T weight with a new 70T-style mid-section [for the air tanks]

After I installed the 44T thing in the 70T shell, it wouldn't run well. I cleaned it; I lubed it; I talked kindly to it. Finally, I realised the contacts weren't contacting. Off to my hobby shop, where I ordered some bronze wipers for pick up. That takes care of it. Except that it didn't.

After much time and effort, not to mention expense, I hurled the 44T drive against a wall. It wasn't improved by my "fix", but it no longer performs beneath my expectations; it doesn't do anything after I scooped up the pieces into the cylindrical file for future reference.

I still have the original 70T shell that I foolishly spent so much effort on. I'm waiting to see what the recently announced "new" 70T drive will do for me.

In the meantime, if you want a really nice 44T in HO, I'd suggest an old Keystone Locomotive Works kit...I built one in '85 that still runs great. I installed DCC in it several years ago with separately controlled lights.

[Jetrock]

Actually they weren't the same--the 70 tonner has slightly larger running gear. The new 44 tonner has a single motor, and Bachmann has announced that they will produce a new 70 tonner with a single motor as well.

[Anonymous]

As the 44 tonner and the 70 tonner appear to use the same running gear, has anyone tried to re-motor either? The three pole motors seem to cog a bit on mine. I have two 70 tonners and plan on aquiring more if I can. Terrific little engines.

Best,
smyers

[dragenrider]

This may be one possible cause of your problem. The newer 44 tonners that I have sport an extremely low undercarraige do indeed hang up on crossings and turnouts. [xx(]

My solution was to remove the bottom plate from between the wheels and sand it down thin.

I hope this helps!

[Anonymous]

Railroading_Brit, The older Bachmann steam models prior to the Spectrum years were ones you stayed away from. I picked up a GS4 back in the early 80's and it lasted about 3 hours running time before I had enough and tossed it into the parts bin. The money I paid for it was way too much and could have been better used elsewhere.

Bachmann makes a good product with the spectrum line they are the ones that set the HO plastic standard for steam in the late 90's with the 2-8-0 Consolidation. I do own a 2-10-0 and it runs well. It may be a canidate for future DCC/Sound because the tender is too light and needs weight and that no one else makes a similar model (Hint..BLI!)

[Anonymous]

Bachmann's more recent products are great. They're now one of the top manufacturers of OO gauge diesels for the UK market alongside Hornby, and offer nice-running locos at sensible prices. Chassis on these are to Proto quality if not better, are DCC ready, and run silently when properly maintained (as in, drop of oil now and again). Their new US-outline locos are also great value - only thing missing to my mind is flywheels, though they behave well without these and can't be beaten for the price. I guess Bachmann's older locos must have been seriously dire to get them the reputation they have, as I've never had any trouble with my fleet (4 US diesels, 6 UK diesels and 2 UK steamers).

[Virginian]

If the wheels are slipping and the loco isn't moving or slows down, something is obviously dragging. Check the couplers and underframe.

[Anonymous]

gtirr:

You are obviously an ignorant, biased and probably unwashed model railroader. The current Bachmann / Spectrum 44-tonner is an excellent model. Also, my pair of decapods are almost brass-quality and still run extremely smoothly and quietly after nearly 200 hours of operation. Ditto my 3-truck Shay.

Speak of what you know, not what you think (perhaps an oxymoron in your case).

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by gtirr

A big hammer will do wonders for any Botchmann product!

Not the chinese prototypes though! I left my Kato's sitting and now run Bachmann DF-4B's and DF-4D's. After proper lubrication they run just as quiet, have better low speed performance and lights are just as good.
I did own 8-40C and it was crap, the only good thing came out of it was the motor that I can reuse in my chinese diesels, should one die.

[Anonymous]

A big hammer will do wonders for any Botchmann product!

[Jetrock]

Okay then--your best bet might be adding a little oil. I use Peco insulfrog turnouts, both the small-radius "Streamline" and the even sharper "Setrack", and have not noticed any such problems with my 44-tonners, also the single-motor "DCC-ready" version.

Also, check the gears at the same time (you can just pop off the plastic cover on the base of each truck) and ensure that none of them are binding--that might make noise or cause stalling/slippage.

[WilmJunc]

It is a new DCC ready version. The Peco turnouts are the insulfrog type. The wheels keep turning on the turnouts, they just slip and the locomotive slows down.

[Jetrock]

The Spectrum 44-tonner needs lubrication. Check to see if yours is the earlier 2-motor model or the later 1-motor model. The 1-motor model is a better product...

For either version, try adding a drop or two of LaBelle oil to the gears--the main brass worm gear in particular needs lubrication.

Slipping over turnouts: Is it an "Insulfrog" turnout? If the 44 tonner is the 2-engine kind, one problem may occur when the truck goes over a plastic frog--the truck running over the frog goes dead for a moment, while the truck not over the frog keeps running (since they have separate electrical contacts and motors.) Some have cross-wired these motors so they both keep running even if one does not have power, which increases their reliability.

[WilmJunc]

I just purchased the 44 tonner since it fit my era and road name (B&M). I found it quite noisy, but the biggest problem is that the wheels slip when traveling over my Peco medium radius turnouts. This occurs without any cars attached. Has anyone had this problem and found a way to improve the operability of this little switcher?