Bachman 4-8-4 northern problem, and a motor question.

[miniwyo]

The more I think about it I may send it back to Bachmann for repair, it is becoming a real pain in the neck to get fixed, heck They may even give me a different road name wich wouldnt be too bad becasue it doesnt really go with my werstern RR fleet, And with the grit problem, yes i have ran it on carpet a couple of times but, here in southwest wyoming, it gets really dusty and it will on an in everything so Iit needs to get cleaned our every so often.

Thanks

[Virginian]

When you picked up the drivers the valve gear probably flipped. You do not need to lift anything to lube the axles, and you only need to remove the bottom plate to lube the gears. Unless you have run it on the floor you shouldn't have any grit issues.
It's your loco, and you can do as you please, but I am telling you those axles are trouble waiting to happen, if it hasn't already. I would definitely talk to Bachmann Service and see if you can't send the loco in with $20 and have them fix it. They will probably replace it with a Spectrum unit, as they don't have any parts for the old ones, and that will be the best money you ever spent.
Good luck.

[miniwyo]

I did not try to remove the drivers to lubricate, I took off the bottom plastic cover and I did try to lift them up one by one but some how the timing on the left side drivers became off and out of time and in just a few seconds rattled them selves loose before I could catch the problem. I have had them put back together a few times but I cannot get the pin to say in the wheel tightly and it keeps coming loose. and yes the axles are a piece of whit plastic between the wheels. I pulled them out to clean any grease or grime out of the slots that the axles ride in as to keep any type of grit from damaging the surrounding area. I did this before I applied a small amout of lube to each axle to keep them runing smoothly.

I got a lead on the motor I was looking for, I know it is model DC-71, and that bowser may have what I need.

You all have really been a big help thank you so much!!

[Anonymous]

I matience my bachmann 4-8-4 all the time & I learned to always pick up
one wheel at a time when lubrication. I know that if you have the code number
for the part you need. Also don't over lurbicate, your operations will be jerky.

[Virginian]

If that Bachmann 4-8-4 had 3 piece axles, with white plastic in the center, you may have a "box it up and ship it to Bachmann" opportunity. The drivers went out of quarter easily and often on those. Fixing those is often above the capabilities of a lot of people. If the rods came off on the right side it's probably because you didn't get the screw tight and the rods unscrewed it. If you got a spacer in the wrong place, or switched rods, this is highly likely. You mav have to take the first driver loose to get the rods back on the second one, and you may have to loosen the screws on both of them and the third driver.
Next time, write down where everything went, and in which order, when you tackle something like this. Just about every loco is different too, so remember that.
Unfortunately I have to tell you now (too late), that you do/did not need to remove the rods to lube anything.

[Anonymous]

I'd second Eric's suggestion - Bachmann locos are usually supplied with an exploded diagram showing how they fit together, so if you email them they should be able to either point you to a section of their site where you can download it as a .pdf file (Bachmann UK do this with their OO scale locos) or just email you a copy of the diagram. Hope this helps!

[jsoderq]

Open frame motors are available from Bowser.www.bowser-trains.com.

[mechanic]

For your 4-8-4 problem you could try looking around on or asking questions at Bachmann's website.
They have a informative and helpfull person over there that should be able to help you out.
HTH
Eric

[miniwyo]

I have a Bachmann 4-8-4 Northern locomotive and i went to lubricate the gears today and apparently when i put the drive wheels back in the timing on the driverods was off just a bit, and on the 2nd wheel back the rods came off of the drivers and i am having a heck of a time putting them back together, does anyone know of an online diagram of how this is assembled?

Also I have a very old locomotive i cant even tell what bran it was bit i know that it was a kit that was built back in the 1950 - 60s. The motor is shot and i need to find a new one. The locomotive is a 4-6-0 loco and is driven by a worm gear. THe current motor is an open motor with a 5 pole wound center and measures 3/4" wive 1 1/2" long, and 1" tall. I hope i have given enough infromation on it and lope that you all may help me find a place to get a new one, as well as a place to find the 4-8-4 diagram.

Thanks all!!