Loose wire on Bachmann Sound Value ALCO 2-6-0 HO

[Lonnie Utah]

Hi everyone, 

 

Over the past few days, we were seeing some erratic behavior with said engine. It keep lurching, starting and stopping randomly (and at the same places on the layout). At first, since it was having problems at the same place, I though we had some dirty track. When track cleaning didn't solve the problem, I went to see if the loco wheels had any build up on them. It was then I noticed one of the wires from the tender to the loco has come loose at the quick plug into the loco. Any thoughts on getting it to plug back in without sending it to Bachmann for a $35 repair fee + shipping? FWIW, the same thing happened just over 1 year ago. I think that the draw bar must have come unhooked at some point. 

 

I'll likely just end up sending it back for repair, but just thought I'd ask before I did. 

 

Thanks in advance,
Lonnie

[Anonymous]

You could order this from Bachmann's parts store, assuming you know how to solder.

http://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_68_596&products_id=10481

$7.80 +shipping is less than $35 +shipping

How confident are you in you soldering skills?  

The replacement board that the harness attaches to is $51.

[Lonnie Utah]

Excellent thanks. 

Before I did anything, I think I'd want to pull the tender apart to see what kind of job it is.  

 

Edit: Here's a picture of the board. I think I can handle it. 

[joe323]

Interestingly when I shipped my Alco back to Bachmann with the same problem they just sent me back a new tender.

[rrinker]

 Is the wire loose or is the whoole pin coming out of the shell? My one PCM T-1 had that issue, although it was where the wire plugged in to the circuit board in the tender (they use plug connections there, too, not soldered on like Bachmann). It was due simply to the pin being rotated within the shell - the pins have a small tab that engaged a notch in the plastic shell that keeps the pin from pushing out the back side when you plug the connectors together. In this case, the tab was on one of the smooth sides of the plastic shell so it would just push the connector pin out the back rather than mate with the male pin on the circuit board. Simple fix, just push the connector pin back in the right way.

                                    --Randy