Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Repairing Bachmann Spectrum detached wires

1434 views
6 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 2,572 posts
Repairing Bachmann Spectrum detached wires
Posted by John-NYBW on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 10:37 AM

I have a Consolidation and a Ten Wheeler, both of which have had the wires detach from the plugs that connect the loco and the tender. The Consolidation has been out of action for quite a while while the Ten Wheeler broke yesterday. I'm trying to decide whether to try to fix these myself or send it to Bachmann for service. 

I believe both use JST plugs. The receptacle is in the Consolodation tender and is a two wire plug while the Ten Wheeler has a four wire plug with the receptacle in the loco. I'm not really sure how best to fix it if I choose to do it myself and wonder if anyone else has had any luck with this time of fix. I can't decide if it would be best to try to reinsert the wires into the plug although I don't know how that could be done given the small size of the plug and wires. Another option would be to replace the entire harness and solder the connection at the other end of the harness. Or maybe there is a solution I haven't thought of.

If anyone has successfully reattached these wires, I would like to know how you went about it. 

If I decide to send it back to Bachmann, how fast a turnaround could I expect and what would be a ballpark guess as to the cost?

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Phoenix, AZ
  • 693 posts
Posted by woodone on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 2:24 PM

I would guess turn time from Bachmann might be a long time.

 

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 2,572 posts
Posted by John-NYBW on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 5:13 PM

Lastspikemike

It's not easy in my limited experience. The wire and plugs are tiny and hard to work with. 

I think Bachmann sells the plugs with wire tails installed. You solder the tails to wherever they feed the power instead of trying to replace the wires into the plugs.

https://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=68_86&products_id=4185

 

 

This looks like it might not be a bad option although I'll have to open up the loco on the Consolidation and the tender on the Ten Wheeler to see what it is I have to solder to and whether it is within my limited soldering skills to perform. 

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • 1,950 posts
Posted by NVSRR on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 5:30 PM

Tony's trains has a special plug set for steam loco's 

 

Shane

A pessimist sees a dark tunnel

An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel

A realist sees a frieght train

An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!