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!

Tender Swap

652 views
6 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Texas
  • 2,934 posts
Tender Swap
Posted by C&O Fan on Sunday, May 25, 2008 9:49 AM

Ok i got this crazy idea

If i buy a Bachman Northern with DCC and sound which has a Vandy tender

That i could also use the tender on my Bachman 2-6-6-2 DC which would make it an H-6

or H-7 DCC with Sound

Question is

Do you think the plug is compatable and has anyone tried this ?

TerryinTexas

See my Web Site Here

http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/

 

 

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: Nevada
  • 825 posts
Posted by NevinW on Sunday, May 25, 2008 10:06 AM
Unfortunately the Bachmann Tenders are not all compatible. Sometimes the plugs work but the wiring is different. Others are completely interchangable. This has been the subject of considerable discussion on the Bachmann website. There is at least 2 threads when the various compatibilities and incompatibilities of engines and tenders are discussed. I would recommend a search of that website first. - Nevin
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Canada, eh?
  • 13,375 posts
Posted by doctorwayne on Sunday, May 25, 2008 1:41 PM

You can buy the tenders separately, either with or without a board.  Buy one without, and install the circuit board from the one you have, or buy one with the board you need, then be prepared to possibly re-wire the plugs. 

Wayne 

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Sunday, May 25, 2008 1:50 PM

Make sure you have a digital voltmeter and use the ohms scale to check the wiring for continuity. A model railroader should have a volt meter.

When I do a decoder install, I always check the wiring with an ohm meter.

Also, make sure one of the tender trucks does not get turned 180 degrees or you will have a short when the loco is connected and both are put on the track. The DCC contoller will shut down. This has happened to some people.

Rich 

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Texas
  • 2,934 posts
Posted by C&O Fan on Sunday, May 25, 2008 1:54 PM

 NevinW wrote:
Unfortunately the Bachmann Tenders are not all compatible. Sometimes the plugs work but the wiring is different. Others are completely interchangable. This has been the subject of considerable discussion on the Bachmann website. There is at least 2 threads when the various compatibilities and incompatibilities of engines and tenders are discussed. I would recommend a search of that website first. - Nevin

Took your advise and found this during a search on the bachman board

While some combinations require circuit board modifications or swaps, many do not.

Here is some of the crossover info for DC versions:

USRA Light 4-8-2 and 2-8-0 - all these tenders interchange with each other - medium coal, medium vandy oil or coal.

>USRA Heavy 4-8-2 and USRA 2-6-6-2 - all these tenders interchange with each other - long coal, Hicken, long vandy.<

4-6-0 and 2-10-0 - I believe these two locos share the same circuit board as they share several different tenders, but of the seperately available tenders only the small Baldwin tender will work with these two locos.

The 2-10-2 has a unique circuit board not compatible with any of the seperate tenders.

It is possible, and easier in my opinion, to rewire most boards to work with any loco. It is mainly a function of the pin assignments in the orange plugs which is easy to change. But, some locos have 12v headlights and some have LED's, this is where the problems come in.

Hope this helps.

Sheldon

TerryinTexas

See my Web Site Here

http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/

 

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Rhododendron, OR
  • 1,516 posts
Posted by challenger3980 on Sunday, May 25, 2008 5:13 PM

"USRA Light 4-8-2 and 2-8-0 - all these tenders interchange with each other - medium coal, medium vandy oil or coal."

 

   This is wrong, I have early versions of both the 2-8-0 and Light 4-8-2, the 2-8-0 has the plugs and harnesses on the Locomotive, with the socket on the tender. The Light 4-8-2 has the socket on the Locomotive, with the plugs and harnesses on the tender. This makes them non-interchangeable as produced. very poor design planning on Bachmann's part, in my opinion. This issue may have been addressed in later issue models than mine though. I have found the 2-8-0 to be a Very Good runner, the 4-8-2 less smooth or reliable.

                                               Doug

May your flanges always stay BETWEEN the rails

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Canada, eh?
  • 13,375 posts
Posted by doctorwayne on Sunday, May 25, 2008 8:14 PM

I have four of the early Spectrum 2-8-0s and while re-building them, discovered that not all of the locos would work with all of the tenders.  They may have rectified this on later runs.  I run DC, and have three more of these locos on which to do conversions, but I've found no problems with the plugs.  However, I also have two 10 Wheelers and a 2-6-6-2 to re-build and all three will be losing both the plugs and the circuit boards.  The circuit boards are extraneous for DC, and, on these locos, the plugs interfere with the drawbars, especially when close-coupled.

Wayne 

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

There are no community member 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!