Bachmann 2-8-0 problem

unclesaxman09 Nov 23, 2013

  1. unclesaxman09

    unclesaxman09 TrainBoard Member

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    Bachmann just sent me a replacement 2-8-0 loco and I am having the same problem that I sent it in for. When moving forward it seems to "pop" up and down. This only happens when it is going forward and mainly around curves. The curves are 11" if that helps. Has anyone else encountered this problem and could tell me how to fix it. Thanks in advanced.

    Shawn
     
  2. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    There was a reported issue with the later runs of this loco with respect to the bearing blocks on the drivers. There was thread here quite a while back about it if it did not get lost in the last upgrade. All three of mine are from the first run and have never had the issue. Fortunately Mark (Spookshow) did cover this in his review
    http://www.spookshow.net/loco/spec280.html and if it is not that it may be a traction tire not seated right.
     
  3. unclesaxman09

    unclesaxman09 TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks I will look for the thread. I had two from before they came factory installed with DCC and they both worked fine until I took one apart and it started "popping" so I sent it in and they replaced it with this one that did it out of the box. Thanks for the help John.

    Shawn
     
  4. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    "took one apart" may indicate a slight misalignment during reassembly. This might include a driver that is one gear tooth out of quarter, an eccentric crank that is not positioned correctly referenced to the main driver axle, or a crosshead that is out of one or both of its guides. Any of these can cause the mechanism to jam slightly (pop up/down) once every driver revolution.

    Place the loco upside down in a Vee cradle or something that will hold it steady, and connect power clips to the tender wheels. Then run it very slowly and look for any binding as the mechanism rotates.
     
  5. river_eagle

    river_eagle TrainBoard Member

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    check the crank rods on both sides that the front joint is pointing down like this
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    if it points up it will bind and pop, or even lock up depending on how much play it has.
     
  6. unclesaxman09

    unclesaxman09 TrainBoard Member

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    Funny things....I just took it to my workbench and loosened and retightened the screws on the bottom plate and it fixed the problem....go figure. You would think that this shouldn't be a problem. O well thanks for the help everyone!!
     
  7. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Possibly a particle on an axle that dislodged when you loosened the plate....?
     
  8. Polski

    Polski TrainBoard Supporter

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    Kind of on same subject. I was running my Bachmann 2-8-0 at a show Saturday when it just stopped. Wheels don't move, motor don't humm, nothing.
    Any idea?

    Polski
     
  9. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    First thought is to remove bottom plate and check for a particle of ballast or scenery in the gear train. I doubt if a jammed motor would "hum" if you're running DC, but I know nothing about DCC. Doubtful if it's an open electrical connection because wires or copper tabs usually break when handling the engine, not while running.
     
  10. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    This really seems to indicate something electrical. :(
     
  11. unclesaxman09

    unclesaxman09 TrainBoard Member

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    The original 2-8-0 I had that I sent in had a similar electrical problem...It would short itself out this is what led me to take it apart in the first place and try to fix the problem. I eventually isolated the problem to the actual locomotive and fixed it by accident (go figure). What I did to try and isolate the problem was if you have another Bachmann engine see if that tender from the 2-8-0 can run it and if so the problem is more than likely in the loco itself. Next I hooked some wires to the tender pickup on the loco it has a split frame so one wire on either side of the frame and if it doesn't run its a electrical problem with the loco so youll have to go in there and do a lil work. Either way it seems that you will have a fun night taking the loco apart seeing if it is a piece of something messing with the gears or an electrical problem. Hope this helps and isn't too confusing.

    Shawn
     
  12. Polski

    Polski TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks guys for your help. I'll see what I can do.

    Polski
     

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