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Discussion Boards => HO => Topic started by: ASRR Mark on March 11, 2009, 04:47:45 PM

Title: SW900 Scraping Bottom
Post by: ASRR Mark on March 11, 2009, 04:47:45 PM
I have a Bachmann SW900 that is stopping mid-travel when it runs into something on the track.  This happens most often at turnouts.  It runs around most of my layout but then stops abruptely, as if a track nail were sticking up.  I have checked the track of course but find nothing that is protruding high enough to stop the locomotive.  No cars or other engines encounter this problem.  Is there a low-clearance on the SW900?  Is there a way I can raise the body/lower the trucks so that this doesn't happen?  This is a nice little engine, but it can't.

Thanks,
Mark
Title: Re: SW900 Scraping Bottom
Post by: HO-Ron on March 11, 2009, 05:29:33 PM
Sounds like a coupler airhose is to low. Check it and bend it up with a needle nose pliers  if it is.
Rgs, HO-Ron
Title: Re: SW900 Scraping Bottom
Post by: the Bach-man on March 11, 2009, 10:19:12 PM
Dear Mark,
I've never seen a Bachmann SW, but I hope the airhose tip works!
Have fun!
the Bach-man
Title: Re: SW900 Scraping Bottom
Post by: Tylerf on March 11, 2009, 11:20:48 PM
It shouldn't be too hard to just find a trouble spot and carefully watch the loco, if it is the coupler than it should be quite obvious. And ho ron I'm guessing by "coupler airhose" you mean the trip pin
Title: Re: SW900 Scraping Bottom
Post by: engr.todd on March 14, 2009, 10:00:26 PM
It sounds like a P2K SW9 that I bought years back. The gear casing under the trucks were so low they drug on the frogs of Atlas switches and stopped. I ground the casings down and it took care of the problem. Just a thought.
Bob
Title: Re: SW900 Scraping Bottom
Post by: jward on March 15, 2009, 12:52:04 AM
Quote from: the Bach-man on March 11, 2009, 10:19:12 PM
Dear Mark,
I've never seen a Bachmann SW, but I hope the airhose tip works!
Have fun!
the Bach-man

would there be ANY chance of a sw900 or sw1200 from bachmann in the future?
Title: Re: SW900 Scraping Bottom
Post by: ASRR Mark on March 16, 2009, 05:09:43 PM
B-Man and Todd, you're both right, its a P2K.  Sorry about that!  Todd, glad to hear mine isn't the only problem out there.  Will check the gear casing under the trucks.  The engine stops on track after passing over the Atlas turnouts tho.  Anyway of raising the body up off of the trucks without taking the whole thing apart?  How do you grind it down?  Dremel?

Thanks.  Mark
Title: Re: SW900 Scraping Bottom
Post by: jward on March 17, 2009, 09:06:49 AM
i think what he's referring to is the bottom of the truck gearbox being very low and hanging up. early atlas diesels had this problem. uncoupler magnets would cause these units to hang up as they bottomed out. the solution would be to carefully file away the bottom of the gearbox. on my proto s1, which i assume is similar to your unit, the bottom of the gearbox and truck sideframes appear to come off together. remove these pieces before you do any filing, to keep the dust out of your gearbox. i would stay away from a dremel tool for this task, and use a mill file instead.
Title: Re: SW900 Scraping Bottom
Post by: engr.todd on March 17, 2009, 11:02:53 AM
Mark;
I took the gear casing off and used a Bastard file. Took it off and left it clean and smooth.
Bob
Title: Re: SW900 Scraping Bottom
Post by: jowalmer on March 19, 2009, 01:46:52 AM
For what it's worth, I had a loco do the exact thing.  It turned out to be the trip pin hanging too low and catching on the track.
Title: Re: SW900 Scraping Bottom
Post by: Dr EMD on March 20, 2009, 10:41:58 PM
Not likely, especially if someone else has it in their catalog. 

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would there be ANY chance of a sw900 or sw1200 from bachmann in the future?
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