Purchased new Bachmann 2-8-4 and front coupler for engine was completely detached from engine and was (is) a group of parts.
need help on assembling front coupler and mounting same on front of 2-8-4.

coupler is not shown on parts diagram.

Thanks

Quick Guide that came with my new Bachmann Berkshire says (on page 4) that a CD came with my new model which contains the Users Guide.

I received no such  CD with my new model!

How do I get a copy of the Users Guide??

Richard Hubbard
9/9/14

have attempted to edit my profile to hide my email address - I checked the box for this to be the case and entered my current password to change the profile, but it doesn't "take" - the email address icon continues to show on my posts and is still displayed on my profile info.

Is this car new?

how long has it been available?

is a cleaning agent put in the tank of the car?

Am curious!

I have a fairly new (less than 1 yr old) Spectrum 4-8-2 Heavy Mountain. Having some problems with "unscheduled" stops and starts. I need some simple, plain explanation of how the "track-to-engine" power system functions. I am having an extremely difficult time understanding and getting a grip on how this works on this locomotive.

I know that each of the 8 drive wheels of the locomotive has a wiper to conduct electricity. I know that the tender also has a wiper on each axle to conduct electricity.

Apparently it is necessary to have a wiper on each drive wheel and to be certain that each wiper is, in fact, making good contact with it's drive wheel before the locomotive will run reliably. If one or more wiper isn't making contact, the locomotive stops and starts erratically or may not run at all. Why is this "all-wheel-contact" necessary? It seems to be "saying" that all 8 drive wheels must be in contact with the track at all times in order for the locomotive to run. It seems like this is overkill and makes this locomotive very "picky" about electrical contact.

I read on a previous message that one way to check the connections between the locomotive and tender is to keep the tender on the powered track while lifting the locomotive off the track. If the connections are good (mine are), the locomotive drive wheels will turn. If this electrical power for the motor is supplied from the tender, why is electrical power thru the locomotive wheels necessary (and critical) in order for the locomotive to run, as long as the supplied tender is used with the locomotive?

Will greatly appreciate any guidance/clarification on this.

In a reply to one of my messages, saw a reference to a tutorial by Jim Banner, that was posted in Feb 2007, that would be of interest to me.

Have tried searching for this tutorial, but no success. Anyone know whether this tutorial is still on the board?

Have encountered a "situation" on my HO layout.

First, I'm using PECO Insulfrog turnouts, medium and large radius as well as curved.

Second, I just purchased a Bachmann Spectrum 4-8-2 Heavy Mountain (HM) with DCC and sound, painted, unlettered - Bachmann item #84201.

The "situation":

In running the HM, I've found that the centerline dimension between the 2 wheels of each of the tender trucks coincides with the distance between the isolation sections (at the frog) of the PECO medium radius turnouts.

When the HM and tender are moving at low speed and/or moving in a certain direction, the rear truck of the tender loses electrical signal from the track, and the HM and tender stop, as both wheels of the truck are on the isolation sections at the same time. If the speed is fast enough, momentum will carry the HM & tender past the isolation sections, but this is not the solution at all times/places on my layout.

Have ruled out replacing the PECO turnouts, as this is too expensive for me. Also thought of replacing the tender trucks with trucks with a different wheel spacing, but don't have a clue as to what that might be. Also, of course the existing truck wheels/axles are metal for electrical pickup.

Wondering if others might have encountered the same situation and what might be a solution. Hopefully, my description of what is happening isn't totally confusing.

Just purchased a B. Spectrum 4-8-2 (item #84201). Included is a small plastic "bag" of black "powder" (haven't actually opened the bag yet). No mention as to what this is for. Any ideas?

Lube info says to lube drive worm gear by removing body shell, BUT no instructions as to how to do this. Any experience about this? I'm not into "flying by the seat of my pants" to disassemble an engine this complex (at least for me).

Any info will be greatly appreciated.

are the front couplers on Spectrum series locomotives "active" or are they just dummies?