I hate to tell you but the engine will positively only fit one direction. The metal casing in which the engine sits only allows for the motor to point one way. I can spin the motor allowing the contacts to connect the same way to the metal housing but the driveshaft exiting the motor is still facing the same way resulting in the backwards running (if that makes sense). This particular F9 has an electrical pickup throuh the wheels. Like you mentioned though, I did switch the two trucks around thinking the same thing however was unsuccessful. For such a simple problem, I sure am stumped. Thanks for all the imput thus far, I do appreciate your guys' experience.

Quote from: fieromike on September 07, 2008, 09:54:12 AM
Yep.  Call Bachmann service dept.  You'll pay repairs on an out-of-warranty engine.  As inexpensive as those engines are, it might be worth a bit of browsing through that auction site.

You mentioned browsing through an auction site? I was wondering if buying a new motor for the engine and swaping it out for the old one would rectify the problem. If so, where can I buy one and how much would it set me back? Otherwise I was going to get creative and solder the engine contactors backwards in attempts to run the engine backwards but I would prefer an easier less time intensive solution.

Yeah that is what I am thinking. You described my engine exactly and there are no wires. I wish there was something I could do specifically but Im not sure. I dont have the warranty info since I bought the engine used so I dont think Bachman will help. Any suggestions now?

I opened the engine and tried to flip the motor 180 degrees but came up empty. The housing only allows for the motor to fit in the one direction. I am back to drawing board, so any help once again would be greatly appreciated.

I recently aquired two Bachmann F9 engines. I was hoping to run them together, but when I set them on the track, one engine went one direction and the other engine the other direction. I reversed the direction on the controller and now the two went at each other. I have no idea what is going on. As always I appreciate all the advice I can get, thanks for the help.

With the E-Z track transformer, how do I add more pieces of power track to a single loop? My transformer only has one plug so I am a bit confused as to how I add multiple pieces. Thanks again for everyone that helped thus far. I really appriciate your experience and advice.

Thanks for the advice Franz. If anybody else has anything to add about the E-Z track or has an opinion please feel free to add on. I am new and appriciate all your guys' help and experience. Also if people want to answer the original questions above, it would be very helpful. Thanks

Franz - Thanks for the response and the advise. I have a couple questions to your reply. About the "power feeder" you mentioned, is that just another piece of powered track that can connect to the same transformer? My second question is, why not purchase more ez track? My experience (very limited) thus far with the ez track has been very great. I am excited to purchase more but am a bit hesitant now after your comment. Can you help explain a little more. Thanks for your time

Hey Guys, I recently purchased Bachmann' s Empire Builder set. I am very pleased and plan on expanding my set quite a bit with more E-Z track. Without any switches (single loop of track) how much length of track can I power with the transformer included in the set? I realize that the conductivity of the loop decrease slightly with each break of track. Is there any limitations associated with this single transformer? Would it be advantageous for me to purchase a few more pieces of the power track that connect to the transformer and place them randomly throughout the single loop? Any help you guys can offer would be greatly appriciated.

Thanks