Why is it so hard to find and download a manual for the Bachmann 44915 DCC decoder? Is it made by a different company? If so, what is their model number so I can cross reference.  A list of CV's would be nice. Or are they not programmable? Some kind of paper work or a note on where to find this info would be even nicer.  When I google "Bachmann 44915 Decoder Manual" I get some website that I have to subscribe to.   The Bachmann site doesn't have a section on manuals....does it? I'm not finding it there either. Isn't this the first thing a DCC enthusiast/customer would want to know?

My 2-10-2 Loco (Spectrum) makes a "thumping" noise as it moves on the tracks. It also seems to jerk or limp a little bit in rhythm to the thumping. None of my other Loco's do that so I know the track's OK.  I can't see anything that would explain the noise as it moves on the track.  It's hard to troubleshoot when I run it on it's back (in a repair rack) because the thumping disappears and the wheel movement appears smooth as far as I can tell. 

I've disassembled the drive gear and, to my untrained eye, I cannot find anything obvious. No apparent or uneven wear of axles or  axle journals.  All the linkage appears well aligned, lubricated, and moves smoothly without interference. i.e. nothing bent or hitting anything else.  Wheels pairs are parallel and properly spaced and the left and right side connecting pins are all offset correctly (relative to each other) and there's no slippage of wheels on axles. Drive and worm gears don't appear worn or damaged and are well lubed. And finally, the motor runs smoothly.

I understand it's a precision piece of machinery and, as such, beyond my skill set to completely analyze.  Another option for me is to replace the Drive Gear assembly. They're going for $25.00+shipping from the Bachmann parts store as opposed to $45.00+(who knows what) to send it in for repair.

So what am I missing?

Bill

When I add more than 5 cars behind my 2-6-2, it slips and just sits there spinning or barely moves.  My track is level and a straight edge shows no dips or "wows." The cars are not excessively heavy and all the wheels spin freely.  I am very careful with lubricants on wheel bearings and motor/gear stuff.  I don't use liquid smoke on any of my locos.  I only clean the track with the erasure thingy.  I usually clean the drivers with track cleaner but I always try to wipe them dry (frantically!!!).  I've experimented with wheel spacing and I get nothing.  Are these things really that limited in pulling capacity, or is there something I'm missing? What do ya got for me?

later

So where can I get some of these.  A while ago I bought a couple sets of 2-6-2 driver wheel assemblies, but they didn't come with the clips.  You know which ones I mean, right? Anyway,  I'm not seeing them in the parts catalog. The assemblies are useless without them.

My Bachmann Spectrum 2-10-2 HO scale Steam loco continually jumps the track on most of my layout curves. I used the 3' flexible track sections on cork bedding on plywood....nothing unusual there.  And I've checked the integrity, alignment, continuity etc of the track and nothing appears amiss. I haven't measured the curve radii, but they are all much larger than, say, the standard, non-flexible 22" curved track sections.  It's a big layout.

Here's what I've observed: I noticed that the valve gear cylinders interfere with the front truck wheels on the curves, forcing them to derail.  But even so, if I remove the front truck, there doesn't seem to be enough "side-to-side" play in the drivers to accommodate the curves and the drivers derail as well.  I also have an older Bachmann 4-10-4 that does not have problems with any of the curves. 

I tried prying the driver wheels out a bit to give them more play but they wont budge so I left them alone....don't want to force anything.  The front truck only goes on one way so you can't screw that up either.  I can't imagine that the 2-10-2 is so poorly designed for curves.  It's a real expensive piece of equipment.  I'm hoping mine is either mechanically defective or there's something simple that I'm missing. 

Is there some minimum curvature recommended for this model?  I haven't seen anything in what little literature I received with my Loco.  Anyone else run into this problem? 

I ordered and received a set of 2-6-2 drive wheels.  I had removed the linkage from the old set by prying the connecting(?) pins from the rear-most drive wheels.  They were a press-fit. 

So when I received the new set, I tried to do the same (they were already installed) so I could attach the old linkage.  They were extremely tight, so I thought maybe they were screw-in.....so I tried unscrewing them. Well the pins just broke off ( $12.00 bucks shot!).  Also, the pins didn't come with the itty-bitty, teeny-weeny, little retaining clips.  So what am I supposed to do?  Can I get the the retaining clips?  I can see that (a little too late) if I had those, I wouldn't have to remove the pins.

Thanks