Hello.  I have the Santa Fe 4-8-4 Northern....the second 4-8-4 locomotive that Bachmann just shipped me last year after the first one (purchased Feb 2008) had a series of issues including staying on the track.  This 2nd unit runs slightly better, but only after I changed decoders to a Tsunami Heavy Steam and clipped the capacitor across the motor circuit that effects the speed curve when using a quiet drive decoder (this was highly recommended from several owners on the Model Railroad Forum who also own the same 4-8-4). 

But I still can't get the locomotive to run "smoothly" at slow speeds.  It tends to "jerk" when it is slowly moving, and on clean track (I am a stickler for clean track).   It was doing this before I cut the capacitor.  I have read other folks messages with the same issue.  QUESTION:  is there a way to correct this or at least reduce the jerky movement?   Would I have to take the entire motor assembly apart ?(I hope not).  Any suggestions you have are welcome except sending this back (2 times is enough).   PS.....the sound is wonderful with the Tsuname.

Thanks.   

JRP     

I have a new HO 4-8-4 Northern that came with DCC.  I have just installed a sound decoder to go along with it, but also want to get the "chuff" sound in sync with the cylinders.  I purchased a Sound Trax cam kit and it calls for the cam to be "slipped onto the axle with the insulated side of the cam facing the drive wheel".

My question is this:  Because all 8 large drive wheels on this loco each have a thin copper connector for power, how will this affect the cam that needs to be electronically connected to the axle?  Will the copper connector cause the cam to not operate?

Does my question make any sense? 

Thanks.  JRP  "Great Southwest and Pacific RR" 

Matt (and Robert),

Yes, I found them,  Could not see them since they are rescessed into the body, but I was able to get the cover off....thanks for the direction.

Note:  I used a very small flathead jewelers screw to unscrew them as I found that trying a small phillips head was not as firm a grip to the screw head.  I think these screws can strip easily.

JRP

It is part number 50802.  Santa Fe # 3871, 54 scale feet long. 

I can see a fine slit opening under the bottom of the tender on each side where it appears the entire top and sides can be removed, but I do not want to force this.  Also, the trucks are wired into the shell and even removing the screws only loosens the trucks, not removes them.

I recently purchased the 4-8-4 Northern (HO) and am planning to install a 1 inch speaker and sound decoder in the tender.  The unit is already DCC equiped.  My question is how do I get the cover off the tender easily?

I went to unsrew the trucks, but found they are wired to the inside of the tender and did not think removing the wires from the trucks looked like a good idea.   

Any suggestions?   

JRP  "Great Southwest and Pacific RR"