Colfax,

Bill only hit on part of the issue. First, I am going to make the assumption that the 2-8-0 is a Spectrum locomotive. That said, there is a major difference between the Spectrum line and the Big Hauler line of products. The two connectors on the 2-8-0 (affectionately known as the Connie) are one six pin and one four pin (if my memory is correct). The tender on a Big Hauler tender will have two, two pin connectors....a significant difference.

The Connie is a 1:20.3 scale loco and the Big Hauler tender will be 1:22.5 ish, considerably smaller. If the size difference is not an issue, obstacle one out of the way.

Making the electronics in the tender work is another issue. The Connie electronics are significantly different from the Big Hauler. In my opinion, the only way to make a Spectrum Locomotive work with a Big Hauler tender would be to completely remove ALL ELECTRONICS from both the engine and the tender and install your own system. Also, finding a mating connector to the engine connector for the tender will be a bit more than the average modeler will be capable of. If one can determine the exact part number for the engine connector, Molex Electronics will likely have the mate.

Being as you have already posted here, my recommendation would be to post to the other fora looking for an orphan tender. There are lots of bashers on them that may (a long shot I think) have a tender or possibly a wiring harness from a tender they have abandoned. Large Scale Central www.largescalecentral.com and My Large Scale www.mylargescale.com.

A closing comment, I don't recommend purchasing a locomotive with out a tender unless you are experienced enough to hack and slash to make it work. No matter the manufacturer, locomotive and tender are usually a paired product.

Best of luck in finding what you need to get you up and running.

Bob C.

Bill,

Thanks again for the listing. If I manage to pull this off, purging the re-issues, painted unlettered, and kits there are 20 unique cars. Combining the 14 unique numbers of the Gramps tanks and that makes a 34 car train.

Bill,

Thanks for the superb effort. Looks like I have a few more to look for than I know about. Not sure I will chase the plain undecs, but who knows. It is a noble effort.

Bob C.

Looking for a list of the different markings of tank cars Bachmann produced. Am trying to make up a single train of all the different tank cars.

Dave,

Late to the party, but let me get a better understanding of the situation. First, is this a purchase you made brand new or is this a second hand purchase? This matters so I can understand whether this was a running locomotive you already owned or is a second hand that you are attempting to repair with only the known damage of one driver set. I am understanding from the track of the thread that the driver set you replaced is NOT on the motor driven axle.

Could you clarify your statement "Loco worked OK without any cars attached, although it didn't appear the loco was pulling much current." Can you provide the current you measured?

"When I attached several heavy cars the loco wasn't able to pull these cars and again no indication it was drawing any current.", does this statement mean it was the same reading as above or was it zero?

From your description it is my opinion that the axle gear on the main drive axle is cracked. Bachmann used a pressed on gear, which when they cracked would present a variety of symptoms from outright no motion at all to a sputtering to similar to what you are describing, etc.

Amperage draw can be a tell tale. If the gear is cracked but holding on by a thread, enough to move the locomotive with no load, you will get a given amperage draw which will be near a 'no load' amperage on the motor. When you add the additional load of several cars, this overcomes the frictional ability of the cracked gear and it slips. When you  check the amperage, it will be very near or the same as the loco with no load because the motor is not driving anything, just spinning and turning a set of gears that are not driving anything.

I have replaced three of the offending axle gears, but it has been awhile since I have done them and don't want to foul up a description on how to do it. I hope Loco Bill will chime in with a link to the article/thread on how to. This will get you to where you can inspect the axle gear and determine if it is the offending item. Again it has been awhile but Bachmann at one time was selling replacement axles with brass gears which has fixed all the issues I had.

I also find it interesting how two readers of your OP interpreted the presented query differently.  I hope my reply will be of help in restoring your Connie to functioning condition.

Pardon my confusion here, but how did we get from a demolished worm gear to axle gears? Combination gears are often used in multi-reduction gear trains, and in the case here, are most likely injection molded making them near impossible to directly replace in any other material. As I stated above, two individual gears bonded together, regardless of material is likely the best solution for this application. Both manufacturers mentioned above will custom bore the gears to your specification. To get that number, measure the shaft the gears rotate on in several locations to be sure you get a good measure. Specify the bore in the new gears to be that number, plus .001" minus .000".

Bachmann has not had a good history of re-stocking spare parts, as there is no real profit in spares. In most cases, the spares are run as a part of the production run. The probability of a run of parts for spares is relatively small. Considering the 4-4-0 is a 1:20.3 locomotive that Bachmann has already stated is a scale that no future product will me made, it is for the most part an orphan and I would not hold much hope of help from Bachmann.

Every manufacturer has it's issues with our trains, and most have never addressed them. I do give Bachmann cudos in that every new release of the Big Hauler 10 wheeler chassis, it has been improved to where today it is a very robust product. It appears to me that someone who is willing to take the effort could generate a replacement, but the cost for a small run product will be high.

Fred, if you are willing to take a gamble, contact WM Berg, or Stock Drive Products and see what help they might be able to offer. Not on a combined gear like that one, I have had them recommend replacement gears in the past by sending the worn out gear to them for evaluation. I have always had my original returned.
They may be able to offer two individual brass gears that can be soldered together.

Andrew,

Although I absolutely agree with your sentiments on this, I think you have done exactly what this person wanted. By replying publicly to his PM, you have aired the dirty laundry putting the spotlight on yourself.

My reaction would have been to ignore the fool and not publicly give any recognition to the event. With out going into a diatribe on how this occurred, long time ago I coined a phrase that defines this situation. "Gotta expect crap from a butthole" You are free to replace crap and butthole with the expletives of your choice. Louts like that don't deserve my attention (although I suppose I just gave some).

We are in this hobby for fun and enjoyment, don't let this incident slow you down. For me, part of the fun is experimenting with what I can do with the material (track, locos, rolling stock) I have. That is what I view you doing. Being in recovery from Hurricane Michael, that part of the hobby has been put on indefinite hold. Keep enjoying the hobby your way and ignore the idiots.

Keith,

Check out this vendor. He has a pretty good reputation on LSC.  https://glxscalemodels.com/

Keith,

Finding parts that Bachmann does not have is not going to be an easy task. Most folks that have them will be wanting to keep them running as long as possible. I would suggest one possibility would be eBay. Be prepared to pay high prices, as Bachmann has pretty much said there will be no future runs of existing product until the market returns.

I normally would have suggested NWSL (North West Short Line) but the owner has announced he is closing the business after the passing of his wife.

I have one, but due to Hurricane Michael it is tucked away in a corner and I don't anticipate access to it any time soon. Check on both Large Scale Central (www.largescalecentral.com) or My Large Scale (www.mylargescale.com), there may be folks there that may be able to provide better assistance.

Happy Railroading.

Mickey, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it has been said since the passing of Mr Riley, 1:20.3 is dead. There will be no more issues of any product, loco or rolling stock.

I would be overjoyed if the Bachmann would post here that I am incorrect, but I will not hold my breath for that to happen. I am a 1:20 guy as well and have resigned myself to either scratch, bash or eBay.

Happy Railroading Mickey

I am not sure on how they will fit, however Aristo track is representative of either an American mainline or the European narrow gauge. The Bachmann track and ties are more representative of an American narrow gauge, giving a wider tie and longer spacing look. If appearance is important I would not mix them. Do some web searching, there are several other folks that offer tie strip, Micro Engineering comes to mind, but again I am not up on the fitment.

Good luck.

Andrew,

I use a cotter pin through the bunk with a jewelry split ring attaching the chain. I have seen the ends of the chain use small rare earth magnets to hold the logs in place. The difficulty with the magnets is finding chain in steel material. Most jewelry chain is brass or copper.

Bob C.

Mike,

I did some searching here and didn't find anything close to what you are looking for. I would also suggest looing around in Large Scale Central (www.largescalecentral.com) and My Large Scale (www.mylargescale.com) forums, there  are lots of good history there as well


Looking again, what you are looking for might be back far enough to be in the old forum, predecessor to this one. I have gotten the impression from some folks that lots of great historical information was lost in the transition.


Bob C.

Unfortunately I believe you are out of luck. Please read here http://www.largescalecentral.com/forums/topic/28983/barry-olsen-barry-s-big-trains-in-the-hospital-needs-your-help.  Best bet to find one of his drives is on eBay.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.