Jim,

I would be interested in your methods.  I have experienced this problem and I'll bet many others have too.

There is a related recent post to this question at:
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,20221.0.html

Regards & Thanks,
John

I believe he is referring to the axle connections between the drivers. The older Bachmann 4-8-4s have a plastic insert that hold the split drivers together and allows pickup from both sides of a split chassis. These will get weak with age and break. The result will allow the drive rod to not be aligned in a straight row. I have seen a few times when a modeller has used the non-plastic type of lubrication and it has damaged the inserts. All of the old split frame Northerns have these inserts. I am not sure if the sidewinder motored engine's inserts are interchangeable with the newer can motor split frame models. Bachmann used to list and sell a complete driver set, when the engines were current production.

I have moved a can motor Niagara frame to a sidewinder motor Santa Fe engine and valve gear with little problem. The mounting holes align and the cylinders and valve gear fit. I believe that all the old 4-8-4 can motor frames were the same. I buy old engines for parts to keep mine running
Regards,
John Green

You may find these posts useful!

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,19438.0.html

http://www.tycoforums.com/tyco/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7703

http://www.hoseeker.net/bachmann.html

Good Luck,
John

Rich,
Thanks for the Link, it will be very useful.
I will try to round up any diagrams that I have that the site doesn't.
Thanks,
John

I have just purchased a pair of Bachmann F7A Locos. I have been unable to find a listing or any parts information for these units on this site. These have a different frame and motor than the FT units I have.

These were in the new Bachmann blue boxes, so I assume they are recent production products.
What is the history of these units and why is there no information available for parts.


I find bachmann technical information interesting, because when a product goes out of production, it appears that bachmann never ever had the product.

I have two Santa Fe 4-8-4 northerns that I have detailed and custom painted. Keeping these older units running has been a challenge. No parts are listed for the older production engines, and I am unwilling to part with the custom details, paint, and coupler modification. Therefore sending them back for replacement is not an option.  I buy used engines and parts to keep the old locos on the road.

An old parts list archive on this web site would be of great help in identifying old parts from outdated products. This technical information would help owners to buy and sell parts to keep our valued engines on the road.

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By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right,  he usually has a son who thinks he's wrong.
Charles Wadsworth