We have this old Bachmann G scale United Traction trolley that suddenly quit working.   Traced the issue to a pair of electrical pickups both on the same side.  These are a kind of spring loaded piston assembly that contacts the inside of the wheels.  They are mounted in the mudguard frame.
Questions:  What would cause these to quit conducting electric current?  And is there any place to buy replacements?

thanks
Rich

We were given a Bachmann United Traction Trolley. It runs very well but the light do not work.  I took apart the motor block and clipped power directly into the wires and still no lights. I am assuming that they are burned out.  (both the headlights and the ceiling lights).
Are there replacement bulbs available for the trolley.  If so is there a way to replace them without destroying the trolley?  Nothing wants to come apart.

Thanks

Andrew
I also used the Labelle 106 grease that you recommended on an old Aristocraft locomotive that was having a lot of problems.  It runs like new now.  -That's great stuff.  Thanks again for the tip about that.

Have you taken the motor block apart (4 screws on top and two on the bottom)  to see where the wires go?
Also,  I was looking at the photos of the Bachmann motor block and see that they are not using the same kind of connector.   How did you resolve that issue?
thanks
Rich

I ran them both on a back and forth track for about an hour each.  The V3 Locomotive would continually chuff about every third or forth stop but the V5 locomotive did not do it at all.  The volume control was a nice addition to the V5.

thanks
Rich

We had two Big Hauler locomotives donated.  One has a V3 and the other a V5 chassis.  The V3 has a continuous chuff randomly when it stops. The V5 Big Hauler does not have that feature.  That leads me to a few questions.
Was that an intentional feature that simulates the sound of steam being released ?   Or was it an error that Bachmann corrected in the later versions? And how did they change it?   Seemed like a nice feature to me.

Thanks
Rich

Thank you Bill and Andrew for the good tips.  I have another question about the Big Hauler but it's unrelated to the grease question so I will create a separate post.

Rich

Andrew (RkyGriz) : Thank you for the recommendation of the Labelle products.  I just purchased the two that you mentioned. It's great stuff and I lubed up our V3 Big Hauler and it runs great now. 
Now I have more questions.  I removed 3 screws from the bottom. That allowed me to lift the bottom plate up enough to grease everything. If I wanted to get the plate all the way off to work on it more I was not sure which one is the 4th screw to remove.  I see a smaller screw on the pilot truck just past the slot.  Not sure if that was the one or not.  And it looks like in order to get the plate all the way off the drive rods would have to come off also.  How are those attached.  Can the pins that hold them in be unscrewed?  Or pried off ?

And finally: I was expecting to see a brass gear on the motor shaft but it was plastic.  So now I am not totally sure that we have a V3 chassis.  (smooth bottom, can't turn the wheels by hand)

Thanks

Thanks Loco Bill-    more questions to follow.

Hello-  First post on this forum -  Looks like there is a lot of good knowledge here.
We received donations of two Big Hauler 4-6-0 Locomotives.  After reading this forum it looks like one has the V5 chassis with the grease opening on the bottom.  The other is a Royal Blue with a smooth bottom and no opening for the grease.  I assume that is a V3 chassis. 
  How do you grease the gears on the V3 chassis ?  And does it have to be grease or can it be a heavy gear oil?

Thanks