Thanks Roger.  I've just received some REAL lead weights yesterday and I'll just cut one down to size and hope there is enough headroom area for the top of the front lead axle.

Roger #2

Mr. Bach Mann,

     Cant seem to find a part in your parts locker.  Looking for part # H114X-MTB44.  It is a spring clamp that keeps the front truck of loco down on the track.  That part number is off of my part catalog that came with the loco.  Spectrum item # 82501, 4-8-2 Heavy mountain unlettered steam loco.

     Ordered this loco off of Ebay and I believe the clip must have been lost by previous owner as I don't remember taking the front truck off and its nowhere to be seen.  Loco has a tendency to derail at two locations on my layout due to poor track work I guess.  Any info on this would be greatly appreciated!

Roger
Kentucky

Sir, Mr Bach Man!

     Just ordered a Spectrum unlettered 4-8-2 Mountain loco and was wondering is it possible to order a replacement headlight assembly with number boards that have some loco numbers on the boards?

Roger Merritt

Thanks, Union Pacific.  I'll order those and in the meantime see if my squinty eyes can repair the damaged pins.

Roger

Hello,

Pulled  a couple of wires out of my tender plugs going to the Niagara loco today.  These things are really small.  Are there any plug harnesses around I can use to replace it with.  Got one wire pulled out of the 2 pin plug and two pulled out of the 4 pin plug.

Roger

Thanks, B&O fan for the suggestion.  I have a decoder in the tender, but not much room left over.

On another note, while working on my Bachmann Niagara Loco one of the wires came out of the tender plug!  Arrrrrgh!  Where to get a replacement plug now!  I'm sure I've seen one somewhere!

Roger

      I really like the new Bachmann steam engines, but one thing that bugs me is that there is still insufficient electrical pickup in the tender section.  This engines are still being made for analog operation.  The newer decoders with sound have a lot of problems with Bachmann engines (unless they are the very big ones).

    I've got a two 2-8-0 Constellation engines with a sound decoders in them and I get sound drop outs at various switch turnouts.  I cant put on Frog Snot to make traction better as that eliminates one driving wheel in the engine from getting good rail contact.  These engines don't have the traction to pull my 6 passenger coaches up a small grade.

    So what I am asking, is there another source to replace the tender trucks so that all 8 wheels are making rail contact with the rails?

Roger Merritt

Jonathan,

     No need to put in a speaker sound outlet hole.  I used a slim size Digitrax decoder SDN144PS with a mini oval speaker and enclosed in the shell.  Sound is excellent.  THe sound actually is amplified when you cover it up with the tender.

    Here is a link of the speaker I used.

http://www.traintekllc.com/Mini-Oval-8-Ohm-Speaker/productinfo/SPKRMINI/

    Dont forget to get the speaker enclosure also.

Roger

Dont forget there will also be two wites for the capacitor!  :O

Did manage to get the shell off, except I broke off the rear plastic support post where the rear screw is.  Hopefully I can glue it back on.  Did remember the hint about the small screws near the pistons had to be removed.  That is where the tabs are that keep the shell on.

Thanks richg for the recommendation on using the Kadee copper coupler box to fashion wheel pickoffs!  Excellent suggestion.  Will try that next.

Next process is to order a Digitrax SDN144PS decoder with sound.  Hopefully that decoder will give me smooth speed transistions than what is in it.

Thanks.  My concern was to at least add wires from the tender for more electrical pickup.  Also, does changing the decoder give better speed control?

Didn't see any pics on how to take off the shell.  Do you pry it off somehow?

Hi guys,

    Got a B&O 0-6-0 steam switcher and need to change the decoder in it and add the tender wheel pickups for better track continuity.  Dont have the instructions for it.  It also has smoke capabilities but dont use that feature.  Dont see how to take it apart to get to the decoder.   Bachmann guy, any suggestions?

Roger

I did finaly manage to pull the decoder tray out further.  I had to slide a screwdriver under the tray to release a wire that was hung up in the back.  I noticed that in the speaker opening there is a red and a black wire running through the opening toward the back.  Should not be in the speaker opening!  I'll have to unsolder it and reroute the wires if I'm to use the speaker slot.

Roger

I've got a new Tsunami decoder coming in and I tried to take the tender apart to get to the old decoder but having difficulties getting the decoder tray out!  Found the little screw that opens the front tender area.  The tray comes out about one half inch ans stops.  Seems the wires are hung up on something.  No instructions in the box on how to take the decoder out.  Anybody done this before?

Roger