Hello,

I'm looking for a wiring diagram (more of a what pin controls what part) for the 4 pin plug on the ho scale 4-4-0 dcc on board (no sound). Trying to figure out a short, but all the wires are black, so I'm knocking my head on the wall.

Thanks,
Rob

Ironically, I just took one of mine apart that was having this same issue. The drive belt appears to be fine, but the plastic gear between the motor & the flywheel has cracked. I'm not sure the way to go about pulling the flywheel off, & if NWSL makes a metal replacement gear for this.

I have a picture pointing out the cracked gear with a paintbrush handle, but it tells me I can't post the picture here due to the uploads folder being full.

Thanks,
VTBob

Hello,

Just got a DCC-ready (#64802) Alco FB2 & want to pair it up to my Sound Value FA1. I've heard a few different opinions for sound options, but what would be the best one to use for it -- is there a plug & play option perhaps? I've heard about Loksound, Soundtraxx, & something called ESU-Sound.

thoughts? maybe sound samples?

Thanks,
Rob

Hi all,

I am wondering on the dimensions for the E7A units, because on another forum the fix for the 1980's rivarossi E9's is to use a Bachmann E7A power train. I have 3 beautifully done up custom (A-B-A) units (got in an estate sale of family who I didn't know had them) whose drivetrains have all but burnt out. I'm wondering if anyone else has used or tried this method since locating new motors for the old 1980's units is pretty much a bust.

Thanks,Rob

I like that fix & will use it on a few other units I have, but my problem is the actual gear itself is cracked. Makes the unit go lumping down the track, instead of a smooth glide.

Thanks
Rob

Can you interchange the 2 motor wheels with the single motor wheels? Single motor version has 2 cracked axle gears, but I have quite alot of the 2 motor ones here in the shop.

Also, side note, looking for if/when the 3 truck shay sideframes are coming back out. Got 2 shays that dropped most of the gearings last night while trying to show my kid how they worked. :\

Thanks,
Rob

So it boils down to where I'm just going to have to repair them myself, so I would ask the forum on what they thought I might have to replace, so that I'm not tearing these tiny gearboxes apart more then once.

I have 2 of the Climax locos, a 2 truck & a 3 truck. Both are broken.

The 2 truck version runs, side cylinders running but the unit won't move.

The 3 truck version moves, but only with a 3/4ters rotation of the side cylinders before locking up.

I have the following parts:

2 of the "Driveline - Long (HO 50 Ton 2 Truck Climax)"
link: https://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=68_689&products_id=10183&zenid=52ft1daqegci0rcdtm46c11986
2 of the "Driveline w/ Metal Gear - Gearbox (HO 50/70 Ton Climax)"
link: https://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=68_689&products_id=10184&zenid=52ft1daqegci0rcdtm46c11986

If I replace both of these in the units, will that fix the problem, or do I need other parts as well?

Thanks for your time,
Rob

I used the NCE Powercab cv "program on Main" function. I've heard alot about that JMRI but it seems to be fairly complicated in just trying to hook it up to a computer. I have a custom built gaming rig that doesn't have a serial port, or spare Ethernet (or) usb connector. It wasn't built with JMRI in mind, more of a powerhouse to run Star Citizen.

I'm setting up my sound decoders differently then most folks for the main layout, whereas they aren't actually in the cabs, but are in a separate control panel mounted in the side of the layout. The speaker outputs are tied into a phone cable wire that goes to the line in port of my stereo system, also mounted under the layout. I use mostly T1 decoders and simply hook the locomotives up in a consist to run the trains. I have alot of old school Athearns and the T1's seem to work ok for them. I have on the board so far -

1. Light steam
2. Medium steam
3. Heavy Steam
4. Alco 244
5. EMD 567(non turbo)
6. TBD

This way I can still have sound if I want to (save for the new locos I buy that already have sound in them). I don't always like to run with sound, especially in the summer (hot) weather due to my headaches from the heat.

Maybe I'll get a video of how I've been doing the sound set up this summer. Keep putting it off while I redo the basement floor.

Thanks,
VTBob

Got one of these the other day, & it's awfully loud. Been trying to find the best setup in the CV #'s to set the sound levels, & this new thing I found while googling it up called Reverb?

Does anyone here have a CV list for the sound volumes/settings that seem to work best for them? I'll give them a shot to see what works best. LAyout room is a stone(field stone, 5ft thick) walled basement if you need locations for environment.

Thanks,
VTBob

((I'm in the long process of switching everything over to sound DCC simply because of the ease it is to select a loco to run without having to go box hunting, or trying to remember which way to throw the toggle switch for block control. The only toggles I plan to have is signals, with a master override from the dispatchers chair))

I have one of those Tichy crane kits as well, but I'm stumped on how to do the rigging. How did you do yours?


thanks,
Bob

If you can find someone with a 3d printer, sometimes you can make your own gears. I'm in the process of milling my own driveshafts for the Climax gearbox. They don't make/don't have the old parts anymore.

Rob

I too am in the same boat. I have been waiting for a part to come back in stock for both a 2truck & a 3truck climax. Both of my units need the same part this one here,

https://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=68_689&products_id=10184&zenid=9jhd91l7tq4kv59ulhnj87tjn2

But for several months now, it's been listed as out-of-stock. Does NWSL sell this part as a completed driveline, or just the seperate gears? I'm ok with installing a driveline, but I don't have the tools to install the gears.

Thanks,
bob

is that just the gear itself, or the gear & driveshaft like the one pictured on the bachmann site?

Thanks,
VTBob

Well, I replaced the tucks, & the center drive lines (jeweler's loops are great) but the problem is the the main gearbox drive line, which seems to be perpetually out of stock.

Is there an ETA when the drive lines might be back in stock?

Thanks,
VTBob


PS: This is the link to the gearbox part:
https://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=10184&zenid=qs7qijkjusg0p6jn1b9dhkc420

so I got a pair of trucks (metal geared for the 50T Climax). Got both drive line shafts & a cylinders w/metal gearing. The one gearing I didn't get was this one:
https://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=10184&zenid=qs7qijkjusg0p6jn1b9dhkc420

Does anyone know when it might be back in stock? It's the one gearing I didn't order for the 70T because they were out.

Thanks,
VTBob