As anyone who has ever had a Bachman 80-ton 3 truck Shay knows, the driveline components crack and split. Also, the bearing blocks are difficult to remove without breaking the small tabs that hold them on.

I found a fellow on Ebay selling 3D printed parts for these. Specifically, the bolsters and the bearing blocks.

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/305444954879?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=irzUYn5vTGi&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=ulh9LFj1Sh6&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

If the link doesn't work, just search "Bachmann Three Truck Shay Driveline Repair Parts" and they should come up.

They aren't cheap, that's for sure. But I ordered two sets just to see if they were any good. And they fit perfectly. In the photo below the bearing block on the left is a factory one. The one on the right is the 3D printed one from Ebay. This fellow did an amazing job recreating these.



I'm not the guy making these, nor am I getting any kind of commission or anything like that. I just wanted to put this info out there as I am sure others are looking for these as well.

Found this old Thomas the Tank Engine while digging around in some old totes today. I forgot I even had it. It's from back when my kids were little (20 years ago or so). So I had to throw an old decoder in it for my youngest grandson. I think it has a cracked gear somewhere because it's kind of clunky. But It runs, and my grandson is going to love it. Heck, it's already one of my favorite loco's already.

As we all know, the truck assemblies on the 80 ton 3 truck Shay left something to be desired. NWSL solved the gear problem by offering metal ones, but the problem with cracked bolsters and broken bearing block remain. I have found some 3D printed replacement parts for sale, but they are quite expensive for what you get. In my opinion anyway.

So I am looking for some of these to experiment on. I want to either find an economical way to do a good, lasting repair, or maybe even design a 3D printed replacement that I can share with fellow 3D printing nerds. If you have any that you would not mind getting rid of, please let know.

Or better yet, if you already have a repair or 3D print file you would like to share, please do so.

Thanks all.

Wanted to show you all the three latest Spectrums to join my fleet. I enjoy fixing these Spectrums up, adding sound, and giving them a new lease on life. The latest is a 4-6-0 with the 52" drivers, a 4-6-0 with the 63" drivers, and a 2-8-0. All now equipped with Soundtraxx decoders and re-lettered for Canadian Pacific. The numbering isn't prototypical of the CPR, but neither is most of my railroad.

I'm in the middle of resurrecting a Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 Consolidation. When power was applied, the motor spins but the locomotive doesn't move. These are famous for the gear on the motor shaft split, and I had a motor assembly, so I wasn't worried. But when I began to disassemble the locomotive I saw that the gear on the driver shaft was off to one side. I recentered it and when it got to the middle of the shaft it became very tight. A tight enough fit that I assumed that all was good. But when I went to have the loco run on its own power again, somehow the gear slipped to the side again.



So now I am wondering if any of you have ever had any luck gluing or epoxying a gear to a shaft? I've never tried it, but I have nothing to lose. I just wanted to check if any of you have any experience with the likes of this before I try it.

After many years of procrastination, my Spectrum 80-ton 3 truck Shay is running on the layout. NWSL metal gears and a SoundTraxx sound decoder is installed. Now I am setting up the sound. I gotta give a huge thank you to Ken Clark for his help.

My question is, did the cylinders on the Shay operate like the cylinders on a non geared locomotive? By this I mean was steam pressure applied to the piston on both the downstroke as well as the upstroke creating two exhaust chuffs per cylinder per rotation of the crankshaft? Or was there only pressure supplied on the downstroke resulting in one exhaust chuff per cylinder per revolution of the crankshaft?

Thanks

Jeff

Hi all. I rebuilt a Bachmann Spectrum 4-6-0 that had suffered an unfortunate fall. Once I got it all put together, I found out that there was more damage than I thought. I am now in search for a set of 52" drivers for this unit. If any of you have a set, or a basket case loco that you would like to get rid of please let me know. Thanks in advance.

Well other than new decals and the cutting down of the oil tank so it fits over the speaker, she's done. I'm waiting for a new bandsaw blade to cut the tank. Installed a SoundTraxx decoder and speaker. It's a tight fit but I got it in there. And also replaced the axle gears with the NWSL metal gears. it runs like a dream.

It been a long haul to get this beauty ready to go, but seeing and hearing it run has made it all worth it.

Still have one more to do the same with, but it needs some parts for one of the trucks. So it will have to wait for a while. I wish Bachmann still made these beauties, and parts for them.

I am starting to Convert some of my old locomotives over to sound. While it isn't cheap, its cheaper than new sound eqyiped loco's. Plus I've got a lot of old Proto 1000 and 2000 stuff in Canadian Pacific colors that are near and dear to my heart.

Is anyone else making the move from non-sound to sound?

Heres a few that I have completed. Kato GP35, Spectrum Baldwin 4-6-0, Proto 2000 GP9, and a pair of Aethern Genisis F9's. All done with Soundtraxx decoders and speakers. They all run and sound great.

Hi all. I know it's a long shot but I have to try. I am in deperate need of the rear truck off of an HO Spectrum 80 ton 3 truck Shay. It doesn't matter if the gears are cracked. There was a horrible Catzilla attack on the lestock sub of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Thankfully damage was contained to only my Shay.

If there is anyone that can help me out please let me know. Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone. I am hoping someone can offer a solution.

I have a few 4-6-2 Light Pacific's and Baldwin 2-6-0's with sound value on board. Is there anyway I can disable the decoder's from starting up and making sound as soon as track power is applied? I have searched and have not been able to find a way to do this so I am asking as a last ditch effort.

I like to have the locos on the layout quiet until I choose to start them and it's a pain having to go around and shut down locos. (I'm lazy. Lol)