Despite all the screaming and gashing of teeth over yet another ugh' Articulated may I say nice one Bachmann!! :-*
Seeing the preproduction picture just has me drooling,and this from a dyed in the wool Great Nothern fan.
Many have our own fictional railroad or branchline or whatever...
I must admit that on seeing the first run of the 2-6-6-2 with the USRA tender and white sidewall drivers I was not at all really impressed,but this latest offering with slant cab and the VC12 tender And those huge compound cylinders has looked me in the eye and say's BUY'ME!! ......BUY'ME NOW!! LOL
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm50/lkemling/bachmann-ho-scale-chesapeake-ohio-2.jpg)
I don't NEED one, but there is every chance I will wind up with three! <g> That will be two C&O and one undecorated for the VT&P.
Gene
And I expect two or three will show up here on the Atlantic Central property as well.
Sheldon
looked me in the eye and say's BUY'ME!! ......BUY'ME NOW!!
Whew, I'm glad to find out that the little buggers talk to someone besides me. I was afraid I was nuts or something. Now that I know others can hear them talking, I feel much better.
Regards
yeah i might hacve to get an udecorated one and usealy steam int my fancy butt this is one that speaks to me haha i like articulatededs zman
I can't recommend The Bachmann 2-6-6-2. I bought one quite recently and there is so much slack in the gearing that the drivers turn 1/8th to 1/4qtr turn with out moving the motor. This causes surging going down grade. I talked to management and was told to oil the gears and clean the pick ups. ::) I did that but to no avail. I sent an Email several days ago, but do not have answer yet. I don't believe there is a way to fix the 2-6-6-2. there seems to be an extra gear in the truck pivot tower. More gears more slack. :'(
Lee
Quote from: Yankeeflyer on August 07, 2009, 08:08:04 PM
I can't recommend The Bachmann 2-6-6-2. I bought one quite recently and there is so much slack in the gearing that the drivers turn 1/8th to 1/4qtr turn with out moving the motor. This causes surging going down grade. I talked to management and was told to oil the gears and clean the pick ups. ::) I did that but to no avail. I sent an Email several days ago, but do not have answer yet. I don't believe there is a way to fix the 2-6-6-2. there seems to be an extra gear in the truck pivot tower. More gears more slack. :'(
Lee
The new Spectrum 2-6-6-2's are not on the shelves yet, so you have an older version. Did you buy it new?
Your comments are the first negative comments I have ever heard on this engine. I have a couple of these and my engines are both superb runners, excellent slow speed control and they pull well.
I would suggest that you send the engine in with a note for repairs or replacement.
I second the opinion that any Bachmann 2-6-6-2 not running well should be shipped back for repair or replacement. I have several and they are extremely fine engines. I even bought one to keep on the shelf as a spare in case I ever should be unable to get one repaired or somehow total one. I don't think I've ever seen an articulated run any better and only a few remotored and regeared brass ones run as well.
Regards.
I love that locomotive! It's perfect for my layout. I'm going for 20" curves, so that things that can only run on 22", and can't or bearly runs on 18" will run fair for me. As mentioned, it talks... It scares me though it says, "Buy me, Josh, buy me for your layout! No money? GET ME, find a way!" :o Though, I think when the time comes, the time comes. I'll just have wait for a few months or a year, and she'll be mine. Now, that that's over, I can drool some more. Is that webcam on?! Oh, wait, I don't have one.
I do hope it comes sound equipped, otherwise I'm going to stop in with Soundtraxx for the TSU-1000.
Joshua
Quote from: Yankeeflyer on August 07, 2009, 08:08:04 PM
I can't recommend The Bachmann 2-6-6-2. I bought one quite recently and there is so much slack in the gearing that the drivers turn 1/8th to 1/4qtr turn with out moving the motor. This causes surging going down grade. I talked to management and was told to oil the gears and clean the pick ups. ::) I did that but to no avail. I sent an Email several days ago, but do not have answer yet. I don't believe there is a way to fix the 2-6-6-2. there seems to be an extra gear in the truck pivot tower. More gears more slack. :'(
Lee
Lee, what kind of control and how steep is the grade????? I have three Bachmann 2-6-6-2's and they run great and pull well.
Sheldon
Sheldon
Hi
I'm using DCC and running grades 1.2% to 3% I've been playing with the CVs but it doesn't seem to help. Like I said the guys at Bachmann told me the units on their shelf had the same slack in the drivers. Tom took one out of the box and tried the movement. I have Bachmanns 2-8-0, 4-8-2, and this 2-6-6-2 which I just bought new. The 2-8-0 has no slack. The 4-8-2 has almost none, and the 2-6-6-2 will roll about 5/16Th inch on the track without moving the motor. Since the company doesn't seem to know what to do, if anyone else can help me solve this that, would be terrific.
Thanks
Lee
Lee, I don't use DCC so I might not be much help, BUT, I do know a little about DCC, so here goes some thoughts.
Forgetting about DCC for a bit, there is no mechanical reason that the slack in the driveline should make the loco surge going down hill. Once the driveline is loaded in either pulling or being pushed, it should stay that way.
Now, if the decoder has back EMF or some other load compensation circuit, it may be that circuit is becoming confused as the loco starts down the hill and is not reacting quickly enough to provide smooth operation.
Try turning off any such features if possible.
I run my DC locos with Aristo Craft Train Engineer Throttles which put out pluse width modulation motor control much like a decoder. All my Bachmann locos, including my 3 2-6-6-2's, run just fine and they run well on more conventional DC power supplies.
Unless there is something truely mechanical wrong with the loco, I think it is a decoder problem. Did this loco come from Bachmann with a decoder or did you install it?
Hope this gives you some new help.
Sheldon
I have three of the C&O H-5s - one of which I have not yet run. The two that have, run fine. As noted, the original Bachmann 2-6-6-2 is the USRA light Mallet. The one coming out is the C&O H-4 (6) - not the same locomotive - but very close.
I agree with Sheldon - it might well be a decoder problem. Can you try it on DC? If it still doesn't run well, send it back.
Gene
Quote from: SteamGene on August 12, 2009, 06:18:13 PM
I have three of the C&O H-5s - one of which I have not yet run. The two that have, run fine. As noted, the original Bachmann 2-6-6-2 is the USRA light Mallet. The one coming out is the C&O H-4 (6) - not the same locomotive - but very close.
I agree with Sheldon - it might well be a decoder problem. Can you try it on DC? If it still doesn't run well, send it back.
Gene
Gene
I have tested everything, CVs ETC. The problem is, on DCC the decoder tries to keep the loco at a given speed. The cars push, motor slows, train slows, motor speeds up, because of the slop in the gearing the decoder can not maintain a constant speed. On DC the train speeds up going down hill and slows going up hill. No one notices.
By the way Tom at Bachmann says there is no point in sending it back they can't fix it. So much for that!
Others have said to try to shim the worm gear. I may look in to that. Brand new loco $#@%##.
Have a nice day
Lee
I wish two or three would show up at my place. The one I have is pretty lonely so maybe one more would be nice. I know that they should be ordered in pairs like Sheldon recommends but on a limited budget that isn't always possible.
when the economy does better and I'm not just trying to "get by" i will most likey purchase a few of these :D
HI all. Sorry to come onto this thread so late but I also had trouble with my 2-6-6-2 with, among other faults, a similar problem that Lee seems to be having. Some of you may recall that I found the fault in the worm drive on the front drive set where the driven knuckle wasn't tight on the shaft and gave erratic drive to the front drive wheels. I only found this out by stalling the loco under load and holding onto the coupling until I had wheelspin. That is when it showed up because only the rears were driving under load, the fronts just stayed still. Once it was fixed,not an easy job but time and patience, the loco performed smoothly and a lot of the slack was gone from the drivers. The new one looks great and as I model a ficticous R.R. I will just have to have one. Hope this may be of some help. Cheers from over here, Rob. NZ
Hmm mine dont seem to have a problem goin down hill, Can't wait to try and double head em goin down hill but layout is.....ehh, down......was attacked by a Dog Monster......haha.
I have two in B&O. Mihgt get a new one for use in C&O though i have 2 Allegheny's(3 if you include my B&O one)
Does anyone know who the manufacturer is of the sound decoder is in this latest release?
Quote from: Steve J on August 31, 2009, 01:55:55 PM
Does anyone know who the manufacturer is of the sound decoder is in this latest release?
Bachmann was using a abreviated soundtrax tsunami with a fewer less sound options but thought i heard they might be changing to a full blown tsunami.
someone can correct me if this is wrong.
News to me, if you can substantiate that rumour let us know.
I think that Bachmann has a winner with their sound on board engines. I have a couple and they sound great.
I have some older BLI and there is no comparison, for the price (check on line sources) they are hard to beat.
Have you read the comparison of what was in the Bachmann version and the full fledged Tsunami line? I can live with the Bachmann version for the price being charged.
After posting my question I did a little more internet research and found some additional info on the 2-6-6-2 and the decoder from Peach Creek Shops. (http://www.peachcreekshops.com/)
>What's new for July! Lots! - July 16, 2009
I just returned from the NMRA national convention in Hartford, CT. and I'll have to say that I had a good time. <Snip>
The C&O H-4 2-6-6-2.
Everything I said about the N scale version is true about the HO scale version in spades. The H-4 differs considerably from the previously made H-5. A new tender, the correct 12/VC Vanderbilt with the C&O unique Andrews trucks with outside brake hangers; a new cab, with the more radiused roof , common to C&O; a completely new front end with the elongated smokebox door, dual air pumps with correct piping; and the large compound slide valve cylinders. One of the slickest things about this engine is the way the tender is set up for easy access to the decoder. Traditionally, Vanderbilt tenders are a pain to get into. Installing a sound decoder can be a real nightmare because you can't just take the bottom off the tender and gain access to the inside. But the guys at Bachmann did something very clever. Just pick up the tender and place you thumb on the front coal sheet and slide it upward. It comes out that easy. No clips, no glue. Then just slide out the coal load and you have easy access to the 'innards'. Slick. The DCC plug is right there in top. If you want to change from the stock Bachmann decoder to say, a Tsunami, the decoder will fit and you can drop the speaker in the tender tank. All in all, Bachmann did a great job. The photos do not do it justice.
BTW: If you are skeptical that the Bachmann version of the Tsunami sound decoder may not be as good as a full blown Tsunami, you might want to think again. What the Bachmann version lacks are: less whistle sounds, no input for a sound cam, and that's about it! Almost all of the other functionality of a full-blown Tsunami is available, AND you can do the programming using DecoderPro! You don't have to remember CV's!
John>
I definitely will be getting at least one of the painted, undecorated versions. That engine is sweet and I'm a sucker for Vanderbilt Tenders. Almost all my engines have them.