..... or anyone else who may have the information I seek?!?!
I have just pulled a large scale NOS Climax out of storage and have given it an effective Battery R/C conversion based on information found on the "mylargescale" forum. It most certainly works great and has already racked up about three actual miles of travel on my little oval test track running light as well as now pulling significant loads. The thing that had always stymied me in getting it going was that the radio and battery systems that I'd been using in the 4-6-0 and Shay was clearly way too big to fit the Climax's limited space, most especially in the later models that were fully packed with factory electronics. I took a chance on the system described as being used for a different brand and model of engine, and made it work for the Bachmann Climax, and work well indeed!
So now my question is, how does one go about lubricating the gears in the housing where the driveshaft power is transferred to the crankshaft? The Bachmann video only shows oiling the bearings just where they go into the transmission housing but remains silent on what must be a pair of 45-degree spiral helictical gears within, as does the owners-manual. I assume the mating gears are identical (part #G118X-0ZL05) of the same small diameter, as the two shafts enter the transmission housing at only about twice the shaft diameter distance apart in elevation, but with seemingly no access to the gears, or whatever it is that meshes in there to transfer the motion from the driveline to the crankshaft. If those gears are of Delrin or some special Nylon, then perhaps they can live long without any lubrication? But, even so, some lubrication would still be desirable, and if otherwise made of less forgiving material, then lube will certainly be required!!! I've thought about perhaps drilling a hole in the bottom of the transmission housing, which should provide lubing access, or at least a view to see what is actually in there, but to get in there otherwise seems to require a level of disassembly that seems way excessive and even daunting!?!?
Any thoughts or ideas will be well appreciated!!!
I like the gel type grease for these... it clings to the gears, but has the lubricity of oil, and is clear, so doesn't look messy.
Basically on Bachmann locos, lube everything!
Greg
Yeah Greg .... Lube everything, I agree ..... but how do you get at the specific gears that I'm asking about!?!?
Bachmann is silent about them in their owner's manual and video on the Climax!
so, you are talking only the center gearbox... i've never heard of people having issues with the... the trucks, yes.. universal joints, yes.
you could drill a small access hole and squirt grease inside, but be careful not to drill in and leave bits of plastic inside or ruin gears.
Some older bachmanns had access ports on the bottom side of gearboxes, but I do not thing the climax has...
I would not worry about this particular area.
Yep, think I'll let it ride for now with the hope that Delrin or similar was used for those gears. If during future lube jobs I find any added resistance to the mechanism there, I'll drill that hole and see about adding a bit of lube. Must be careful though as there are a pair of circuit boards in that transmission housing as well as some paddle like pieces on the crankshaft, all for making the chuff circuit work. Of course, care must also be taken to be sure not to introduce any drill chips, and the hole will have to be big enough to actually provide adequate access yet still be "plugable" with something convenient.
Currently, there is no real concern as those shafts are not turning while I'm running, as I await the replacement driveline universals from Al P. which seem to be coming along rather rapidly, I'm very happy to report!
no delrin... never stock on any bachmann.
Quote from: Greg Elmassian on July 19, 2026, 12:46:33 PMno delrin... never stock on any bachmann.
Where would you find a tidbit like that, I wonder? Good sleuthing in any case!!!
However, even if correct, several formulations of Nylon offer decent lubricity, though few are anywhere near as good as the best Delrin formulas.
There is yet another problem should either of these two materials actually be what those hidden gears are made from. They are both very process sensitive and almost always seriously compromised by the use of regrind, which is quite common in the injection molding world, though always frowned on by the material engineers who specify what things are to get made from! I do believe we have seen these sorts of problems surface rather regularly with Bachmann gears before .... 4-4-0, 2-6-0 & Connie anyone?!?!
umm... 26 years of experience with Bachmann? ;D
unfortunately, many bachmann gears split, the white "nylon" ones.
The most requested repair part.