Steve,

Let me poke around in my junk box (the one I just acquired), I probably have a pilot for a ten wheeler you can have for the cost of shipping. It WILL most likely need a paint job as I don't believe I have any Bumble Bee junkers.

Bob C.

Turn the tender up side down, and remove the four screws located on the outer edges near the bolsters, fore and aft. They are in deep pockets, so they are not evident at a quick glance. Be careful when removing and re-installing them not to strip the posts on the shell.

Not really. Depends on the cars you are pulling. My previous post is based on AMS and Bachmann Spectrum cars weighing in at the 3-4 pound per car level. My K27 is modified to add additional weight and additional gear reduction from Bachmann stock. When I first purchased the loco stock out of the box, I was able to pull in the neighborhood of 35 (can't remember the exact number) of mixed LGB/Big Hauler/USAT/Aristo cars. Models will almost always out perform their prototypical counter parts.

I have started a thread on the Narrow Gauge Discussion Forum requesting Tonnage charts for the K series of locos. You can follow along here:
http://ngdiscussion.net/phorum/read.php?1,350928
as I am also interested in the proto info.

Are we discussing prototype or model? Generally speaking the model will pull far more than the prototype will. I have both a C-19 and a K27. The K27 is AirWire R/C, battery, with an additional gear reduction and additional weight in the smokebox. On flat level track I can pull 11 AMS/Bachman Spectrum cars, or 17 Bachman Big Hauler cars. Both are above what a prototype K27 can handle.

The C-19 will handle the same on flat level track. These numbers exceed the prototype worse than the K27 as the C-19 is a smaller loco.

Not sure on the C-19, but you can search the Narrow Gauge Discussion Forum and find prototype info on the K27.

Hope this helps.

Please don't interpret this as being curt or rude, but I suggest reading this thread completely.

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,27794.msg208481.html#msg208481

I am currently at the National Garden Railway Convention, and conversations with the Bachman folks pretty much echo the content of that thread. I own a K and would love to get another, but have no intentions of paying near the new price I paid for a second hand unit that I have no idea of the real condition.

Best wishes,

Bob

Hunt,

My comments are relative to mathematics. If the 'pizza cutter' flanges on the Bachmann LS wheel sets have issues on a code 250 rail that is .250 inches high, then I would assume that the same wheel stets would have difficulties on a smaller code 200 rail that is .050 (near 1/16") smaller. Now if Peco is 'calling' it's track code 200 and in reality it is something different, that is a different discussion. Another item that will make a difference as well is the size of the 'spikes' that are molded into the tie strip of the track. Some manufacturers are thicker (taller) than others.

As for running Bachmann LS wheel sets on code 332, no I don't have any issues at all. In fact the Bachmann 31mm wheel sets are my default when replacing plastic wheel sets on all but Lionel rolling stock. Lionel I replace the truck with a USA Trains truck frame and Bachmann wheel sets.

Material of rail does not make any difference relative to the code of the rial. Code 250 is code 250 ....  .250 inches tall. The cross section will likely differ slightly dependent on the manufacturer, or why rail joiners will not necessarily play well with all track.

As for do I know folks personally? No, I do not. However over my 10 or so years in LS and reading every forum that is dedicated to LS, there have been numerous threads discussing the smaller code rail with the over size flanges on most manufacturers factory rolling stock, especially Bachmann. I can personally speak to some code 215 brass rail that I acquired probably 40 years ago that averages between .210 and .220 high, and even with hand laid spikes Bachmann wheel sets will bump on some spikes depending on the thickness of the spike head. The rail had been purchased for an 0 gauge mainline layout that never developed and the rail has been collecting dust since. I am considering doing a mining branch that will use the rail with 0 gauge wheel sets on mining cars. A big heavy but the rail is free.

I am not interested in a debate, only offering a caveat to test before committing to a large dollar purchase of track. If it works for you then that is a wonderful thing. However I tire of folks jumping with out testing and then complaining that things don't work.

Hunt, I gotta ask the question.....is that from personal experience? I know folks that have experienced issues running on code 215 aluminum. I am not sure that a blanket statement that because it says Gauge 1 on the track all products will perform on that track.

My recommendation is to confer with Peco.

Norman,

Check these threads on scale/gauge

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,32669.0.html

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,27396.0.html

Bob C

Randy,

I am a user of Bachman Big Hauler couplers as well. My solution is a bit more complicated but it has proven successful.

First, disassemble the coupler by driving the pin the coupler jaw pivots on out to allow the jaw, drop pin and spring to separate. Pay close attention to how this comes apart, reassemly depends on it.

Next, (I use the back edge of an Xacto #11blade) scrape the flash from the drop pin and jaw. Smoothing these surfaces allows the drop pin to completely engage, keeping the coupler locked.

An assembly caveats, make certain the spring is seated properly or you could damage the spring when reinserting the pivot pin.

If by 'Heavy Lifters' in your title you mean mainline standard gauge steam, the answer is none.

To the best of my knowledge, all Spectrum steam loco's are narrow gauge prototype. Bachmann has not to my knowledge produced any standard gauge locomotives in Large Scale.

Ted,

Len is correct. Any good drafting supply store, brirck and mortar or on line, should have both scales readily available. Here is a link to an Engineers Supply house where they have almost any conceivable scale https://www.engineersupply.com/drafting-scales.aspx?sortorder=1&page=1 . Architectural will be notes as 1/2:=1'-0" (1:24), Engineers scales will be calibrated 1:10. 1:20, ect. A Metric scale will have the 1:22.5 scale you are looking for.

Bob C.

Another source you might try is the R/C car shops. I know they have a good number of gears and I believe there are some differential style gear sets. Not sure size wise whether they will fit, but ......

Dr.,

Although I have chosen to convert all my rolling stock to either Bachmann Spectrum couplers, Accucraft AMS couplers or Kadee 'G' scale couplers (these all play well togehter) you might look at the Bachmann coupler here http://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_69_75&products_id=569. Although they are currently out of stock, it may provide some idea how you might rework a standard Bachmann Big Hauler coupler. The Big Hauler couplers are not a bad coupler, but they do need some TLC. I have used them for a long time with good results after dis-assembling the coupler and cleaning all the flash off the small drop bar that locks the coupler closed. A good rub with some graphite type lock lubricant before re-assembly also goes a long way.

Although I have not directly answered your question, I hope I have provided some guidance.

Bob C.

Owl,

The Blue Comet set is a few years old (not sure of the exact range of dates, Loco Bill will pop in and fill in that blank), however I would recommend rather than investing time and effort in repairing what you have, Bachmann sells complete chassis assemblies for the ten wheelers. The chassis they are now selling are far superior to the one you have, and considering that you have the skill set to dig deep enough to determine the issue, you certainly have the skill set to swap out the complete chassis.

Welcome aboard the Crazy Train of large scale!.

Bob C.

It has been some time since I have had my K27 open, but if memory is holding up, I believe the worm is steel and the gear is brass. If you maintain the proper lubrication on the gears, they will last a very long time. These kinds of drives are used in every thing from copiers to rock crushers that work 24/7/365 crushing hundreds of tons of rock a day. Quite honestly Bill, your comments indicate to me that they were either not properly lubricated or not properly installed (gear mesh was off).