Well, lets give it a try:

Did you clean out the motor correctly? Even if the engine is new they could have dry motor shaft bearings and a tiny drop on each can probably cure it.
The first thing I would do in such a case is interchanging the trucks, the leading truck to the back and vice versa.Then check the lokies behavior.
Did you clean out all the gunky factory grease out off the trucks?
If you put the trucks on track do they roll absolute free or is one sluggish?

Regards
Mathi

Thanks for reading!

I found the trick on spookshows review of the HM!

To remove the heavy mountain shell, simply unscrew the two screws at the back (below the cab) and the shell should lift right off.

Regards
Mathi

Hi there,

can you give me a clue how to open the HM for maintainance? I've got no idea how I can remove the boiler and before I break something.....................!!!

Regards
Mathi

Well,
none of the Bachmann standard line GP7's I own have flywheels.

Hello!
I would like to spread about the great customer service Bachmann provides:

I May I purchased a couple of GP7's and some B23 from a huge ebay seller in the US. I let them ship the locos to friends in Calif. and they brought them along to me in Germany whilst they are on holidays here.
One of the Geeps died on the track after a short period of running, the motor gave up his ghost.
I described the problem to the lady at Bachmanns service dept. by email and I she confirmed me that she will send out a replacement motor for free. That was on July 5. and the new motor came just in today.
I appreciate this and would say this is outstanding customer service!

Regards
Mathi

Well, grab your caliper and meassure the available space under the lockies shell and you will find out.
All Digitrax DZ series and other brands with similar size will fit in a spectrum, thats for sure!

Regards
Mathi

Hi there!

Some of my new GP7 made an eytraordinarily buzz more than the others and above the regular decoder hum.
At a closer inspection I found the reason and cured it easily.
The motor has some slack in its fittings to the frame halves and starts vibrating that is transferred to the shell and makes this model louder than it used to be.
A tiny drop of glue to the black plastic motor fittings stops the motors motion and just the usual humming is left.
Just wanted to tell and probably somebody can utilize this!

Regards
Mathi

Hi!

Since a decoder needs a higher amount of voltage to recognize a DC signal on the track the engine starts just at 5-6 Volts. A true DC model is able to start at 1-2 Volts yet.
A dual mode decoder needs more power before it switches to DC. Some good decoder can handle some DCC features even in DC mode as there is acceleration, deceleration or lighting, but these Bachmann decoders can't.
So it makes sense by all means to remove the DCC board and hardwire the loco to DC in order to accommodate it to the fleet if you run striktly DC.
If the effort is worthwhile is a different matter!

Regards
Mathi

Hi!

AFAIK are these engines not digital ready so you have to hardwire a decoder.
Here is a link to a how-to site:
http://www.tcsdcc.com/public_html/Customer_Content/Installation_Pictures/N_Scale/Bachmann/F7B/index.html

Regards
Mathi

Hi!

Here is a decoder installation from an german n scale forum. You need a decoder that fits under the shell at the side windows with a thickness under 3mm. The one they used is 2,4mm so the DZ125 is 2,86mm and will probably fit without any frame modification.

http://www.1zu160.net/digital/einbaubsp/bachmann-gp50.php

You're welcome to ask if you need more infos or translation.

Regards
Mathi

Hi!

Since the Bachmann decoder can only a handfull CV settings and has no silent drive and you will hear the engine hum due to the low frequency.
Other modern decoders can handle the motor by HF of 16Khz and it will run silent.
If you have the EZ-Command it makes not much sense to buy a better decoder because the EZ can just a handfull CV as well.
I have DZ123 and DZ125 in mine and they run great with them.

Regards
Mathi

Hi Andy!
When I was planning to switch from DC to DCC and told people with digital knowledge about my plan to buy a Bachmann EZ Cont. everybody shaked his head and provided me with a bunch of informations why I would shortly be in need of more programming capabilities than just the adress and less than a few more CV.
I decided to stay away from EZ and bought a better system..................and I'm still happs with this decision.
So if you can give it back and fetch some dollars more you will be happier with a Zephyr or something like that or the bigger Bachmann device.
Thats the point when DCCing is real fun. I ca claim this for sure after more than 40 years on DC.

Regards
Mathi

Hi!

A DZ123 is cheaper than dirt and does a lot more that you want to have.

Regards
Mathi

Hi!
As far as I can judge this translation with my rudimentarily english it sounds pretty good to me, great idea!!!

Mathi

Hi there!

http://www.1zu160.net/digital/einbaubsp/bachmann-gp50.php

This german N scale forum provides a decoder conversion for a Bachmann GP50 but I don't know if your German is good enough to follow the steps.
They used a decoder with 2,4 mm thickness and placed it in the hollow at a cabin side. Insulating the two motor contacts is easy done and power from both the frame halves as well.
With a minimum of tinkering skills and some experience in decoders and soldering you will do the trick.
I would say a Digitrax DZ125 will fit under the shells cabin side.
Hope that I helped back on trail! If you need more explanation don't hesitate to ask me.

Mathi