Can anyone suggest a suitable replacement motor for a newer 4-8-4 Northern?  This is one of the newer 4-8-4's made around 2012.  It is not the newest (2015) with the can motor.  Mine has the open frame motor, but that is not important if I can find a replacement that will fit - L=20.8mm, W=14.6mm, H=9.85mm, overall length from back to front tip of shaft=33.9mm.  I can mill the frame some if necessary, but would prefer not to do so.  However, that is not a "deal breaker" as I really would like to get this loco running again - it is being converted to DCC with sound and "keep alive".  I have done a lot of detailed weathering to loco and tender.  I also made modifications to the tender to create additional electrical pickups.  So, I'm anxious to get it back on the rails.

Also, any tips about reinstalling the drive wheel assembly to avoid binding or other problems would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Rusty Rails

Does anyone know if earlier 4-8-4 Northern shells (I have one of the UP "grey" shells as well as one of the newer ATSF shells) will fit the 4-8-4 Norfolk & Western Class J ("DCC-ready" version) frame?

Neither of the locomotive mechanisms for the UP or ATSF shells runs very well and my understanding from various sources is that the "DCC-ready" Class J's are Spectrums and run very well.

Failing this, would the Con-Cor GS-4 4-8-4 mechanism accept one of the shells mentioned above?

Note that I would prefer to stay with the Bachmann mechanism.

I have an N scale Bachmann Spectrum GE 44 Ton with factory installed DCC decoder.  I cannot set the mid range or high end speed.  I run the unit at 28 speed steps and speed step 28 yields a scale speed of 106-107 consistently as measured by my MRT Accutrack Speedometer.  The Top Value (CV#5) is set at the factory default of 30.  The Mid Value (CV6) was set to the factory default of 1.  ?  I reset it to 20.  No matter what setting I program, I continue to get 106-107 with a mid range (speed step 14) of 70-80.  What's wrong here?

My Bachmann Spectrum EM-1 allowed me to program it without any problems as did my Spectrum Light 2-10-2.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks for listening.

I have a new Spectrum 2-10-2 DCC with an annoying low speed trait.  It pauses - in both forward and reverse - when the drive rods reach the bottom of their "circuit" on the fireman's side.  Click this link to view a video of the problem - http://youtu.be/v8gajurBWuk  The hiccup disappears at higher speeds.  I have checked the driver wheel gauging and it is OK.  I have also checked quartering and there is no problem there.  My Spectrum EM-1 2-8-8-4 does not exhibit this problem.  In fact, it runs so smoothly and slowly I have to double check to see if it's really moving at all.  Neither do any of my Spectrum diesels show any signs of this pause, only the 2-10-2.  I checked for bent drive rods and there were two with very slight bends which I very carefully straightened.  No change in performance.  Anyone have any ideas as to the cause and remedy?