I have a new idea I want to put into the little Gandy Dancers.  I want two of them, not running, of course.  I will design and build at least two drives for two running "GDers".  Need the front section, with wheels and the rear section with wheels and the pick up parts.

One I will keep for more development and the second one will be returned to the donor for his own use, with my thanks.

Any questions?

Barry

barrysbigtrains@live.com
6822 W. Villa St.
Phoenix, AZ 85043

623-936-6088

I posted this info in another Trolley topic, but thought it best to post this info separately.

Over the years I have built replacement "power bricks' for the trolleys.  I started out using big Pittman motors,
but too expensive (for me and for the customer).

Later I built a trolley drive using a Shay motor and cluster gear, mated to a Stock Drive axle gear.  Have done about fifteen of these.  I decided to do it properly, so I am building the drill jig for the power block and hope be producing a run of these in the very near future, to hazard a guess probably with in a month.  Haven't completely priced it out yet, but credits would be available for Trolley wheels (or Shay wheels) and Shay cluster gears.

Also will want to buy running Shay motors and the little black cluster gears (two per shay motor block).

These have worked out and I will warrant them as my I do my other products.

Barry

If anyone is interested I have a collection of converted Bachmann Big Haulers with brand new BBT drives.

These are available at discounted prices. 

If interested send me an email:   barrysbigtrains@live.com

and I will reply with the list.

Barry   

Have been converting a customer's Connie with my motor and gearbox.  In the process I noticed that the pickup plungers had been removed. This is normal practice on pickups applied to the backs of the flanged drivers, but here the suspension capacities have been reduced, which is enough to negate the suspension system and ride around with no active suspension; bottomed out.

This will also be the case on K-27s where the plungers have been removed.  Two springs are better than four, I think not.

Barry - BBT

I have a problem, I am trying to finish a couple of projects, but am missing some pieces.

First, I need the steam and sand domes for an Emmit Kelly Circus loco.

Second, I was given a perfect Great Norther loco, #948, but I need the Tender, at least the shell.

If you have either of these, please advise; what do you need to swap or $.

Barry - BBT

623-936-6088
barrysbigtrains@live.com

Have used up my inventory and need another Bachmann Circus Loco and Tender.   

Complete and in good condition, but not running is fine, this is for one of my conversions, 4-6-0 or 2-8-0.

Prefer Emmet Kelly Jr. version.

advise by answer here or barrysbigtrains@live.com or 623-936-6088

Barry - BBT

The older track power Bachmann locos had problems with the plunger style pickups.  I didn't use them when introducing my BBT Drives.  Bachmann has solved the problem by redesigning the wheel/axle hubs.

Well a new customer asked me if I could supply four of these.  I said yes, but really don't want to send an item I know will fail in a short time. 

I have been out of my shop for awhile and finally made it back in today.  Got to playing around with this issue.  The problem is that the current travels through the plunger, then through the spring and to the backing plate where the pickup wire is soldered.

I solve the issue on my BBT Drives by putting the spring and my plunger into a brass tube which bypasses the spring. 

I took four of the stock Bachmann Plus plungers apart.  Saved the good springs to re use.  Took each of the backing plates and drilled  1/16" hole through the centers of each, actually enlarging the hole that was there.
Drilled a 1/16" hole in the center of the base of the brass plungers.  Have two lengths of black #26 wire and two lengths of red #28 wire, which will be soldered to the plunger holes tomorrow.  I will thread the springs over the wires, seat them on the back of the plungers.  Insert the plungers and springs into each plastic housing, thread the wire through the holes in the base plates, insert the two screws into the base plate and attach the plate to the housing.  Done.  Remount into the Bachmann chassis and enjoy.

Barry - BBT