Hi !  I recently received my Union Pacific (soon to be Souther Pacific) standard  Bachmann F-9 diesel.  after and during the break-in and still, the engine needs a "60" on my m.r.c. power pack, this makes the engine run very hot, but it still runs smooth that way. in reverse, it runs at "45" and stays totally cool. I took it apart, cleaned off the extra grease, checked for binding gears, drivetrain slack and motor for any debris and all checked out. re-assmbly, same thing !  since F-9's or any F units rarely ran solo, especially on the espee, i run it in multiple with dummies, right now it's pushing a PA-1 which is pushing a FM-C-liner ( i know s.p. didn't have these but it looks good painted grey and red) and it's pulling seven daylight cars. I really don't want to send this engine back, but i was wondering if i overlooked something that might cause this ?

Bachmann powered anyway!  This is my second Bachmann re-powering project. The first was an old Atlas/Rocco E-7.  A 1970 CC/Kato PA-1 burned its motor up, this was the original Kato motor, the funky one with rear-mounted magnets.  Anyhow, I  fitted to old Kato with the new Bachmann and presto, perfect engine again. Actualy, a very quiet engine now. I still have another original Kato PA-1 and it's fun to compare the two. Of course, I ordered extra Bachmann motors for future rebuilds. As far as the re-powering goes, simply unpower the front truck assembly, super glue the motor in, connect with some left over drive shaft parts to rear truck and add Bachmann traction tires.     As a side note, I had a Bachmann GP-50 pull 50 freight cars, but normaly, 20 is about all I use for one engine.

I just finished installing the Bachmann motor into the Atlas/Rocco E7. It runs great. When the Rocco burned up, I thought about using the Kato motor like I have with other engines, however, after running newer Bachmann engines and finding no cause for alarm, I used the Bachmann. Interestingly, the Rocco drive system and the Bachmann Spectrum drive system (diesel) are nearly identical.  On decal day, I'll put a little "B" somewhere on the engine.

An n-scale engine is alot like a guitar. A guitar might be designed well, built well with quality materials and assembled properly, but, all it takes is one string to be out of tune and the whole thing doesn't work right. And, to be out of tune, it only takes a slight turn of the adjuster. Alot of early "heritage" n-scale engines came from the factory with the equivalent of a string out of tune. The problem of course, is that it might take hours to find and fix the problem compared to the guitar and most people wouldn't  do this, hence the spotty reputation. I have a 1973 Bachmann all original (except for paint) F-9 that runs well, but only after a thorough tune-up. Getting started in the PROPER scale now is alot easier than the old days. Welcome.

I maintain 44 engines, all but two run and I'm getting motors for them. They range in age from 40 years to new.  17 Steam engines, 26 Diesel engines and one Electric engine.  6 Bachmann, 2 Fleischmann, 2 Arnold Rapido, 1 Roco, 10 Rivarossi, 6 Minitrix, 5 Concor/Kato, 12 Lifelike/Walthers.      To be cont........!

We wouldn't be n-scalers if we didn't already know this, right? Of course, except for maybe Thomas the tank engine, there isn't a train I don't like, but let's be real,  n-scale is King !

I'm thinking about buying one of the Bachmann 2-6-6-2 mallets when I get my stimulus check! Is there anything wrong with these engines? I have worked on n-scale engines for a long time and most can be repaired one way or the other. I've re-powered old Atlas/Rivarossi steam locos with Kato motors etc. so I'm not that concerned with those isssues, I would just like to know if there are any real big headaches with the Bachmann mallet. At $99 mail-order they seem like a good deal.

My favorite engines: Diesel  the great SD-7/9  and for Steam: The 1920's vintage S.P. Cabforwards with the box-cabs. I have 5 S.D. but no cabforwards, maybe Bachmann can make one ? yea I know, but it would be a sensation.

 Bachmanns warranty is a major plus compared with any of the other major producers of N-Scale. I started my n-scale collection in 1972 with a Bachmann train set which had the Santa Fe F-9 . I sent it (F-9) in once for repair early on and Bachmann returned a brand new one. I STILL have that engine and it runs great ! It has since been painted in real Southern Pacific paint I got at the real paint shop at the Bayshore roundhouse in the 70's. Of course, my fleet on Bachmann and other n-scale engines has grown over the years and will continue to.  I'ts good to see Bachmanns continued investment in new n-scale products.