Quote from: Chuck N on January 11, 2015, 09:35:54 AM
You say that the assembly is too short to stick out.  How much too short is it?

The plunger contact is so short it sticks out of the sleeve less than 1mm, so neither side will touch the wheel.  I'd say it was a useless part.  The plunger contact for the Shays is the correct length, it's longer, and with the spring engages the wheel correctly.  I would hope Bachmann looks into this, otherwise they will end up getting  more complaints. 

Quote from: mickeykelley on January 10, 2015, 11:58:49 PM
Today I was just finishing up my 'new' Climax which I had decided to upgrade from the 'old' one I did have. I took a look at the power pickups to decide if I wanted any 'extra' parts for the future and noticed how the newer one had what appears to be a roller wheel on the plunger tip.  Not sure if it will be any better, but looks better.  But it appears if it goes, there are no replacement parts for it.  Hopefully it's because they don't die.  I had seen that plunger part and heard the stories, which is part of why I opened the truck bottom to check things out. Glad I didn't buy that part you got. Parts really seems to be an issue unless you happened to just stock up when they first came out and guessed right on what you might need.

      I think the plunger with the rounded tip will be just as reliable as the older Ball bearing contact.   Tho it never happened to me, I know that the Ball bearings could sometimes drop out.   I was just mildly disappointed that on getting the replacement part, on their own they are useless and cannot physically do anything.  I am a little surprised that Bachmann have not spotted this before.   I had 4 of the longer plungers from the Shay contact set, and they are the right length.  So with the spring and those plungers( from the Shay contact set) it works as it is supposed too.  The shay Plunger is longer than the plunger sold as the contact set for the Climax.  It just seems funny to me that to get the Contact set sold for the Climax, you also need to buy the contact set for the Shays. I expect it will catch a few people out. 

Quote from: Chuck N on January 10, 2015, 08:49:58 PM
Will the LGB graphite plug and spring fit in the sleeve?  The graphite plug is fairly long.  Or could you use a longer spring?  I'd think that the extra long springs that come with Kadee couplers might be useable for that.

Chuck

Hi Chuck,    I didn't try the LGB contact so I don't know if that would fit.  The standard plunger is not long enough even with a slightly stretched spring to stick out of the Housing supplied.   Luckily I had the longer plungers from the contact set for the shay.  So I have one truck with plunger contacts and one truck with the older Ball bearing contacts.  Not that it matters as I'm converting to DCC.   Thanks anyway.    I was just a bit surprised that the contact sets were........ as they were. If I had not got the other bits then the contact sets would have been pretty useless to use. 

Hi Mr Bachmann.
I just received 8 of the Plunger and Spring assemblies G850X-MT01-MT03, and I have found them to be useless.  When you put the plunger into the housing with the spring, the plunger is too short to stick out of the Housing, so the plunger does not even touch the wheel.  As a part, it is pretty useless.   This plunger will only work with a Ball bearing that you do not supply with the part.   I had a set of 824XX-G821X-00C02-1, which has the longer plunger, and at least I can have one truck done.  The other truck I have managed to source some Balls.  Has anyone at Bachmann actually tried to use  the Plunger and Spring assembly because the plunger supplied is too short?

      I recently bought a S/H Climax that had been converted( Butchered) to battery and I am converting it back to track power with DCC and Sound using a Soundtraxx DSX.   I am wanting to have/fit realistic chuff, and wondered which method to use.  Referring to George S, tho he gives a modification to the Climax Switches, he mentions it may not be satisfactory.  I wondered if anyone else had any good ideas to do this.  I can't seem to find a working contact email to discuss this with George.   Does anyone know how I can contact him? ( the email link does not work).   I do have one idea for making the chuff trigger,  which I have tried previously on a Large Scale Climax, which worked really well, but it takes one of the wheels and contact from the rear truck.  A thin clear plastic disc with slots cut out.   Anyone else got a better idea?
           Also a very big thank you to Bachmann, for supplying the parts I needed to fix  my Climax.  

       Pete    

Well that's awesome,   I sent him a message, and that should sort it out once and for all.   I did notice a complete lack of grease,  and general wear, so it can't be too old.  I was more gutted having put sound in it of the Tidal Wave type to not actually get a chance to listen to it, well apart from standing sounds.   
        Again I want to thank you all for your replies, it has been a great help.   For a while I thought I had a dud, so it's nice to know that it can be made better too.
                     

Thanks everyone for your replies.  Peter, I believe we may have done business before c/o Flea bay.    Thanks Bill and Chuck too, tho Chuck I did want a Barry's Big Trains Conversion but he retired and it's not currently available.  Hope fully someone out there will carry on producing them.
          I'm just going to open it up and check the other gears, if nothing else they could do with some grease no doubt.  I'll order the new axle and all will be good.   
          I'd offer free beers all round but postage costs being what they are...............................

                    Pete

Hi Everyone, G'day( as we say down here in NSW, Australia)   So I got stung by a second hand ebay deal, on a supposed A1 Outside frame Consolidation.  I know the previous owner ripped me off on 2 points.  One of the Tender trucks was broken, and of course the final drive gear, which I figure he musty have known about because he neglected to locate the coppery washer piece within the gear box.  I have read the post and seen the pics about removing it. I know there is a plastic gear available from another company, but I wondered if anyone had tried and was using the Bachmann Metal replacement gear?     
     I am still building my railway and have only got down about 70ft of track so far, but I have named a few places. The Redback's Trestle( yes with resident Red backs) and of course Black Snake Curve, and yes within a few minutes of putting the curve in a rather large Black Snake appeared and curled up under the boards the curve is on.   I'm trying to make the garden kangaroo proof!  The Emus are ok tho.   I have a pet Australian Magpie( I rescued it)  tho he(it) does not share my interest in trains.

I am one of those who bought one off ebay, although i am glad i did, it's a great little Loco, tho has been said it's not a great puller, but ideal for small trains of a couple of 20ft box cars etc.

   On my Climax I used the mrc 8amp decoder, as of course it has leads for 2 motor units.  i would say however if you are going to use it it does , at certain speeds, Hum, but as i fitted a soundtraxx dsx i no longer hear the hum

  Yes if on DCC I fully recommend the Soundtraxx DSX!..   And if I can fit one into my Climax the shay should be easier!

  I still find it irritating that all the makers of g scale do their own version of couplers and very few are compatable.  It's particularly irritating that there is still reliance on primitive hook and loop systems. 
  All i have done is to refit all my stock with link and pin.  Altho can be somewhat fiddly to operate, has made life somewhat easier to just have one type of coupler.

  It's a great little work horse!   I am so glad i got one.   Not found anything wrong with it either, tho a slight complaint is that when I installed the sound, the speaker is baffled a bit too much and it's quite quiet, even on full volume.  Apart from that I am very pleased overall.

   with my coaches I stripped them down and replaced the bulbs with LGBs own 24v bulbs, also using a couple of LGB pick up axles to convert battery to track( though the exsisting switch)  As I'm on DCC I have the otion to have lights on or off, tho usually off.
    Just a thought for those running RC/battery locos, just wondered if anyone had thought of or tried again converting or using track powered lighting, then just using a power supply to feed the track power for coach car lighting?

Quote from: wally on February 21, 2007, 04:26:28 PM
Will the Bachmann DCC E-Z digital command control system work with  Bachmanns own G scale engines that come DCC ready?

Hey Wally, for what it's worth ( no doubt creating a few more comments) In all my Bachmann Locos I use the MRC 8amp decoder. I've used it in the Diesels and My Climax,( And all the single motor trains) which I even managed to work out and fit a chuff cam on a wheel for syncronised chuff.  I fit sound when I fit the decoder as the MRC decoder does Hum a bit, tho not noticeable with sound on board.