new to the hobby and need to purchace a new loco. i have a 4by 8 layout of buchmann grey track with four cars. i combined this with a bachmann rail king set but the emd gp 40 diesel that came with set is unreliable.   can anyone suggest a replacement loco for under 100.00.   i, ve looked at bachmann and walters catalogs until my head spins.  are they all the same execpt the color and looks?     any sugestions  out there?

Quote from: peter c on January 30, 2014, 07:48:49 PM
  new to the hobby and need to purchace a new loco. i have a 4by 8 layout of buchmann grey track with four cars. i combined this with a bachmann rail king set but the emd gp 40 diesel that came with set is unreliable.   can anyone suggest a replacement loco for under 100.00.   i, ve looked at bachmann and walters catalogs until my head spins.  are they all the same execpt the color and looks?     any sugestions  out there?

Twenty five dollars, plus shipping cost.

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/service_2010.php

Rich

good idea to send in old train for repair or replacement,, problem is i never regestered it  and i see they want the receit of purchace if you didnt regester it when you bought it.   thanks for advice anyhow.

new Bachmann gp40s can usually be had online for under $50.

   a lot to chose from thats for sure,  i found a new gp30 for forty four$. being a dcc model i,am not sure if my basic power pac will be compatable with this new loco. if it will i could always upgrade power pac to dcc down the road. i,am sure my grand son would love that.   

Quote from: peter c on February 02, 2014, 12:10:14 PM
good idea to send in old train for repair or replacement,, problem is i never regestered it  and i see they want the receit of purchace if you didnt regester it when you bought it.   thanks for advice anyhow.

Bachmann replaced my two motor non DCC ready HO 44 ton for the replacement price. They sent me a single motor, DCC ready.I had never registered it. I bought it off ebay and the gears had cracked.
Last I knew, when you send in a loco with the money, Bachmann replaces it.

Rich

Quote from: peter c on January 30, 2014, 07:48:49 PM
 new to the hobby and need to purchace a new loco. i have a 4by 8 layout of buchmann grey track with four cars. i combined this with a bachmann rail king set but the emd gp 40 diesel that came with set is unreliable.   can anyone suggest a replacement loco for under 100.00.   i, ve looked at bachmann and walters catalogs until my head spins.  are they all the same execpt the color and looks?     any sugestions  out there?

The question that begs asking is, what do you mean by unreliable?

If you insist on new, Micro Marks sells this loco in DCC on board. It will run on a DC power pack as wells as a DCC controller.
Right now, I suspect this DCC loco is the same as the one in your set but comes with a DCC decoder installed. Probably same running gear if yours is the latest version.

Bachmann HO Standard Line GP-40 Diesel Locomotive, DCC-Equipped, Penn Central No. 3007

Rich

   sorry should have explaned,   front drive shaft keeps falling off. the part that drive shaft fits into works itself off  after about five min. of use. my other question is will a dcc loco work on dc power?

Quote from: peter c on February 04, 2014, 06:29:23 PM
   sorry should have explaned,   front drive shaft keeps falling off. the part that drive shaft fits into works itself off  after about five min. of use. my other question is will a dcc loco work on dc power?

Yes it will work on DC. That is exactly what I said in one of my previous messages. You have to turn up the DC power pack somewhat higher than with a DC loco. Nature of the beast. The digital electronics require five volts just to wake up.
You should take time and look though all the Bachmann site. The DCC documents spell out a lot.

Many of the characteristics of the different locos are in the on line catalogue.
There is DC only,
DCC on board.
DCC with sound on board.
DCC on board that you add a sound "Module" to. Those are steamers so far.
There are DCC ready.

Read the details. Don't make assumptions.
Some read the first sentance in an ad and ignore verrything else.

Rich

   thanks richg, lots of good info on this site.

If this is an 8 wheel drive engine take off the shell, remove the screw on top that holds the truck in and drop the truck down. The screw might be under the electrical board. Locate the female coupling that is slipping on the truck drive shaft slide it toward the motor in the center leaving enough room for the drive shaft and put a drop of superglue on it and the shaft. Then put the truck back in with the drive shaft. Fixed. When you put the screw back on top to hold the truck in don't over tighten as  it will cause the truck to bind and also go in far enough to hit  the worm gear.

tried the super glue and must have put to much on because nothings moveing now.  live and learn.  anyhow i sent the train to bachmann for repair. guessing they will change front gear box / truck. thanks for help folks.