Just wondering if you can reverse the wire configuration on the trucks to reverse polarity to the motors so I can MU it with another. Or must I disassemble it and resolder wires? I already reversed all the wires on the trucks and no go? Didn’t see any smoke either(he he) so put them back like they were and everythings fine.
Why would you need to reverse polarity on a locomotive to MU them?? They should all run in the same direction if they were wired correctly at the factory. Turning a locomotive around on the tracks doesn’t change a thing. they will still run in the same direction.
Warren Mumpower said:Good Lord??....Am I that damn dumb that I have never tried this!!!!.....seriously! So if I put one on the track with the cab facing (say north) and MU the other with the cab facing south they will both run north? I have never tried that and I'm not doing so tonight but will do tomorrow after work! If this is true I cannot belive I overlooked something so simple! Now I'm totally confused? Or that damn dumb!!!!!!!....LOL
Why would you need to reverse polarity on a locomotive to MU them?? They should all run in the same direction if they were wired correctly at the factory. Turning a locomotive around on the tracks doesn't change a thing. they will still run in the same direction.
David,
You will be pleasantly surprised tomorrow and go “DUH!!!” 
Fact: If you place one locomotive on the tracks facing North, and the other one facing South, they WILL both run in the same direction.
The only time you MAY run into a problem with this is with Bachmann if one of the switches behind the smokebox is in NMRA position and the other is in “G”. Then they won’t run in the same direction no matter what direction they face. Just flip one of the switches and all will be ok.
Remember the Almond Joy commercial…“Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t”…Enjoy…!! 
Dave,
(Just to rub it in a little. )
All lokies out of the box, except MDC, will run in the same direction, whether placed front to back, elephant style, or whatever.
DCC and Batt/RC are not included in the above, either. You can corn field meet them if you want.
TOG
ALL except that ‘Special’ first Bachmann 4-4-0 , which ran the other way to everything else , right out of the box ! So if you got one , and want another to run with it , I have one to sell ya !
Dennis Paulson said:I have one too. I put it on the track now and then just to make things exciting for everyone! :D
ALL except that 'Special' first Bachmann 4-4-0 , which ran the other way to everything else , right out of the box ! So if you got one , and want another to run with it , I have one to sell ya !
Well must I say (with tail between my legs) I’m a total idiot! I’m a problem solver by trade and deal with DC all the time …What else can I say other than I made a total jackass outta myself by putting entirely too much thought into something so simple and confused myself…LOL
Yes when you turn the engine around it will run in reverse polarity but it’s already facing in reverse…Daaahh!
Warner I hope you are reading this post as some of the additional stuff(Bachmann) you asked me is posted here?
I’m embarrassed and that is hard to do…
Would you believe me if I told you I rewired my home 10yrs ago myself and it still hasn’t burned yet?
3 way switches and all!!
I hope you all can find it in your heart to forgive my stupidity!
I sofaking we todd did 
Dave
If you need me I will be sitting in the corner with my nice tall dunce hat on!
No worries, David,
I replaced the battery and ignition switch on my motorcycle before turning the “kill switch” on. I found out that the bike seems to work better in O-N than in O-F-F. :lol:
It happens.
madwolf
Davo, this reminds me of the time I fastened the jump-start cables to the good battery, then let the free ends of the cables touch as I walked towards the car that wouldn’t start.
On a scale of 1:10, you only rate a one, mate. That battery blower was a 12!
I’ll bet there isn’t a bloke on this site who hasn’t got at least one tale to tell along similar lines. We make our biggest mistakes in the things we do best.
Dave Healy said:Ain't done that one -- yet ... Almost, but not quite ... But there was a very cold night in Montreal many years ago when I was waiting for my wife to finish work, and a guy comes over and asks me to give his Beetle's battery a boost. Well, here's me with a well-warmed-up V-8 and a 12v alternator, and his dead Beetle with a 6v system. Let's just say that Beetle's starter never turned over so fast in its life ... got the booster cables off post-haste, lest it do a Herbie ... Kinda miss that V-8. The car that housed it was a rustbucket inside of two years, but that engine ...
Davo, this reminds me of the time I fastened the jump-start cables to the good battery, then let the free ends of the cables touch as I walked towards the car that wouldn't start.
:lol:
Thanks guys!
I had a sucessful MU’ed forward/reversed set of geeps running a 19 car train with aristo track cleaner on the tail tonight. The boy,mom and I enjoyed it. Funny thing is my son said “wait dad that diesel is backward’s” I replied “it’s OK son, it will work” We started the train and the only other word out of his mouth was “cool”. (he’s 7) lol…
I haven’t been under the bonnet of a 6v VW/Porsche in many many years. Those were my begining days workin as an apprentice in the early 80’s (yes I said 1980),the shop had a few PCA customers and I was a long haired punk kid . You do know if you put a Corvair flat six in a bug you need to flop the diffrential! If you don’t you will have 4 speeds in reverse. Darn things run counter clockwise. Is Ralph Nater dead?
I talked to a fellow (HO modeler) friend today and told him the story …He laughed and said them boys on the board are gonna give you a huge beatin’!!! Thank’s for going easy on me guys!
Dave
Hey Dave,
We always save them up and then really let them rip … the beatings/floggings/ribbings that is. But that still doesn’t make us collectors.
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
Hey Dave,We always save them up and then really let them rip … the beatings/floggings/ribbings that is. But that still doesn’t make us collectors.
Really LMAO!!!
So your saying when Bart and myself are in hickory rocking chairs on the front porch. Then and only then, your gonna drop the hammer on me!..I’m diggin’ it!
Once again Thank’s Hans!
Yeah, Chris, I can just hear that VeeDub screaming. Bit like the shower scene from “Psycho” . . . .
Dave Healy said:Just this past June, I was giving a friend a jump start, and accidentally connected the cables to the wrong polarity on my battery. (The position of the battery is reversed on this car from the way it was on my old car.) Caught the mistake before the battery blew up, and it seemed ok for a while. But two days later both the battery and starter were DOA.
Davo, this reminds me of the time I fastened the jump-start cables to the good battery, then let the free ends of the cables touch as I walked towards the car that wouldn't start.