Large Scale Central

Bachmann 2-6-0 tracking....

Problem Solving
#1

OK…gotta a Bachmann 2-6-0 (the old timer, not the Indy) and last year ran fine until the drive gear cracked. I replaced the drive axle on the center driver, and the thing won;t track wortha darn! I was simply having an issue at two perticular turnouts, everything else ran over those places without a problem except for the 2-6-0, the front drivers came off the rail everytime.

So I had a notion that limiting the side to side play of the front set of drivers might be an answer, as the flanges on the drivers seem to pick at every track irregularity. Welp in pulling the front set of drivers to put on some spacers, I discovered that one of the springs that is part of the equalization was missing causing one driver to flop up and down. So silly me, I replaced the spring that was present and the missing one with KD coupler springs that seemed might be identical. Now the bloody thing won’t stay on the track at all on a curve. The drivers ride up and over the railhead and off she goes.

I’m really stuck for a fix at this point. anyone got any ideas short of hitting it several times with a large heavy hammer?

#2

How’s the weight on the very front end? Lotta times the weight is over the 2nd and 3rd driver.

Or try the fix that Stan’s trying out on the K-27. Less play in the rear springs.

Or try the large heavy hammer method…:wink:

#3

Yeah…adding weight to the front end has been considered…I have to go in and remove the disconected smoke unitand do some Dremel surgery to put a pill bottle full of BBs in there. And I had just read Stan’s solution. Wonder if doing away with the up and down motion completely would work? Just not sure why this has become an issue this year when she ran great last year…

#4

Bart Salmons said:

And I had just read Stan’s solution. Wonder if doing away with the up and down motion completely would work? …

I wouldn’t go THAT far just yet. Try the weight and see what happens. Then if your still not satisfied, try limiting the spring movement on the rear driver.

#5

Ken, Bart,
I too am following Stan’s posts on the K27. I am still a bit confused as to EXACTLY what he did. Either way, I am more liking Terry’s solution of replacing the rear spring with a stiffer one. Terry’s solution might work here as well.
Bob C.

#6

Welp continued testing lead to a derailment that I thought stripped out the drive gear on the axle again, so dutifully I ordered a replacvement and a couple of spares…Ordered on Thursday, parts arrived the following Monday (yesterday) Welp…the gear that stripped out was not the one on the axle, its one of the one in the gearbox itself…damn. Anyone got an exploded diagram for this critter (mine was 2nd hand and didn’t come with one) so I can figger out what part number I need to save me form having to order the whole motor gearbox assembly and save $40?

#7

Bart,

Check the Bachmann forum, I believe Bill Canelos put up a data base if the diagrams.

Bob C.

#8

The one listed for the 2-6-0 is for the industrial 2-6-0 not the old timer one…

Just to be clear this is the gear that I am in need of…(indicated with screwdriver)

#9

Bart,

You might then try either Stock Drive Products or W.M. Berg. Both have a fairly large selection of stock gears, or if you are daring, contact them and see what they might be able to do.

Bob C.

#10

Did you find one, Bart ?

I think I have one…let me know…

#11

Yep…had two long calls with TOC last night which were fruitful. Springs and gears on the way with assorted other fun bits…

#12

For anyone thats interested, the gears in the 4-4-0 2-6-0 and Connie Drivetrain are identical, if in a differently shaped configuration, so the replacement gear from a Connie in No2 fit the bill. Also she now has factory springs back on the front axle and is tracking normally again…

#13

Bart,

Thanks for the update, and the information. It is good to know that they are interchangeable.

Bob c.

#14

Ran No2 for a bit today, and like the K she seems to hunt a bit…after several laps of the loop her nose is definately off to one side which can cause the blind driver to drop off the railhead and derail…ya back it up through the swithc…everything climbs back up onto the rails and centers and off you go fo a couple more laps. I put in a couple of .020 shims on the front axxle to prevent some of the side to side play…we’ll see how she runs tommorrow…