I have a Bachmann bih hauler from the tweetsie RR set. The front lead trucks keep coming off the track. I tried adding weights to the front and back wheels of the front trucks. I still had problems. The track seems evenno drastic changes in grade or anything. Is there anything else I could do to correct the problem???
Barry of BBT has a replacement lead truck I need to order…I suffer same prob with my Annie, drives me nuts,I should order one. Dave (TOC) is a BBT dealer…ask him!
cale
We’re leaving Friday AM to go ride in the real “Tweetsie”! for opening weekend!
I tried e-mailing barry but the e-mail bounced back. I was thinking about ordering one as well. Does anyone know if it matters what truck I get. The standard or the short one. How do I order one? Thanks
Yes it really matters…I understand the proto one (the shorter) is only for those with huge curves…the longer, replacement is understood to be the “ticket”…to order call Dave (TOC) tell him to order me one too! the long one!..please.
http://dnkgoods.home.mindspring.com/index.html
phone number on website!
cale
I keep hearing stories of troublesome front trucks on Annies and yet with twenty or so, of the type (not one is standard as released from Bachmann), I have never had a derailment of a front truck. I have noted over the last couple of years that Bachmann pilot wheelsets have been notoriously undergauge and will catch on switch frogs. Regauging the wheelsets cures all my problems. May be the R1 rule rules when it comes to pilot trucks derailing?
One needs to ensure that the truck will spring down when lifted (i.e., drop down). Quite often the truck wiring will hang the truck in the position it assumes when weight is on it on the rails. This then does not allow it to compensate for uneven track.
Tim Brien said:
I keep hearing stories of troublesome front trucks on Annies and yet with twenty or so, of the type (not one is standard as released from Bachmann), I have never had a derailment of a front truck. I have noted over the last couple of years that Bachmann pilot wheelsets have been notoriously undergauge and will catch on switch frogs. Regauging the wheelsets cures all my problems. May be the R1 rule rules when it comes to pilot trucks derailing?One needs to ensure that the truck will spring down when lifted (i.e., drop down). Quite often the truck wiring will hang the truck in the position it assumes when weight is on it on the rails. This then does not allow it to compensate for uneven track.
I think that is the biggest problem, it needs a stiffer spring or more weight. I tried the weights, it added some weight but not enough. I am going to try and add a little more weight and see what happens. How do you fix under gauged wheelsets???
I know I may be opening a can of worms but if this seems to be a problem why has Bachmann not fixed it?
I’ve trimmed the wires from mine all the way down,my biggest prob is in a “transition”…never claimed to have the best trackage! Switches don’t like my annie lead at all!
Cale,
the pilot wheels simply push fit into a central plastic bush. This unfortunately has a nasty tendency to split (even on new, unused locomotives. To regauge, firmly hold one wheel half and gently twist the other to widen the gauge. Add a little super glue to one axle spigot and push the spigot back into the plastic insulating bush, ensuring no glue gets onto the metal bushing on the truck. While the CA glue is still pliable, twist the wheel half within gauge. I use a Vernier caliper for all my measuring.
My track is like a billiard table surface and ten foot minimum diameter curves, which may explain my lack of derailments. I do however, have nine Aristo wide-radius switches on my mainline circuit, with the divergent track of the switch being the mainline route in most cases. If the truck was going to derail it would be on the switches and yet a little finetuning and the wheels travel smoothly through the switch.
I think that you should fix the problem (track) and not just the symptom (derailing pilot truck).Tim Brien said:yeah, it's a work still in progress....I have some dirt to move to prevent wash-outs, add another loop or two and thinking of building a Water Feature sooner than later....in the end I'll get around to fine tuning. My Little LGB Diesel runs like a top over it all, so it's become the loco of choice until I can finish my Porter.
I think that you should fix the problem (track) and not just the symptom (derailing pilot truck).
cale
Tim, my fine young son…I agree with you whole heartedly…
Too often the front' "Pony truck" on the Annie/Big Haulers is faulted, when it is the poor roadbed or track that causes the trouble.
…and yes those plastic axel centres are a pain; but once fixed give little problem.
The BBT rplacement is a fine add-on, but not necessary if the track structure is anywhere near decent.
Both LGB, and Aristo switches are not the best, but can be corrected…even the USTrains ones are far from perfect.
I haven’t yet figured out the mindset of the manufacturers who produce switches that don’t have any standards…especially when it would not have cost any more to build them correctly in the first place.
‘if this seems to be a problem why has Bachmann not fixed it?’
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha etc.
Sorry 'bout dat. Hysteria, y’know.
tac
Terry,
How can you have “hysteria?”
Fred Mills said:
Tim, my fine young son.......I agree with you whole heartedly.....Too often the front' "Pony truck" on the Annie/Big Haulers is faulted, when it is the poor roadbed or track that causes the trouble.…and yes those plastic axel centres are a pain; but once fixed give little problem.
The BBT rplacement is a fine add-on, but not necessary if the track structure is anywhere near decent.
Both LGB, and Aristo switches are not the best, but can be corrected…even the USTrains ones are far from perfect.
I haven’t yet figured out the mindset of the manufacturers who produce switches that don’t have any standards…especially when it would not have cost any more to build them correctly in the first place.
Yes,
Let’s blame the track. There is no doubt the front truck will function better on well prepared track. But a product is designed poorly if it will only function properly under certain conditions.
The first time I ran my Big Hauler the track was set up on a perfectly level floor. No switches. And the front truck would still jump off the track. Maybe it was the tight radius curves. I guess it is asking too much for a loco to run on the track it came with.
Ralph
I added a couple ounces of weight to mine. Never have trouble with it now, except at Marty’s where his switches liked to pull the wheels apart for some reason.
I ended up ordering new trucks from Barry. I though about fixing the track but figured I would have to do this everytime it rained because of settling. It is easier to just get barry’s lead trucks then I wont have to worry about fixing a small rise in my track. It would be different if it did it to all my locos but for one not worth it. Thanks for the advise.
Check the gauge on both axels of the pony truck! 1.574 inches for Back to Back check gauge. You will fine the rest of these standards on the G1MRA web site. that is were our standards are taken from.
Paul
Shawn,
Let me know how Barry’s truck works out for you.
In the mean while I am building my track to work with the Big Hauler.Makes a great test loco.If the Big Hauler will run over the track I know I’ve got it right.
Ralph
Oh yes… I remember. I took that spring thingy out and put a bar to push the truck along. I have a photo somewheres…
Trackwork-pilot truck. Who’s to blame? My annies pilot always derailed I cut the wires, added weight, stiffer spring, reguaged yadda yadda yadda. Yes, to be honest my trackwork is craptastic but if it is the track why is the annie the only one to have a problem? Hmmmm As stated above i had to modify the Christmas annie just to run on the track they provided. Sure b-mann track isn’t the best (read junk) but at the least their stuff should function well on it.
Now, just to be fair, the third annie ran flawlessly. Still wonderin’ why i sold it…
Terry
Years ago I had a big hauler I thought was absolute junk. One reason was the front pilot would not stay on. But I recently bought an Annie, and it rarely derails and when it does it’s always at a switch. And my track work is marginal, with lots of 5 foot curves and a scary patch of 1200 switches/R1 s-curves in the yard