Large Scale Central

Bachmann Big Hauler modifications; pickup problem

Good afternoon,

I’m starting to do some modifications on two Bachmann Ten Wheeler Big Haulers I have. One is the North Pole and Southern, the other is a Union Pacific, both have plastic drive rods and no tender light.

I’ve gotten a couple of suggestions on putting a light in the tender, but I have a question about electrical pickup on the engines.

I put power to the Union Pacific engine to make sure the front light did in fact work, and it does. I did notice though that I only had electrical pickup on the front four pilot wheels, and not the front and rear drive wheels???

I put power to the NP&S engine to see if that was the same, but I had power on the pilot wheels, and both front and rear drive wheels of the NP&S engine.

So I’m of the assumption that the UP engine has a problem with the drive wheels.

I’m up for suggestions on how to troubleshoot this?

Also, I’d be up for suggestions on other modifications to make on the Big Haulers to make them better engines?
I’m planning on putting LGB ball bearing wheel sets in the tenders for more electrical pickup.
I’m planning on installing lights in the tender light boxes which don’t have lights.
I’m also planning on installing LGB sound units in them eventually. (down the road).

michael

One suggestion regarding the drive units. Replace them with one of Barry’s BBT 460 drive units. It’ll save you a lot of heartache further down the road.

Ken,
To reply on the backup light part of your question, the easiest method, in my opinion, would be to put a LED with an in-series resistor, wired so that it only comes on when the polarity is reversed. [LEDs only light with polarity from one direction.].

As to the other questions: I don’t have the knowledge to help you with the Bachman locos.

Happy New Year.

JimC.