Large Scale Central

Bachmann Connie split drive gear

General Discussion
#1

It seems that there has been an alarming number of problems reported recently of Connie locomotives delivered, from new, from ‘authorised’ dealers with split final drive gears. Is this a new problem or have previous reports not surfaced? I have one connie with only a few minutes use on it and now must add this problem as a potential source of failure.

Typical Bach-man response - ‘Call the service department on Monday.’

As these items are being purchased new from dealers (old stock or not, these are new, unused items), should not the dealer have a responsibility to ensure customer satisfaction and ‘pressure’ Bachmann for spares? As I do not live in the continental United States (like many Bachmann customers) and knowing that B’mann Service Department email response is totally non-existent, then if a problem occurs, do I simply cut my losses and relegate the product to the parts bin or to file 13 (garbage bin)?

One more reason to drop this manufacturer from my preferred list. I was told many years ago of a method of detecting a quality product. This was in relation to household ‘white goods’ but would be applicable to other items. When one was considering a purchase from a manufacturer, then, prior to placing an order, one should contact the manufacturer service department. If one is able to immediately get a phone connection then it is safe to assume that the product is reliable. If one is placed on hold or unable to get an answer on the phone, then one should keep clear of the manufacturer as obviously their spare parts/service department is over taxed. This would then presume that there is a high need for service or spare parts on the item. Does this then assume that the product is unreliable? Now, place this scenario with the service department from a well known model train manufacturer and draw your own conclusions.

#2

Tim,

Your complaints are justified. I have in process a replacement drive which will be moderately priced as possible. It uses the Pittman motor I have used over the years, a new gearbox with properly sized gears.
The gear ratio is correct, all of the gear shafts and the third axle are mounted in Ball bearings. Dave Goodson has a test unit which has been performing very well (see Dave for his evaluation).

The presence of R/C equipment or sound equipment should not be effected. I will not speak to any DCC installations.

Tim, if you have any further questions, please post them here. I am pushing as rapidly as I can to get this product to the market (you people).

Realize, the Connie has one of the best chassis for a conversion like this, every axle is independently suspended (equalised). It is the best slow running loco I have ever seen, and we have not lost that in the conversion. Plus it pulls like a horse.

Please bear with me.

Barry - BBT

#3

Barry,
your chassis seems like the answer to the Connie ‘woes’. No doubt your replacement parts will be as good as your chassis for the Anniversary. I assume that your ‘kit’ will install into the existing Connie chassis, unlike the complete replacement chassis for the Annie.

#4

I’ve been considering a Connie ever since Dave spilled the beans that a member of his crew modified one to successfully run R1 curves! but have been holding off since Barry told us about the replacement gears, we’ll see if I can pick one up at this years BTS. they were only $199 last year.

#5

Tim and Vic,

The kit consists of a gearbox, similar to but larger than the Connie gearbox, and a Pittman 8000 series motor.

It can be installed by the customer. Interestingly, the axles on the Connie measured .249". First time I can recall that Bachmann used an inch-based axle. Regardless, I will supply ball bearings for the axle to carry the gearbox. There are three shafts in the gearbox, all mounted in ball bearings, the motor is ballbearing, as usual. There are serations on the axle for the old axle gear, these need to be filed off, not a difficult effort, and the ball bearings are used as a go-no go gauge. The instructions will be mostly in pictures. I will also supply replacement stainless steel metric bolts for each axle end. The reason? in my first attempt to remove the counterweight from the third axle I stripped out the phillips star to remove the bolt, I got lucky, but replaced it with a new stainless steel bolt.

I have long admired the chassis on the Connie, I believe it is one of the best I have ever seen and it is a privilege to improve the drive.

Dave’s tests have been very encouraging.

Barry - BBT

#6

Yeah, and according to Dave the drive is incredibly smooth and d*mn near silent (and this from a sub driver!)

#7

Steve,

A few runs ago, the Connie snuck up on runner being questioned how quiet he thought the Connie was,
he was answering “I couldn’t say”, when the connie came into view.

It is very quiet, equally as quiet as the original Connie, but with a lot more power.

Barry - BBT

#8

I have been able to run Dave’s conversion and it is all the things that have been said above. And yes I’ll install one in my Connie, when I get the inside frame unit done. Thank you BBT for your efforts.
Paul

#9
E. Paul Austin said:
I have been able to run Dave's conversion and it is all the things that have been said above. And yes I'll install one in my Connie, when I get the inside frame unit done. Thank you BBT for your efforts. Paul
#10

Paul, et al,

I believe the Connie conversion will be my best work yet.

Using the Connie chassis gives me something I could never have marketed. Some months ago, TOC sent me a stripped down drive for me to use as the first unit for Dave to test (which he is running now). One day i was taking a short break in place, just staring at the Connie Chassis, I didn’t realize it but about a half hour passed.

I snapped out of it and thought really how nice a chassis it is. With every axle sprung, the chassis is equallized. The most clever part of that is that there are four springs on each axle. Loading springs is closer to an art than science, after you apply the formulas, then you have to supply the brain power and it helps if you have been there before.

Another of those art/science bits is on worms used in wormgear drives. A few years ago I answered an ad in NG&SLG. Got a phone call and talked with a broker in the Denver area. A small shop was looking for some work, I needed worms for my drives. I had been buying them from a big house back east and they were getting more and more expensive, and they were noisy, and I had to sleeve each worm to fit my motor. All in all a real pain. They took on the job, supplied me with a few worms, which I tried out and ordered 100 pieces.
That’s not right, I recall I ordered 100 single thread worms and 100 double thread worms. Went to reorder and was told they didn’t want to mess with such small orders. So I found a shop in CA who would do the work and that who has been supplying me since being in Phx. Also I switched over my drive design to always produce a countershaft drive, that means I will not be able to use up the single thread worms (probably have a lifetime supply).

The Gearbox for the Connie is a really slick package and quite flexible, you may be hearing more about it in the future. Three shafts in ball bearings, axle in ball bearings, motor in ball bearings, countershaft (no surging). Will handle my 8000 series Pittman or the 9000 series Pittman.

Barry - BBT

#11

Barry,

Sign me up for one!!! I can’t wait!

#12

An added comment, I did the ‘upper set out’ with Dave’s test Connie - that is 18 or 19 cars up a 3 % + grade up to White Rock where the first set outs are made (5 cars). It did not slow down, hickup, or anything else, just walked the whole train up the grade as smooth a Silk! I was very inpressed. I think that Barry has some other installations in mind. We all may need to think about building our own Locos.

#13

Barry -

This sounds very interesting. Any idea what the selling price will come in at? Will it be a DIY kit, or will you swap chassis?

#14

Barry,

Do you have a gear box for the Spectrum Mogul?

#15

Gentlemen,

I appreciate your interest.

First the target price, it must be under $200.00. It is an easy install, I have a bunch of pics already for the “manual”. This includes my usual 8000 series Pittman BB motor, the gearbox is all ball bearing as is the gearbox attachment to the diriven axle. One of the slickest parts of this install is provided by Bachmann. This is the first loco with a genuine inch dimension axle, it measured out at .249", perfect. So we provide two flanged ball bearings, which act as go-no go gauges while you lightly file away the serrations on the axle.

I am in the process of building the drill jigs to produce the gear box here.

Ward,

I have been asked only a few times to do something for the 4-4-0/mogul. Actually it has never been enough to actually produce a modification for them. Demand is what I respond to. So far not enough.

Barry - BBT

#16

Well, another tale of woe of a newly purchased ‘new, old stock’ Connie from a well known and highly respected Bachmann authorised dealer. Remember this is a new locomotive delivered from existing stock from a Bachmann dealer -

Quote from email received:

"Tim,

I am pretty sure you told me about this problem……but please read on!!!

2-8-0 arrived today……put on track & tested….all o/k clearance wise & a very nice looking unit….

One fault……when loco loaded up on a minor hill she stopped??? Motor working….but she no go!!!

(I should have been suspicious when the loco was semi free wheeling on the track when fitting the tender…)

Removed from track turned her over & surprise surprise……2 screws missing from on end of the gearbox cover ???..Cover as loose as a goose… & the drive axle gear obviously not able to mesh….Found screws in packaging & to my utter disgust they were like a cock in a sock ……holes well oversize…The supplied screws are a clearance fit….& probably too short as well…

Have just finished drilling & tapping the entire gearbox ( all 4 screws ) & fitted with 8 BA set screws/ a dab of loctite….Tested in the dark….now runs perfectly

I cannot believe that such an important item could be botched??? My thoughts are now with those in the hobby with little or no technical knowledge or handyman abilities who expect out of the box running & would be mortified & dumbfounded if this occurred…and of course if they persisted would probably run unit to destruction…"

#17

It amazes me that Botchman is still in business.

#18

I tried.
Hells Bells, every time we got one thing sorted, they’d do something else.
I am SO glad they now have Stanley on-board to insure there will be no more problems.

They do NOT want any outside help (which means Stanley isn’t “outside”) and have stated, in print, they will handle everything in-house.

I can’t freaking wait!

#19

Ahh Stanley.

Don’t get me started on that m****.

Just wait a bit until the new Mallett comes out and the available PnP controllers either won’t fit or are not powerful enough to drive the thing.

Then I will start.

#20

And I see they are still waffling on what answer to give you on dimensions.