Large Scale Central

Bachmann Heisler jerk...

Problem Solving
#1
Well, I 'won' another Heisler last weekend, mint and boxed and, as far as I can tell, never on a track.  Unlettered, too, so I can 'colour it in' for the Old Mill Lumber Co'.

Got a slight problem though.

The cranks are VERY jerky in motion as they reach the bottom of the stroke - particularly noticeable at slow speed - and I like to run it at slow speed to get the benefit of all that hard work put in by Mr Bachmann and the Boys.

So what's the fix - IF there is a fix?

tac
Ottawa Valley GRS
#2

Well, I’ll ask the obvious question… Lube?

#3

Nope.

Next…

tac

#4

What I had in mind was old dry grease causing something to bind up Maggie’s drawers. :smiley: You say that it is mint, so it has set for a while. Things dry out…

#5

Another stupid Bachmann design faux pas.

Split crank designed to eliminate shaft binding. Sloppily built. Cannot use the chuff timers.

Also, remove the motor suppression pcb from each truck in case they have been incorrectly assembled with caps the wrong way around.

#6

Steve, there was not the sightest trace of any kind of lubrication on it anywhere. Having had eight of the Bachmann geared locos, I know just how intolerant they are of a proper, by-the-book pre-run lubrication gweth, and I have the LaBelle lube set to carry it out.

And thanks also to Tony.

Best

tac & the Clanking Crank Boys

#7

Well, Terry, let’s face it, some Heislers are just jerks. :wink:

#8

LOL, gee, thanks

:stuck_out_tongue:

#9

Well, I’ve had a bit of advice from our very own Mr Kevin Strong, and that is to introduce a bit of drag into the drive-train by inserting a piece of foam between the twin ashpans where the drive shaft passes through, thus giving a bit of resistance to rotation that should, he spoges, damp out the jerk.

I’ll give it a try later, after all, it only just gone five a.m. here in yesterdayland.

Thanks, Mr Strong.

tac + Mr Charlie Horse
Ottawa Valley GRS

#10

Fixed it!

Thank you, Mr Strong.

tac, ig, ken the GFT & The No-Clank Crankshaft Boys

#11

So, ya put the jerk in drag, eh, tac?

Pics or it didn’t happen.

:wink:

#12

Sigh, means getting it out and taking pics, eh?

Right. I’ll get to it later when I’ve reduced the list of honey-do’s to a more reasonable pile…

tac, ig, ken the GFT & The Bowed-down boys, mostly bloody useless.

#13

Steve and Kevin - here y’are -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkBhceCYips&feature=youtu.be

Thanks to all!

tac, ig, ken the GFT & The Over-Honey-do’d Boys

#14

We noticed the Heisler dragging the forward truck by the end of the weekend of the ECLSTS at the Timesaver. Time to “oil around”. All those bearing surfaces need lubing, just like the big boys did.

#15

Recently shared this tip with others via my info bulletin “THE515”.

Alas, previously based on a couple comments this video (well-done/educational !!); https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w7gROsC93A and subsequently not finding within online B’mann cat’ I figured the loco was never rolled out for public consumption.

Must have happened a few months later {actually previous to June 2004 !} , but no one (b’mann ?) updated 'UTube comments field with the facts to enlighten !

doug c

update: via a B’mann forum member, i was pointed in the direction of george schreyer’s site and then chkd/fd review in the GR june’04 issue !