The stock motor in the 2-8-0 (and many early Bachmann locos) is lethargic at best. On the level and on mild grades, it’s pretty good. Mine ran just fine for me for 7 years before the plastic main gear split. Get it on any kind of a serious grade (3% or greater) and the loco becomes erratic. My dad’s got one on his railroad that with Airwire on speed step 1 (and start voltage at 0) will take off like a rocket down the grade (4% with 5-car train), but you’ve got to set the throttle to about halfway to get it to move up the hill.
The “ideal” solution–as others have stated–is to get a Barry’s Big Trains motor/gearbox. Barry’s semi-retired (i.e., not advertising anymore) but still turns out the odd product for those who are interested. I’ve got one in my 2-8-0 that I installed after my drive gear broke, and it’s an excellent runner now. It definitely has more “oomph” to get over twigs and other things that would otherwise have bogged the stock gearbox down. But with a large Pittman motor, it had doggone better. (I haven’t had opportunity to try it on 4% grades beyond my test track–gotta do that at some point.)
You can get replacement motors for the gearbox. There’s a guy out of Phoenix selling some on ebay for around $11. They look all the world like the stock motor, but he says they’re an upgrade. I’ve not played with them, but was turned onto them when looking for replacement motors myself. NorthWest Short Line also sells replacement motor, though they’re rated at 12 volts. They’re a bit pricier at around $35 - $40. I can’t say for sure whether they’re a drop-in replacement or not. I’ve got some older Sagami can motors here that are drop-in replacements, but are no longer made. They appear nearly identical to the ones NWSL sells, but I can’t tell exactly from the photos. I put one of the Sagami motors in my 2-6-0, and it was instantly a better, smoother, stronger runner.
I’m in Centennial, so if you’re up for a little experimentation, I’m sending you an e-mail.
Later,
K
