Large Scale Central

LGB 2001 Gandy dancer troubles?

Problem Solving
#1

Hello All
Yesterday I received a LGB 2001 Gandy dancer in the mail that I bought off the Bay from a reputable dealer and I might be having trouble with it. it is a preowned unit. Last night I tried it out and it ran kinda choppy so I cleaned the wheels which improved the choppy start stops but sometimes it just sits there until it gets a nudge. Also the little guy doesn’t seem to pump much. I wonder if this thing needs a bit of servicing?
but before I start messing with it does anyone have a exploded diagram of just how it goes together? I found one here but it is only one page and doesn’t explain much.
http://www.lgbworld.com/service_manuals/2001-1.PDF

I'm not sure if I should send this back or try and fix it myself if indeed it needs fixing.

If anyone has one of these what are the characteristics of its running. Is it dependable? I know the short wheelbase will find any bad spot on the RR and stall on it but I tried it on a brand new piece of track and it was still rough. I’m gonna try and check one out on youtube and compare mine.
Thanks
Todd

#2

Those are notorious for the nylon gears to get a missing cog or just plain fail I have two of them one is down with the bad gear, and is now just a static display. If I can find a diagram, or somebody else may chime in here with it or some suggestions. Noel Wilson who is on here can probably help you with it. Email him through this site, and I bet if you can’t figure it out you can send it to him and he will fix for you for a nominal charge depending on what the problem is. He is a whiz with anything electrical or mechanical. He has fixed numerous things for me. Regal

#3

Here ya go let me know if this helps you or not. Regal

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/96201.pdf

#4

Jerry.
He said LGB, not Bachmann… :slight_smile:

#5

Me Bad!! here is a link to all their items see if you can find your model number and take a look. Regal

http://www.champex-linden.de/cl_pi_lgb.htm

#6

Todd,
I owned several of these and once running correctly, they are almost impossible to stop. Two of them required a simple mod as they showed the same tendencies as your model. Look to the feet of the driver. you will see that his feet are able to move back and forth several millimetres. I found that his motion was able to ‘freeze’ when his feet were in the most forward position, causing the car to stall. I glued a few small accessories, like a Bachmann toolbox, found with most B’mann locomotives, in front of his feet. This limited the foot movement to about 1 millimetre. His feet cannot be glued down, but do not need the amount of slop LGB has engineered. After this the car ran perfectly.l

Edit: in so far as power pickup, I was amazed how well this car travelled over frogs without a hint of stalling. The car also is very smooth in operation and a delight to watch.

#7

I figured the LGB hand car would be a much better piece then the Bachmann one. Previously I had actually bought a Bachmann and it was junk right out of the box, granted it was preowned but the seller told me that he had checked it out. The gears the little rubber band there is alot in there to go wrong so that one got sent back. The LGB one usually sells for alot so when this one came along for less I grabbed it. Good to hear that it might just be a simple fix then it will give me the good ol LGB reliability I expect from it. I saw a few on youtube scooting right along.
The link is just like what I found in a different spot. What I still don’t see is a easy way to get this apart. There are 2 screws underneath that should drop the bottom so I can see the gear but there is stil lsoemthing holding it up? There is also 2 screws holding down the green box that covers the motor but zi don’t think that holds the bottom on or does it?
I need to investigate this further.
Thanks.

#8
Todd Haskins said:
I figured the LGB hand car would be a much better piece then the Bachmann one. Previously I had actually bought a Bachmann and it was junk right out of the box, granted it was preowned but the seller told me that he had checked it out. The gears the little rubber band there is alot in there to go wrong so that one got sent back. The LGB one usually sells for alot so when this one came along for less I grabbed it. Good to hear that it might just be a simple fix then it will give me the good ol LGB reliability I expect from it. I saw a few on youtube scooting right along. The link is just like what I found in a different spot. What I still don't see is a easy way to get this apart. There are 2 screws underneath that should drop the bottom so I can see the gear but there is stil lsoemthing holding it up? There is also 2 screws holding down the green box that covers the motor but zi don't think that holds the bottom on or does it? I need to investigate this further. Thanks.
Todd, I have a Bachman hand car that has been converted to a single AA battery and has run for the last 14 years on many layouts of people that read this Forum and other online Forums. The guys on the hand car have even been run into by a Superliner and they still are going strong. Rethinking value may be needed.
#9

(http://ovgrs.editme.com/files/AI09Day3/IMG24.JPG)

#10

OOps I didn’t mean to offend the Bachmann fans. I have several Bachmann locomotives and I am very happy with them.
As for the Bachmann handcar it sure looks like a neat setup and that is why I wanted to add one to my lineup and why I bought one. Granted the one I bought was used but still in box and I believe not abused but it didn’t work and apon closer inspection I thought there was alot that could go wrong with it so I sent it back and persued a LGB version. I made an inquiry on this forum about the durability of the Bachmann handcar and received answers like “nice unit… I have several that are now shelf queens” I was led to believe that these things are not that robust and fail more often than not. I’m sure there are more guys then Ric and Paul who have had success with the Bachmann handcar. Nice customising Paul.
Call me old fashioned/ thinking but as far as value goes I still believe that LGB has it over Bachmann.
Todd

#11

Perhaps some of the success with the Bachman unit is due to changing the power to batteries. I know Ric’s car pictured above carries batteries in the trailer.

#12

Batteries - Schmatteries! Go with clockwork!

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/davemeashey/KeyHndCar.jpg)

Just kidding! I am wondering, though, how many of you have had success with the Lionel LS handcar? I have the regular version - the one without cartoon characters or Santa and a snowman. It has always run pretty well, and can even pull a small mine car behind it. It seems to have a larger motor than the LGB version, but it will only pull itself up a grade over 3%, as only one axle is powered & there’s no significant weight over it. Anyway, thought I’d ask what experience others had with the Lionel version. Have fun, David Meashey

#13

When removog the wheels, watch for the pickup brushes to go flying as this unit uses the old style pickups.

Motor alignment is critical and if you look closely, the metal rod connecting to the top of the bracket for the hands has 2 positions and I used the one closest to the figure to limit the figure movement.

#14

Actually that is Ric’s hand car being run on the IPP&W Railway during one of the American Invasion’s of Ottawa.

#15

Ric Golding said:
I have a Bachman hand car that has been converted to a single AA battery and has run for the last 14 years on many layouts of people that read this Forum and other online Forums. The guys on the hand car have even been run into by a Superliner and they still are going strong. Rethinking value may be needed.

LOL…I also remember that hand car running out of battery juice on a less than 1% grade and a bunch of (GROWN) men standing there making noises as the guys slowly worked the pump to it’s final push! (note the lack of bridge ties and guardrails!)

(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f72/Shortybear/RussellTrainDay3_28_2010240-1.jpg)

#16
David Russell said:
LOL..........I also remember that hand car running out of battery juice on a less than 1% grade and a bunch of (GROWN) men standing there making noises as the guys slowly worked the pump to it's final push!
If I was at home, I could post a picture of the event :) Ralph
#17

You know those guys were on work comp for almost a year after Train Wreck Stan caught 'em in the tunnel at Marty’s. Those poor little guys were pumping their hearts out, while everyone was yelling “Stan” and he just laid on the ground taking a picture, napping or something. He didn’t care, as long as the shot was good and the light was right. Sad, really a sad story. They’re now known as “Stumpy” (it was just his big toe on his left foot) and “Chester” (he’ll always have that limp). They have a family and feelings ya know, but nobody cares. Everyone just stands around making fun of them. Sad, just plain sad. Boss says, “they’ll always have a job”.

#18

Well Stumpy and Chester have been over worked so cut them a little slack and give them a bonus pay!
:wink:

#19

I bought two of these used from Trainz a couple years ago. Kept one, gave one to my BIL. I cleaned both of them and checked that they worked. The tip on limited the foot movement is good, I should check that out. I also tried putting a traction tired wheel on mine, but it was not enough contact with the track to do power pick up. Only one wheel is powered. Might be better with ball bearing wheel sets for the non powered wheel.

These are pretty simple pieces. As I recall, I had to take the box off the top, exposing the motor, to remove the metal piece that drives the guy. There is a pretty specific way the motor has to go back on or else it doesn’t work right. I should see what happens if I put it on my railroad (which is just straight 24v DC). That little motor might not like that!

#20

Well it is a pretty simple piece I found out when I finally got it apart. It seems mine had broken loose its motor mount and it was wiggling so I glued it back down, the top is held in place by the green box that fits over it, and now it is running pretty good. I jsut set up a short test track indoors for it but going outside concerns me with the short wheelbase that it is going to stall out over dirty track or even a long switch frog. Sooo maybe in the future a trailer with additional electrical pickup wheel or turn it into a battery powered deal might be in the forcast.
Thanks guys.
Todd