OK, I procrastinated way too long. Now that I’m planning a rebuild of my Connie for this winter I learn that the Bachmann Axle with Brass Gear is out of stock.
I’m hopeful that the NWSL Replacement Gear is still available.
I’'ve found good and bad reviews of both replacements. Unfortunately I don’t have the budget for Barry’s or Rodney’s replacement gear trains.
Any opinions or alternate sources for the Bachmann gear?
Hey Boomer, would you consider selling the other one?
PM Sent. Thanks Boomer.
Rodney on MLS made the replacement gear for this loco and was much better than the one from Bachman. Later RJD
If you are talking about Rodney Edington I believe what he made was a complete drive train. Beautiful work, but out of my budget.
If you are going to use the NWSL replacement gear, I think you need to use a spacer washer next to it for best results. You will find the info on the web regarding that issue.
Andrew
I don’t think Rodney Edington built a replacement drive for the Connie, but I do.
Barry (of Barry’s Big Trains).
Barry, do you still do replacements for the K-27? Motor and drive system. I have an early version
That did get the counter weights replaced, but about that time, I started to teach at the University and the locomotive was only run a short couple of times. Now I’m ready to get. back to it, but everything I’ve read here suggests that locomotive needs that modification. It sounds like the changes are pretty necessary. What is your opinion? Thanks.
Rich, whether the K-27 “needs” a re-gear kit is largely dependent on how you run your K-27. If you run yours on mostly flat (or less than 2%) grades, you’re likely to find its performance to be quite satisfactory. I didn’t run mine on my railroad often because it was just “too big” visually for the railroad, but when I did, I never had any of the issues others have on steeper grades. (My max is 2.5%). I could tell when it was on the grade, but I can do that with other locos, too. Running at shows, on my shelf switching layout, and at the Colorado RR museum, it was very smooth and easy to control–definitely on the “smooth” end of the spectrum.
If your grades are steeper, the gearing will introduce some tendency to speed up on the downhill grades and bog down going uphill. Again, that’s common to many locomotives. My dad’s got 4% grades on his railroad, and that behavior is exhibited by pretty much everything he’s got. The degree varies on the specific locomotive, but I know when I’m in the tunnel at Tall Oaks, I’ve got to back way down on the throttle lest I come out the other end at warp 9 regardless of what’s on the point. That tunnel’s at the apex of 4% on either side of it.
Having said that, Rodney’s drive did make an improvement in performance, even on the flat. Better slow speed operation and less prone to slowing on grades. The tradeoff is gear noise. It’s slower, but something of a gear-grinder. It’s not “off the charts” loud, but it definitely went from the “quiet” to the “loud” end of the spectrum in terms of how it ranks with other commercial models.A good sound system will mask it, as will running in a noisy environment such as a train show. I’ve got a video posted on the GR web site that shows mine running with Rodney’s gearbox. (I think you can link to it from the Product Review, though you will probably have to be a subscriber to view it.)
My suggestion would be to run the loco on your railroad and judge for yourself. See how it runs compared to other locos in your collection. Let that be your litmus test.
Also, if you’re running DCC or Airwire, you can use the BEMF motor control function to really smooth things out. I put an Airwire G2 in my dad’s B’mann 2-8-0 (BBT drive), set the cruise control, and ran it around his railroad. The loco didn’t so much as flinch in terms of speed changes no matter if it was going up or down his grades, some as much as 8%. The rhythm of the chuff was every bit as consistent as if the loco were running on straight, flat track.
Later,
K
Thanks Kevin. Good advice. Part of my reconstruction has been to modify my grades while redoing things. I’ve managed to get my grades down to about 3%, from 4 and 5. However as I mention somewhere else on the forum, I’ve not run anything for two years. Plan is to have tracks ready before Thanksgiving for the grandkids, barring snow. I’ll test the K27 then and report back. That’s the only engine I’m concerned about. My LGB’s and USA’s don’t seem to be bothered about anything. I’m still using track power…have plenty of amps, so power isn’t a problem.
Per your comments, perhaps the lower grades will alleviate my concerns about motors and gears. I don’t plan on any consists longer that four to six cars with that locomotive anyway. Perhaps I’m over concerned. I appreciate your comments and advice. I’ll report back my results in a couple of weeks.
Rich,
I did one replacement for the k-27. Rod Edington had an interface which lowered the gear ratio for the K-27 and I believe he is still building them. I understand they work quite well.
Barry