Joe Satnik said:Run out, either radial or axial.
Lastly, what are the technical terms for these axle/wheel deficiencies?
Joe,
all wheels sides are insulated. It is many, many years since Bachmann made an uninsulated wheel. Assembly line back to back is determined by the two tubular plastic spacer sleeves on the axle. The wheelsets are always undergauge, generally in the 1.520" - 1.544". This is way undergauge and generally will catch the point of a frog, causing derailment, as soon as one tries to comply with any acceptable track standards liker guard/check rail clearances at the switch.
Being undergauge is not the problem as it may be easily reset to a nominal 1.575". However, if a wobble or eccentric rotation exists then that is generally terminal. I disagree with those who accept this problem with the wheels as by accepting defective wheelsets, one condones the manufacturer to retain current standards of production or lack there of. A comment was made that the wheels are cheap so either accept the status quo or buy something more expensive. Problem is that for many years one has not been able to purchase the manufacturer's product without getting the metal wheelsets that are fitted as standard. By buying the car kits (which I thoroughly enjoy and consider excellent kitbashing material) I am forced to either accept substandard wheels or purchase more upmarket wheelsets which inevitably double the cost of the car. I have to pay to ship the defective wheelsets and then pay to ship the decent wheels. Living in the States, one does not appreciate the very high cost of shipping a set a wheels. Sellers charge as much for a single set of wheels as multiple sets, so that a single $10.00 set could cost me $45.00 landed in Australia. In my money that is over $50.00.
I find it hard to believe that one would spend hours building a scratchbuilt piece of rolling stock and then accept erratic car behaviour, from defective wheelsets, as 'prototypical' behaviour. It is time modellers moved out from under the Christmas tree roundabout and started looking at their hobby. By accepting the rubbish that some manufacturers produce, then we accept lack of standards in production to our own detriment. Remember it costs the same on the production line to produce a decent product as it does a poorly performing item. Look at the classic 'lemon' in the auto industry. If every car produced was a lemon then a manufacturer would be soon forced into bankruptcy or chapter 11 insolvency. This is not a design fault, it is a production fault. As I stated in my first posting, the manufacturer produced a beautifully performing wheel in the 1990's, so what happened in the years since?What happened? If you read my response on back on page 1, I already answered that question… it just isn’t what you wanted to hear. If you’re waiting for an apology and a promise to do better from the manufacturer… don’t get your hopes up.
Tim Brien said:Not true!
If every car produced was a lemon then a manufacturer would be soon forced into bankruptcy or chapter 11 insolvency.
Tim Brein said:China? ;)
As I stated in my first posting, the manufacturer produced a beautifully performing wheel in the 1990's, so what happened in the years since?
Tim Brien said:Tim,
.... By accepting the rubbish that some manufacturers produce, then we accept lack of standards in production to our own detriment. Remember it costs the same on the production line to produce a decent product as it does a poorly performing item. ....
Precisely, sooooo … try not to buy rubbish! Or if you insist on the rubbish because the rest is OK, try to get them without the wheels!
China can and will make it to exact specifications. Provided QC is enforced of course.
China can also make cheap and cheerful if the contract customer isn’t too fussy. Meaning the contract customer thinks they can get away selling with shoddy merchandise to Joe Public.
It all depends…
Bachmann wheels are about the cheapest, in price and quality.
Yes, stuff used to be better… but that can be said for many manufacturers now, not just bachmann…
I stopped using their wheels when the wobble started…
Regards, Greg
TonyWalsham said:
.... Meaning the contract customer thinks they can get away selling with shoddy merchandise to Joe Public.It all depends…
Well, in some cases it obviously works.
The way I see this problem: when buying a Bachmann kit add the price of a decent set of wheels to the kit price and deduct it once you found some “likely customer” who is happy with that quality of wheelsets.
Hey most Aristo products come with plastic wheels and you have to replace them with metal. No one complains about the plastic wheels because we know they are crap, and put there to keep the initial cost down.
Stating that every product made should meet some minimum quality standards is just not realistic, or maybe it is: the quality standards in question are “does it look like a wheelset” and “can we sell them successfully?”…
QC standards met…
Take this in fun… stop buying Bachmann… be happy.
Regards, Greg
Dear All,
So, would replacement insulators solve the problem? (Barry’s response seems to say that…)
i.e., are the axle and wheels good, but the insulators, or the installation of the wheels and insulators on the axle, bad?
Tim is really fighting 2 problems, low quality wheel sets, and high postage/freight costs.
Light weight replacement insulators could be mailed/shipped for less.
Has anyone asked Bachmann for insulators (replacement or separate sale parts)?
Can they be removed/installed with inexpensive tools, or tools we already own?
Could making aftermarket replacement insulators be a cottage industry?
Sincerely,
Joe Satnik
Greg Elmassian said:Why? Not a bad manufacturer at all IMO?
Take this in fun... stop buying Bachmann... be happy.