Bachmann 4-4-0 "American", or "Decisions, Decisions" Part 2

Eaglecliff

Eaglecliff

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Right, just put her on the rails for a first trip. (Two broken connections in the control box didn't help...) First, as previously mentioned, the 2-pin loco-to-tender lead is very short - almost too short; it will only just reach its socket when the further drawbar pin hole is used. Conversely, the 4-pin lead is so long it caught on a tiebar cover. Could the short lead be caught up inside the works somewhere? Or did the previous owner shorten the lead to reconnect the plug? (This plug broke off its lead on my "industrial" mogul - the little one). Second - what's the minimum radius? My ruling mainline radius is LGB R2 (765mm) but the pilot/bogie was all over the place. So much play all round, the axles don't even seem to stay parallel, and very little mass to keep it on the track, despite the spring. The pivot pin seems very sloppy, and didn't respond to my attempt to tighten it. Is this usual?
Would love to hear from any other owners of this attractive creature as I'm anxious to get the best out of it a.s.a.p.!
Would also appreciate a link to the US "How to service/upgrade/improve your loco" website which I seem to have lost.
Thanks in anticipation.
 
The 4.4.0 is designed for 4ft radius (R3), so R2 is pushing it a bit. You'll probably find it difficult on points if they are placed after a curve.
Lovely looking model though and it pulls ok on a realistic length train. I kept my Eureka even after disposing of the rest of the US stock ;)
 
Eaglecliff said:
Would also appreciate a link to the US "How to service/upgrade/improve your loco" website which I seem to have lost.
Click to expand...
Did you mean George Schreyer's tech tips? Don't think he has a page for the Bachmann American though.
http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips.html
 
PaulRhB said:
The 4.4.0 is designed for 4ft radius (R3), so R2 is pushing it a bit. You'll probably find it difficult on points if they are placed after a curve.
Lovely looking model though and it pulls ok on a realistic length train. I kept my Eureka even after disposing of the rest of the US stock ;)
Click to expand...
Yes, she's certainly a looker; any comment on the short wire/flappy bogie? I'll see if I can widen my tighter curves - most are already R3.
 
Never had a problem with the wiring, possibly an assembly mistake if its catching? I did find the front bogie derails on facing points if it takes the curved route straight off a curve but fine if there's a foot or more straight first.
Mine is just a shelf queen now but it was quite happy on three heavy Accucraft cars including the brass caboose. I suspect it will pull plenty of plastic LGB coaches.
 
I have not been idle today. Concerned at Paul's comment on minimum radii, I took a look at the pilot/bogie. Undoing the two bolts from under the cylinders releases the whole thing for closer examination. The chassis itself is very narrow, coupled with a sideways-sliding pivot, allowing the axles a huge amount of sideplay; keeping the pilot straight, it can move sideways by about an inch in total. However, the pivot can sometimes stick at one end of the slot in which it travels, because the slop in the mount allows it to twist and bind. The pivot passes through a soggy compression spring so there is little to keep the pilot where it ought to be. Now if I learned anything from my grandma, it was her oft-repeated mantra that "three pennies weigh an ounce," so when I ploughed through my personal detritus mountain and found a box of old pennies (the big ones that disappeared in - 1974?) I knew a few of them might help. Even better, the chassis has two pairs of vertical "ears" just between the wheels - and just wide enough to hold a penny clear of the flanges! So I duck-taped a couple at each end as a temporary fix, and screwed the pilot back in place. Off to the track; lo and behold - no derailments! (Liar - I had to fix a very wobbly bit of track first). And even better - she managed an R1 crossover as well! So all is not lost, and I don't have to rebuild bits of the layout. Prospective purchasers of one of these - take note!
 
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