Bachmann 4-4-0 Spectrum

[Eaglecliff]

I can think of several possibilities dependent on the loco version.
They could be chuff sensors if the tender was designed for a sound card or speaker wires if a sound card was intended to be fitted in the loco. Then again they may be for a backup light, not fitted on all tenders or additional power pickups.
If your loco doesn't have sound or a backup light and has adequate power pickup I suggest you ignore them.

Hi Neil,
Thanks as ever for your timely contribution. I've since printed off the 2-6-0 wiring diagram which is not much better but does seem to show connections to the chuffing arrangements, which as the saying goes, in my case I have not got, so I think you are right. Anyway, it's all back together and a preliminary check seems to indicate that all is well and the new gear does not spin on the axle when the wheels are under load. Pity it's so cold outside and getting dark...
Incidentally, there is a hilarious set of "how to do it" videos on YouTube; I think the guy was trying to film with one hand and do the job with the other, working on the carpet without a cradle. I used the top half of the polystyrene packaging. Most of what you see is his piece of kitchen paper protecting his Axminster - or its US equivalent! At the end of number three, just as he thinks he's got it all together, he drops the lot, emits an expletive, makes a hurried excuse and cuts off; by Part 4, he's got it back together but there's a bit of explanation missing...

 

[PhilP]

Did he have any bits left over?


If you do find a problem..
Will you be going to DEFine in a week or two? - Unless I break another car, I intend to go.
You could bring it along. Sure we could find somewhere to have a look.
PhilP.

 

[Eaglecliff]

Did he have any bits left over?


If you do find a problem..
Will you be going to DEFine in a week or two? - Unless I break another car, I intend to go.
You could bring it along. Sure we could find somewhere to have a look.
PhilP.

Thanks for the offer. Managed a running session this afternoon, very happy with the performance. Gradients from a standing start with a load on - great. Only problems now relate to fact that loco wasn’t new when I bought it; should there be a fall plate? There are little holes at the back of the footplate suggesting a missing pivot. Also, the bogie seems ready to derail at every verse end. Flip the loco over, the bogie flops about in all directions, the spring has no ... springiness... whatsoever and it feels to me as though there is altogether too much play available. Certainly seems to need extra weight. Suggestions? Otherwise, apart from build quality - bits keep falling off and discoloured handrails - I’m very fond of it.
Supposed to be going to Solihull - GSS West Midlands Area show - next month with Battenberg.

 

[Gavin Sowry]

Trouble with the front bogie is that it relies on the loco to transfer weight on to it to hold it on the track. The bogie itself is too light. What I, and no doubt others, have done is apply dead weight to the bogie/axles themselves. This will help with the tracking. And, before you go too far, make sure your track is good. Line, top, or twist faults are going to give you derailments every time.

 

[Eaglecliff]

Trouble with the front bogie is that it relies on the loco to transfer weight on to it to hold it on the track. The bogie itself is too light. What I, and no doubt others, have done is apply dead weight to the bogie/axles themselves. This will help with the tracking. And, before you go too far, make sure your track is good. Line, top, or twist faults are going to give you derailments every time.

English winter means lots of water, frost, snow, ice... all the things that help the track move about, as I noticed earlier today, so it’s already on the list, along with the subsidence, overgrowing greenery, possible layout adjustments... and sorting out some more weight for the bogie... actually, I glued some on a while back, before I discovered Gorilla glue. Wonder where it went?