Bachmann Streetcar

JimmyB

JimmyB

Now retired - trains and fishing
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I bought a Bachmann Streetcar at Peterborough on Saturday, advertised as "working", though some work would be required. Sure enough put it on the track applied power and it works. Thinking of battery conversion, so removes the motor block, and this is where help is required:

When I removed the bottom of the block one one of the idlers shafts (with intermediate gear) is missing, I would also like to replace the wheels. Neither job is difficult, just obtaining the items, and new block is available at $59.00, but with $67.00 p&p this is a joke (but not funny). Also has anybody done a conversion to battery, so I could crib some ideas, looking forward to your responses as always :)
 
For that price, I would look at a USA Trains NW2 motor block..

Not quite a 'drop-in' - you have to open up the floor a little, as the new block is deeper.
The USA block is designed to be supported by the ends of the axles, but a tram is so light, I (and others) do not consider this to be a problem..

PhilP
 
PhilP said:
For that price, I would look at a USA Trains NW2 motor block..

Not quite a 'drop-in' - you have to open up the floor a little, as the new block is deeper.
The USA block is designed to be supported by the ends of the axles, but a tram is so light, I (and others) do not consider this to be a problem..

PhilP
Click to expand...
I've converted two Bachmann trolleys to battery power and changed the motor blocks to USA Trains NW2 motor blocks. I don't recall having to do much cutting to the underside of the floor however. I'll have to take a look at what I did as memory is cloudy.
 
I did use a couple of Bachmann Tram Chassis in my Coffer Stirer Railcar, sadly I found that they were incompatible with the Rc system (Train Engineer) that I used. I eventually sold the chassis on (in here I think) and used a couple of USA Trains Chassis that have been fine. Of course that is not to say that the Bachmann will be incompatible with Deltang or Fosworks Rx’s. I also found that the USA Chasis that I used did not exactly match the Bachmann Tram Chassis side frames.
 
The USA trains NW2 motor block is a good replacement for the Bachmann tram. Right wheelbase & if you clear the projections from the bottom of the tram you can just glue the new motor block on the underside.
Most of my trams now run on USA mechanisms due to failure of Bachmann plastic gearwheels. Unfortunately they don't fit on the open trams which are lower.
 
I write this hoping my wife doesn't see the post ;-)

Yes I am converting a few Bachman trams G Scale Tram Project thread and yes I have a few trams in the fleet, and yes I still have some power trucks I'll not be using.

Sorry I can't help with information about what systems the Bachman power truck are compatible with, once I tested them the power trucks were removed and the models joined the que for a new truck. I'm presently on tram number three of em well a few.

David
 
I have just fitted a USA Trains NW2 motor block to my Bachmann tram. The only problem I had was that I can't fit the magnet on the underside of the motor block because it fouls the track detectors used to reverse the power polarity. This is because the wheels are smaller than the Bachmann wheels. I have however managed to mount it at the end of the tram on a wooden plinth!
 
Mike Ellis said:
I have just fitted a USA Trains NW2 motor block to my Bachmann tram. The only problem I had was that I can't fit the magnet on the underside of the motor block because it fouls the track detectors used to reverse the power polarity. This is because the wheels are smaller than the Bachmann wheels. I have however managed to mount it at the end of the tram on a wooden plinth!
Click to expand...
Be brave, just cut a recess in the bottom. The LGB magnet needs shortening to clear the fixing screwsPhoto 7 (Medium).jpg
 
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