Bachmann Trams...If you have had troubles with running and spare maybe useful!

J

jjwayle

Registered
Hi all,
Im sure many of you on here have like me the odd Bachmann G scale tram and then encountered the usual running problems after a year or so, gears worn and noise etc!

Previously when asking for spare gears from Bachmann i have been told these are not available and all they could offer me was a new motor block at £55 plus P and P which seemed excessive as the trams can be bought new for £65 ish!

I know many have reported the same troubles at my train days and there have been many articles on fitting new motor blocks made by LGB, USA trains or Aristo but tbh ive never been brave enough to take the saw to one, especially when i know the problem has often just been a worn idler gear!

Finally after complaining Bachmann relented and sent me numerous gears, worms etc FOC as i told them the offer of a new motor block was unacceptable at the price above considering the cost of the tram and magically they had some spare gears etc in stock. Bachmann also informed "We do not have great call for parts for these models". I find this a bit hard to believe considering the number of people who i know have reported problems to them and the number of articles on fitting alternative motor blocks to the trams.

So if anyone needs new gears/worm drives etc that have worn (and these are usually the only problem that arises with the blocks) then i suggest to write them a letter asking for some. Seems a better way than a new expensive complete motor block, changing the gears is a job that takes only a matter of minutes!

JJwayle
 
Parts may be available on the parent U.S. Bachmann site. I feel people are not prepared to keep the original block running. You persevered and got replacement parts, something which in the past Bachmann has not been known for.

For a more reliable drive, do a search of the Modelling section as a few members have replaced the troubleprone motor block with LGB and USA Trains drives. This may not be the answer you want to hear but the original block has a very checkered past and most likely not worth the effort to keep in service. I am aware that there have been several versions produced over the years, some more "successful" than others.
 
Thanks for the replies.
The point i was really trying to make is ive found no problems with the motor block as such, just that the gears being some kind of plastic wear out too quickly. It seems too much to replace a new block for a hefty price or fit another block from another make when the trouble is a gear probably costing in the range on pennies! Its simple to do, just push out the old one and slide a new one on the shaft.
Why Bachmann didnt just offer spare gears is beyond me, they probably are a standard size. It just seemed they wanted to sell us a motor block rather than gears!
 
Proops in London sell brass gears, from time to time, in their range, along with Buhler motors. I have used them to rebuild all of my Bachmann trams. Alyn
 
Here's their web site http://www.proopsbrothers.com/ handy if you can't get to them :bigsmile:
 
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