can anybody give me a point of view on a 44 ton switcher of the spectrum series in bachmann any info appreciated
DB,
From what I have read and from personal experience, these cut little locomotives have been hit and miss as far as quality. I have an older 2-motor version that doesn’t work very well. So, at present, it sits next to me, adorning the top of my computer case on a piece of short track.
Supposedly, the newer 1-motor versions were less likely to have problems. (The 2-motor version sometimes had one motor trying to overcome the others deficiencies.) Bachmann diesels - even their better Spectrum line - have been problematic.
Tom
I have one of the newer single motor units. I have installed an NCE decoder into it and now it is fully DCC. It runs well, and the motor sound even sounds like the old inline 6 that was in the 44 tonners. Pulling power is about 4-6 cars, which is about typical for that engine in real life too. If you are looking for one, I would find one of the newer single motor units.
I had one of the old ones with two motors, it was a piece of crap one of the motors burned up right away. Also had a 70 ton same thing.
I had a 2 motor one. It was junk. Now I have a single motor one that I am very happy with.
I have had six, count 'em, six of these engines. The first two were the old two motor versions with engine life measured in minutes! I have had four of the one-motor versions and as Tom noted, they are hit and miss regarding quality. I finally have two which run very well but they are a little noisy and very, very sensitive to poor or dirty track. They look so good that I persevered until I had two good ones–and a ton of spare parts! If you purchase one at a LHS, by all means ask to see it run through turnouts. The latest run seems to have better quality control (my last two, both purchased via mail-order outlets (Standard Hobby and Peach Creek Shops). They really do look nice switching! My “final two” run very smoothly and have very good minimum speed and speed range I fashion a lead weight that fits under the frame, which enables my engines to pull ten cars with metal wheels with no problem (level track). By the way, McHenry has some semi-scale couplers with short shank that fit this engine–smaller heads than the coupler which come with it.
John in NC
Hi
I have just purchased a s/hand older version of the above, and am trying to install a decoder into it, does anybody know how you do it, or where I might be able to get some help, or even a set of photos to help with the conversion
Many thanks in advance
Alan
UK
Walnut, TCS site has great info about decoder installation:
I also have this tipe of Bachmann 44 tonner - still in the Spectrum line, DCC ready/one motor type, in PRR colors. It runs great, and I also plan to add decoder, when I find time.
Newer engines are “DCC on board”, with decoder in it.
Hi
Many thanks for the link, but it is the older twin motor style that I am trying to add a decoder to
Alan
I have one of the 1st ones to come out with the 2 motors , I have had it almost 12 years and it still runs like a top .
I just bought one of Bachmann’s 70 ton switchers and it runs pretty well right out of the box. It is a tad noisy (louder than any of my old Blue Box Athearns LOL), but I think that will abate as I get the thing broken in. It came equipped with a Bachmann EZ Command DCC decoder and as far as I can tell works okay with my Digitrax system. It doesn’t’ seem overly sensitive to dirty track.
-George
I have put a DZ125 into a two motor 44 ton. Great runnier. I found an article in the Jan 2001 Model Railroader magazine to follow. Now the downside. The loco ran fine for a little while. One motor stopped. I thought the motor burned out but I found out it was a brush hanging up. Happened a couple times. I suspect this is what happened to some using this two motor loco. I fixed this with some contact cleaner/enhancer on the brush holder.
Next it developed a cracked gear. No problem. I returned the loco to original DC wiring and sent it back to Bachmann with a check for $10.00. No original receipt needed. Standard Bachmann policy for this style loco. I received a new single motor DCC Ready 44 ton. Great deal. This 44 tonner will become a DCC sound version.
If the shell paint job is not important, I suggest you do the same and get a good single motor version.
Search the DCC forum for single motor 44 ton and two motor 44 ton. You will see both of my projects.
Rich
Model Railroader, January 2001 “Installing DCC in a 44-Tonner” describes how to put a decoder in a 2-motor 44 Ton loco. It is a lot of work; you may be better off buying a new one, trading shells (assuming the old shell is detailed for something special that is not available now) and put the old mechanism with the new body on display or out on e-bay. One caution, the recommended decoder may not be available any more, check the manufacturer for a substitute.
Again, I put a DZ125 decoder into a two motor. The decoder is smaller than the one in the article and much better decoder. It has BackEMF for great motor control. The decoder is good for 1 to 2 amps max. Do a Google search for dz125. The two motor 44 ton draws about 600 ma current at twelve volts DC with the drivers slipping. The 44 tonner usually ran no faster than 20 mph.
When putting the motors back in with new wires, make sure of the wiring or each motor will pull against the other or be pushing toward each other.
My biggest suggestion is to send it back and get a single motor DCC Ready. Much easier to put in a decoder. You remove the jumpers from the PC board and connect seven wires from the decoder. This loco draws 600ma also.
Below is a photo of my single motor DCC Ready before being converted to soun
If you need a real challenge, below is a link to my single motor 44 ton. There is also a link to my Spectrum single motor 70 ton.
http://www.youtube.com/user/richg15y#p/u/12/EDosTzkQiWg
Rich
Thanks Guys for all the advice
But after reading all of the above post, I will be putting this project on hold for a while, as I just don’t have the spare time at the moment to research it all, is it easy to look back at a Jan 2001 copy of the mag ?
I will be back another day to ask again, I am sure
Cheers
Alan
Hi Alan
You would have to get a back issue of the magazine. Below is a link to ordering the issue.
Again if you do not need the shell in your 44 tonner, I would strongly suggest sending the complete loco back and get a single motor replacement. The DCC install will be much easier and pleasing even without sound.
Below is a link to the Bachmann service department page.
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/service.php
Rich
Hi Rick
As I brought the Loco s/hand and in the UK, do you think they would still exchange it ?