My grandson was recently given a Bachmann #81098 Anniversary Edition 4-6-0 and several accompanying Big Hauler cars. Since he is only 4.5 years old, my Stepdaughter quickly shipped it up here so he could see it run on my layout when he visits, but it wouldn’t get destroyed before he knew what he was doing!
The front truck keeps jumping off the track, particularly on, but not limited to switches. I have checked wheel gauge. I had thought of increasing the tension on the spring that depresses it to the track, but can’t find any documentation on disassembly so that I could get at that truck. Also need to replace the front boiler inspection door as the hinge pin is broken. What is the switch behind that door on the boiler for? Smoke unit???
Tried to register for the bachmann site, but can’t seem to get the activation message; and nothing shows in my junk mail folder so that’s not it!
Is it an anniversary 10 wheeler with metal valve gear? I have two of them and as you can see from the pic there are two switches, top direction and bottom smoke unit. I have never had any problem with the front truck on either loco, the spring keeps them on the track very well, just as well because they are current pick ups. I’ll post a pic of the spring as well - not a very good pic though. If you have to disassemble it you will have to unsolder the wires, they run through the spring. Keep trying with Bachmann.
Thanks guys, at least I have somewhere to get started! Only one switch, in the lower position of the two Kim showed! Plastic valve gear also! Gotta be older, stress cracks showing on plastic axel insulators!
George Schreyer’s website is the “bible” on the Big Hauler. I have a newer Annie that does away with most of the stuff George writes about. However, my pilot truck derails on one of my LGB wide turnouts and glides smoothly over the other three on my preliminary setup of the track on the new layout. After I ballast the track and get it level, I’ll try it again. If it still derails I’m going to try the fishing weight on the truck as George suggests.
I picked up a Bmann 10 wheeler “Annie” at the Ontario Show (BTS) and have not yet had any problems with it. I was sure I would have serious problems running along the wife’s rose beds as there a series of “s” curves, (all hand bent) dodging the rose bushes and sprinkler heads, and the like. All my switches (turnouts) are LGB R1’s except for the three way’s, one trip out and back encounters 9 switches on the main line. It tracks so smoothly and effortlessly it is amazing to me.
Now that I’ve said all this good stuff about it I’m sure it will fall in the fish pond tomorrow, or something as equally drastic. At least now if it malfunctions I know where the answers are hidden.
The pilot is underweighted to start with, you need to add a self adhesive 1oz tire weight over the lead wheel, I added over both. It really helps the lead truck track thru frogs and such
The strip is loosely fastened so it flops around. It’s only job is to push or pull the front truck along. There are a couple ounces of led on the truck itself. Now it sticks to the track regardless of almost any disruptions
You’ll like that Annie. It’s fairly strong, reliable, smooth, nicely detailed…
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