Since I just re-enter the hobby 2 years ago - I have only invested in “cheaper” steam from IHC (2-8-0 Consoldiation and 2-6-4 Hudson). The IHC units ran great and smooth through my #4 and #6 turnouts and curved turnouts. Run smooth at low speed too. All right out of the box. Been very happy. Running HO in DC.
So I thought I would venture with a steam unit of greater quality (I thought) and detail. Picked up a Spectrum 2-8-0. Had a hard time getting it going - runs haltingly unless at high speedf. Struggles or derails through most turnouts - hyper sensitive to rail joints etc. I know that maybe it needs to run awhile to break in - but I am very disappointed. Even though I have 18" curves in some places - since I no problems with the IHC 2-8-0 - I thought the Bachmann 2-8-0 would be fine. Are the Bachmann wheel sets less forgiving than IHC? Right now I am thinking I should return it or just park it.
Any ideas?
Thanks!
Any ideas?
Is the Bachmann 2-8-0 less forgiving than IHC. Or did I just get a dud?
I’ve got 3 spectrum steam locos (2-8-0, 2-10-0, 4-8-2) and they are all really nice. My opinion is they are typically a great buy and certainly “better” than IHC. You may have gotten a problem one, however. I assume you bought it new, and if you got it from a hobby shop I would bring it back.
Of course first check the locos wheels for dirt or out of gauge. And check your track too, its possible the Spectrum’s pickups are not as tolerant as the IHC.
I agree, take or send it back for a replacement. If it was an eBay purchase that can’t be returned, Bachmann has their handy lifetime warranty so you can send it to them. Unless a simple solution presents itself, I wouldn’t bother with extensive diagnostics on a brand new unit. This was the loco that helped change Bachmann’s reputation for poor reliability, and has been a favorite of model railroaders for at least a decade now.
I have a couple of the Spectrum steamers and find these engines to be excellent runners. The engines did require a proper and lengthy break in period. There were a few duds (two out of 16 ) that required replacement though.
Yes, the IHC I have are certainly are more forgiving regarding the quality of trackwork, the Spectrum engines are quite sensitive in comparison.
I have a IHC 4-6-2 and 2-10-2 and a Spectrum 4-8-2. The 4-6-2 is the smoothest runner of the two, even though it is less detailed. I love the detail on the 4-8-2 and it is the bigger puller hands down, but its movement isnt as smooth as the 4-6-2. The 2-10-2 is moderately detailed but its hard to get it to pull as much as the 4-6-2, but if it is doubleheaded with any other loco it runs fine in the tandem. But the Spectrum model is a little bit pickier than the IHC’s, but not to your extent. I do remember that Bachmann has a few quality control issues, so dont be afraid to ask the company.
My Spectrum 2-8-0 and 2-10-0 run smother than any of my IHCs, and those are some great runners. The 2-8-0 just took right off with smooth running and great speed control right out of the box, and has never had a problem with my track. Bachmann’s quality control isn’t excellent, unfortunately, so some products will be great, some will be good, and some will be bad. Bachmann does have a good warranty though, and will replace your 2-8-0 with a new one without question if you send it in.
Yes, I bought it “used” on Ebay - looking at it - I dont think it has seen hardly any track time. Maybe you get what you pay for. Will the lifetime warranty be honored even if I am not the original purchaser? I have the warranty certificate, but I dont think the unit was registrered within 10 days of original purchase.
Definitely call Bachmann and tell them about your problem. I also had a lemon 2-8-0 and toiled over finding the problem - finally decided it was bad wheels and siderods. Bachmann send me a replacement set free of charge and also threw in a couple of bottles of gear lube. In retrospect it would have been much easier (though it would have cost me a bit because I bought it off of Ebay) to just send it back to them to fix.
I now have one IHC 2-8-0 and two Spectum 2-8-0’s (plus four other Spectrums) and there’s really no comparison. The IHC runs like a toy - it jerks to a start and stop and has no low-speed performance at all - and the motor sticks out into the cab. The Spectrum is smooth and quiet and much more nicely detailed, though I need to doublehead to pull any but the shortest trains up my 2.5% grades.
My IHC 2-6-0 was one of the best running steam locomotives I have owned. I also have a Spectrum 3 truck Shay, Climax, 4-4-0, 4-6-0 and 2-8-0. They were generally good runners except for the first 2-8-0 which I had to send back to Bachmann. They replaced it with a new one that so far is working fine. With regard to my well running IHC 2-6-0, I took it apart and used pieces here and there to bash some of my other locomotives which were more prototypical for my railroad. I used the IHC tender frame under an SP Whaleback tank that I scratched built. Peter smith, Memphis
IHC locos have huge flanges. IHC locos have lots of side to side play in their side rods. They will run over any piece of horrible trackwork. They will love 18" radius.
Bachmann locos are built to a finer standard and it actually needs better trackwork. This isnt the fault of Bachmann, but rather the trackwork.
To the OP, have you gauged the track? Have you gauged the loco? What do your joints look like? What type of track are you using? I am sure you know that 18" radius is tight for an 8-coupled small flanged loco…
It’s not really fair to judge a companies product when you buy something used, there’s no telling what the previous owner may have done, but Bachmann has a very good warranty, send it in to them.
My three Spectrums run smooth and I haven’t had any issues at all.
In theory it’s tight, but in practice, people seem to do it. My Bowser H9 runs great around 18"R. Of course, it has blind center drivers. I’m not sure if class H9 had these, or when they might have, although the I1 and H3 did. Of course, broader curves are always nice if you’ve got room, and I definitely agree that checking the track and wheels with a gauge and eyeball is a good idea. I think everybody needs to have an NMRA gauge.
I have a pair of the Spectrum ‘Baldwin’ 2-8-0’s, a ‘High Boiler’ 4-6-0, and a ‘Russian’ 2-10-0. All are great runners. Are you sure you got a ‘Spectrum’ engine, and not one of the older Bachmann ‘Reading’ 2-8-0 engines? They were pretty bad.
I have ‘Sound/DCC’ installed in all of the above steamers, and love them. I have heard of the cog belt in some Spectrum engines snapping, but I have had no problems(the 2-8-0’s date from 1997/1998 production runs).
I remember reading a posting where someone with a 2-6-6-2 Spectrum engine having a problem and sent their engine in for repair/replacement and was informed by Bachmann that the engine was no longer in production and could not be fixed…
This engine is now available with sound only.
The owner indicated that Bachmann would replace the engine with a sound unit if they paid the difference between a sound and a non sound unit. Approx. $100.00 or they could pick another Spectrum unit.
I sent a Spectrum Doodlebug in for repair/replacement two years ago and was advised they were no longer in production and was offered one of the Spectrum engines with a payment of $25.00, if I remember correctly. I immediately picked on of their Spectrum 4-4-0’s.
If it is a Spectrum engine (and not one of the “train set” quality Reading 2-8-0’s from earlier days) it should run great. One thing to check on - the Spectrum engines have an apron behind the cab that is meant to ride on the top “lip” of the tender deck. Sometimes you can get that caught under the tender deck, which throws the engine’s rear end up a bit causing problems like you describe (poor running, derailing). It’s worth taking a look at anyway.
Now I have 2 of the 2-8-0’s in Spectrum line. One was a ebay purchase and the other was a LHS purchase, so both are about the same age and DCC ready. Both ran fine out of the box, then one of them and this was later on down the road, started to make this strange grinding noise. It was the LHS purchase unit that was giving me fits for some reason. I returned it to my LHS and they sent it back to get it repaired and the LHS owner said it was a problem with the belt. It seemed to have a split in the belt and had a a tail of the belt going around by the gear. My LHS owner made a comment about some of the Spectrum units with belt drive had some issues with belts. I guess from what he said one of two things happen, the belt gets a memory in them from sitting on the shelf for long periods of time, this causes a tight then loose spots in the belt and causes the loco to lurch then kind of stall at low speeds. This in turn can lead to the belt ripping out the cogs on the belt or splitting.
I purchased a few extra belts for my 2-8-0’s to keep on hand, but have never had any trouble with them since then.
As far as the IHC units, I have a Mic, and 0-8-0 units, they both work great and respond well to slow speed.
Wow alot of good advice here. In response to some inquiries:
the unit was advertised as Spectrum and came in the original Spectrum box.
I am running on Atlas Code 83 track with Atlas Custom line turnouts - (using Walther curved turnouts also). I am by no means a track laying master, but I do try to make my joints smooth with no gaps. I use a jeweler’s file to remove any burrs/flashing at cut points and just using my fingers, I make sure the joint - both top and inside rail - is smooth. As such, I have had historically very few derailments with my IHC units, Walther Proto 2000 ore cars and Mather 40’ boxcars, and Branchline 40’ cars
I am ashamed to say I do not have a guage and need to invest in one - but up until this point never had a problem.
If the Spectrum steamer wheels are out of guage - can they be adjusted or only replaced?
the previous owner did state that this unit was one of two purchased and this specific unit was run only a couple of times and then sat in the box for many years. The idea of the belt being compromised by “memory” leading to jerky running would seem to be applicable to this situation.
Thank you to everyone for your time and expertise!
If it was sitting for years, this would be the issue at hand then, the belt has a memory, this explains allot. Try running it with out a load for several hours, it might come out of it. If not, you need a new belt then.