Climax binding problem on New Bachmann

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd51/Hwolf_photos/IMG_0324.jpg

I have a brand new Bachmann Climax. As it is going along the tender will lift up causing it to stop… If I disconnect the Drive Shaft it will run fine. How can I free the Shaft? Oil, Grafite Etc or send it back to Bachmann.

See Photo Above

Thanks

Harold

2

Hi Harold,

I have the 2 truck version and they are notorious for cracking the little gears in the drive train. If the gears split they don’t mesh properly and cause binding. So check the gears on the tender are all ok and meshing properly. NWSL make replacement metal gears, but they are very tiny and NWSL advise to make sure all bearings tolerances are tight to prevent any slop that may cause mis-meshing.

HTH

cheers

3

I appreciate that but this Engine is right out of the box. If that is the case it will be back in the box and on the way back to Bachbann

Harold

4

This a well known issue the the Bachmann Climax and Shay.

Plastic

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,13307.0.html

Steel.

http://shop.osorail.com/category.sc?categoryId=208

Rich

5

Harold,

I am sorry you are having this problem with the Climax; however, I too have had to send locomotives back to Bachmann and they are very easy to deal with and have an excellent service department. I’d give them a call to see what they recommend you do in this particular case.

Good Luck and let’s hope you get things resolved as this is a nice looking locomotive,

Wayne

6

Send it back to Bachmann for a warranty replacement. Don’t bother with metal gears , blah blah blah.

The 3 truck Climax runs great, and you deserve one of those. I have one, and it runs like a Swiss watch and have never had a gear problem.

.

7

I’ve replaced the gears with NWSL gears on a couple Bachmann Shays I’ve bought cheap off of Ebay. I would look at them for replacements.

8

I am looking at acquiring the Bachmann 3 truck Climax with sound. I have a 2 truck that has had a few gears replaced by a friend with plastic ones from Bachmann and it works now…also have a set of NWSL gears ready to use.

Looking for other failure or performance reports on the 3 truck gear system - gears, universals, etc. and on the Tsunami sound chip. The detail and mechanism looks very nice but is it durable?

thanks, jake

9

Be careful with the advice you are getting. Bachmann had terrible problems with cracked plastic gears on their otherwise excellent 3-truck Shays and 2-truck Climax. Some of the suggestions apply to these older locomotives. However, the 3-truck Climax is a newer and different locomotive.

I would like to hear from actual owners of the 3-truck Climax that have been having cracked gears. I have not heard from any yet. Are you out there?

And if the tender is lifting and is fine with te drive shaft removed, I would look for burrs on the drive shaft. If you don’t see anything obvious and fixable, you can call and send it back to Bachmann. They usually have good customer service.

Good luck

10

Hi Jake

I have a 3 truck which is 2 years old, and many hours running time, no problems with the gears, or anything else for that matter.

The Climax performance is excellent in all areas, the Tsunami is excellent as expected, the only complaint I do have is the yellow lights, I don’t like the color chosen, and it’s too bright and won’t dim down like my Shays.