I picked up an undecorated Bachman Spectrum GP-35 for dirt cheap ($12.50) and I suspect it will become engine #2 in my B&P fleet Now the girl working the booth said it was not DCC ready so I’m assuming that means no socket.
Is there anything else I should be concerned with?
NEW Question Below!
I may be wrong, but isn’t the GP35 one of their models with a split-frame chassis? If so, you’ll need to split the frame and isolate the motor (supposed to be easy enough) then reassemble. Not really anything to worry about though you do need to keep a careful eye on all the small screws etc that you’ll be removing to dismantle it (they have a habit of “jumping ship”). Is there an exploded diagram with the loco? Bachmann usually include one in the box which is handy in situations like this. You’ll basically need to hard-wire the decoder in and you may or may not want to alter the pickup arrangements - as delivered, they use a brass wiper to pass power through the frame to the motor. You may want to clip these off and solder a fine wire in their place, as this will enable you to isolate the frame from the trucks. I must stress that I’m basing this advice on having looked at my Bachmann Dash 8 with a view to adding DCC, and assuming much the same chassis design but shorter and with 4 axles. Hope this is of help!
If it’s like the GP30, yes, it is s split frame model and shoudn’t be hard to convert. There should be tabs onthe motor that contact the fram halves - cut these off and solder wires. Use tape to insulate the motor from the frame halves - this is where kapton tape comes in handy, it’s very thin and tough. The light board on top will have two springy pieces that rub on each frame half to get power to the lights - remove this board. There should be enough room to locate the decoder there. Tap a 2-56 hole in each frame half and screw in a brass screw, and solder the red and black wires to them. Hook up lights or LEDs and you’re all set.
–Randy
Chip:
This will help:
http://www.members.shaw.ca/sask.rail/dcc/tmaster.html
Great article. Thanks guys.
New Question: I ran this engine last night for about 30 minutes while I set up my DCC. It was pretty quite at low RPM’s but as I cranked it up, it started to whine. While I have it apart, is there anything else I should do to it? Even though it apeared to be sealed from the factory, it’s pretty old if it doesn’t have a DCC collar. Lubrication is probably dried up.
Could be. I’d clean out the old stuff and use fresh - Bachmann usually puts WAY too much grease and oil in their locos from the factory. Case in point, the E33, it’s super well packed in a nice box that rivals the best brass, but there was so much grease leaking out of the trucks it made a mess of the inner box liner. Luckily it did not get all over the finish.
–Randy
Yeah, I would also suggest cleaning the entire drive train, and regreasing it. I’ve had plenty of locomotives that were over-greased. After that, it should run better. At least, mine have.
When I was a cowboy shooter, almost the very first thing I did was open up a new gun and poli***he action work. This would make the guns work smoother. Instead of, doing this at the factory because of expense, gun companies would compensate by putting heavier springs than needed tor a smooth running gun. So I would lighten the springs. The result a smooth running gun that stays on target during a trigger pull.
What do you old hands do when you get a new loco to get the most out of it?
Weight redistribution, if practicable.
Remotoring " " " " " " " "
Strip down, full clean, re-assemble with jeweller’s rouge in the gears, run fwds and bkwds at relatively LOW speeds for 10-20 mins (with some cars towed, not for over a minute at a time, let drive cool in between). Strip, clean, re-assemble, light grease and oil, and play.
Try different spring pressures under the trucks, for and aft, to see if it rides better and pulls up grades better.
If those don’t work, adopt most threatening look and tone of voice, and offer to send it back to the techs. [:D]
Crandell;
Ya forgot one, Regear, if practical, esp if a steamer.
Chipper
It’s a Bachmann! - and a Bargain! (No extra charge for the gear whine).
Enjoy, Enjoy, Enjoy.