I’ve got a couple of old Bachmann models (of various locos) hanging around, and as you would expect, they don’t run very well. I’m curious if there’s any way to re-motor these, as at least one of them (the E60CP) isn’t available from anyone anymore.
Would this help?
http://www.ablehobby.com/a%20line%20%20repowering%20page%201.asp
or this?
http://www.micro-loco-motion.com/home.htm
or maybe these folks?
Hope this is what you were after. [8D]
Drop that E60CP shell on an Athean blue box U30C or U33C and you are all set. You probably need to add a small strip of styrene on the inside of each side of the Bachman shell so the pins on the Atearn frame have a place to hold it but that is all you need to do.
pcarrell: Do you know of anywhere to find new trucks to go with new can motors? The old Bachmanns have the motor assembly as part of the truck, so a can motor (on its own) isn’t going to fix much.
ndbprr: I’ve seen a trick like that mentioned before (with a C44-9W frame instead of a U-boat). Would you (or anyone else) happen to know if the U-boat frames are longer than the Dash 9s? The E60 shell is about 1mm too long for the Dash 9 frame. Alternately, what would be the best way to get another 1mm length to the frame (I’m thinking a bit of styrene or something, but it’s right over the coupler pocket and I don’t want to make it impossible to install couplers.
Thanks for the answers so far.
I’m at a loss on the trucks, but call the folks at the first link I gave you, Able Hobby. They are most helpful and may be able to help, or point you in the right direction.
I’ve heard that an Athearn F unit frame will fit into Bachmann’s train-set F9. However, I have no idea how to mount the shell on it.
I’m pretty sure a Bachmann Plus F-unit mechanism would fit the trainset ones - the Plus unit is a much better mechanism and will compete with Protos for smooth running, quiet and heavy haulage ability when properly broken in. What I’m not sure about is truck frames - would I be able to buy a dead trainset F unit and pinch the shell and truck side/baseplate mouldings to go on an otherwise perfect Plus F unit mechanism that lacks both?
I tried fitting the E60 shell to a U30C dummy frame, and found it ends up being about a half-inch too short, leaving the C44-9W shell as a better fit, though still not perfect.
EP,
Sorry to pop your bubble but if the loco’s you have are the older self powered truck, there is not allot you can do to make them run better, this older drive Bachmann made for quite a few years. They just could not cut it as far as power was concerned. But if they are the older Bachmann that have a full diecast chassis and 8 wheel drive they can be remotored with an A-line can motor 33mm by 18mm, it cost about $35 to buy at your LHS
Swaping out the sheel to an Athearn would be the cheaper way to go, sometime you have to make or cut things into the shell to make it fit right. The cheap LL GP38’s that they sell for about $25 are good for putting the LLGP38 shell on a Athearn GP38,40, or 50 powered chassis, they fir perfect, and the LL shell can be dolled up then to make it look better.
For the E60CP: stretch an Athearn U-C boat, or (preferred) Atlas C30-7 or U33/36C.
Cut the frame next to the motor, then use brass angle to extend it to the correct truck spacing. Use NWSL driveline components to lengthen the drive shaft on the cut side.
I don’t know about the Uboats, but the Dash9/AC4400 chassis has a perfect matcheds for the wheel base and everything. you just need new side frames, and some styrene for fill in the gaps ( so the shell doesn’t fall over the chassis).
You may also want to cut the old plastic water tank thing off the bottom of the E60CP chassis, and grind down the C44-9W’s fuel tank so you can fir the old tank on it. that way it looks right.
If you are lucky you can get an American GK kit, but those are almost impossible.