Hi gang,
What is your opinion about the BACHMANN SPECTRUM HO STANDARD GAUGE 80-TON 3-TRUCK SHAY? I always wanted a shay and this seems to be the most available for Ho standard track. They are not that expensive for a DCC ready engine. And about that, all my other Bachmann spectrum DCC ready engines have been fixed so that all that was needed was a plug in decider. Does this apply to this as well?
Magnus
They are really slow! [:D]
Really cute, too! And they pull great!
And they are slow!
Don’t know about adding DCC. I don’t know if mine is DCC ready or not. I don’t remember seeing DCC mentioned on the box.
Rotor
Magnus…I’m confused. Do you mean the HO, or the On3?
Rotor
HO.
It says DCC ready on the description. But since that can mean pretty much anything I’m just asking. Slow, as long as it gets where it should thats OK.
Magnus
I have 2 of them and they both run great, good pullers, smooth running, and slow as a snail. I love these little work horses. I had built a MDC, and converted a Keystone Model to be powered, The Spectrum Shay win hnads down for ability and operation. Don’t get me wrong the MDC and Keystone model were good, but the Spectrum is better IMHO.
8-pin plug in water tender.
FYI, they sound like a dental drill. Awesome thing. Also, when pulling out of package, tyou may pull the drive rod out. It slides back in a sleeve. But watch it if your having problems. (Prototypes did similar things)
Soundtraxx has Shay sounds made for Bachmann.
[#ditto]
They are great locos, the DCC plug is in the tender, easy to install, I love both of mine.
Magnus,
I put a Digitrax DZ123PS (now DZ125PS) decoder in my Shay. There is a capacitor that should be disconnected for best results. A Soundtraxx Micro-Tsunami light steam decoder in the tender and a speaker inside a replacement coal load would be ideal.
There can be a problem with the linkage to the axles, the cog moves away from the gear on the axle that it is supposed to be in contact with and traction is lost on that axle. This can be fixed by pushing the cog back into position and applying a little crazy glue to hold it in place.
Don
Hello, if you think about ebay purchase, seller “The Favourite Spot” is very good, has “New in box” locos with hard to beat prices.
I own Bachmann Spectrum undec. 3-truck Shay with oil tank in place of coal bunker. Loco is excellent. It even has a little red LED in the firebox simulating fire! [:P] My biggest surprise when I get it - rotation from the motor really goes through right side shafts and gears - like on the real thing!
My plan is to put a decoder in it. As for sound, I am not so sure, it is expensive, and some users are saying the sound is not very good, because speaker must be very small to fit in the coal bunker.
Thanks everyone.
Well it seems to be a positive verdict for the Shay. I’ll probably get one then. It will probably just end up on display but it seems to be a nice engine indeed.
Thank you everyone.
Ooh, I have a few more questions. What is the minimum radius and how steep grades can it handle?
Magnus
Our Spectrum Shay negotiates 15 inch curves easily, and pulls a 6 car (old time shorties) work train up a five percent grade. Every once in a while, it stalls on the steep grade, so I think it’s near its limit in the current configuration.
Eventually, I’ll put some sheet lead under the coal load, maybe a thin sheet on the floor or ceiling of the cab, and a lead toolbox on the pilot beam, and see if it will pull more, but for now, 6 cars is the limit on our grade.
That sounds just about right for me. That way I can make a little bit of logging on my RR.
Magnus
Mine goes through Piko R1 (360mm) without problems.
For the record, “stalls”, as used in my earlier post, means “stops with wheels spinning”. Otherwise, adding weight would be useless and possibly damaging.
I’ve personally seen prices on the Spectrum Shay from $119.95 through $225, shopping around may pay off.
Like ALL Spectrums, I advise seeing it run before paying for it. Bachman quality control, in my experience, runs about 50% good, and 50% “send it back”. I love our Spectrums, but we had to do some cherry-picking, and chose not to purchase at least half of the ones we looked at, for deficiencies of one type or another, “sidewinders”, fail to move, inop headlight, etc.
The good ones are GREAT, and the bad ones are obvious, so far as I’ve seen.
YMMV.
Unfortunately for me watching before buying is impossible. I live 500 km away from the nearest (L)HS and in Europe. So it’s mail order all the way for me. So far I have had no problems with any of my spectrums.
Magnus
Check this vendor’s site, shipping is reasonable and the site is an official Bachmann Retailer. They have had a few Shay’s lately.
Well I have ha dmy shay for 3 yrs and I ran it a couple of times. And those times it pulled 16 cars up a 2% grade I couldnt believe it. Mine has a DCC plug in it the box does read DCC ready. I have a decoder for it just got it in Dec of last yr (the decoder) Tonys had me get a LokSound Micro and said I shouldnt have a problem with it, Unfortunately I have to rewire the DCC plug due to its for N gauge. I say buy it.
Here’s the lighted link Don7.
Well I ordered one thanks to you guys. It was only 99$ at Micro-mark so I think it’s a sweet deal. Two friends bought one each as well so the shipping wasn’t much either, just 11$.
Finally some lumber will hit my layout!
Magnus