Hi,
Does anyone out there have this and if so how good & reliable is it. I have an opportunity to buy a brand new one for less than $100.
THANKS,
MOSEMAN
Verdict: NO
Rear driver failed after < 12 hours operation.
Sent it to Bachmann repair, and said they had no replacements and really didn’t do those kind of repairs. They offered a 2-10-2 in it’s place in a different roadname.
I’m trying to get hold of Bachmann customer service manger now to work something out, but I am NOT happy about it. It’s been broken close to a year now.
This is after 3 seperate 4-8-2 heavies with low cow catchers that needed trimmed, and 1 broken drive unit after < 15 hours of operation.
I like Bachmann’s value, and their choice of engines, and detail. But their quality and customer service is QUICKLY turning me off to their steam.
DigitalGriffin, I’m not doubting your problems with your particular engine, but I know a local modeler in my area that has one of these and has been very happy with it.
I also like Bachmann Spectrum steam, but you just seem to have gotten one of their typical “bad” engines. It just seems to be the luck of the draw with Spectrum stuff sometimes.
I am surprised you’ve had trouble with their service department though.
In summary, I would say go ahead and go for the engine. The price seems to be a pretty good deal, and it shouldn’t give you any trouble.
This really suprises me as i have 2 of these engines
and love them both especially for thier low speed performance
one has a tsunami heavy steam decoder and is a great sounding unit
the other is a dc only unit
Terry,
It worked great for a while. I loved the low speed performance, and it rarely derailed.
However I talked to several different hobby shop owners. I’m starting to get the impression that the plastic drive gear has a tendency to wear down…QUICKLY.
I suggest you greese yours often (if you can get access to it). (I greesed mine about once a year.)
In my Bachmann Spectrum Collection I have:
3 Truck Shay - run < 2 hours so far
two 0-6-0 switchers - run < 2 hours each so far
two 2-6-6-2 H class. One run < 15 minutes. Another run < 12 hours with failed rear driver
three 4-8-2 J class. All had low cow catchers. Two had lead trucks out of spec. One with failed driver after 16 hours use.
2-8-0 Western Maryland. I bought this used. Seems to be okay so far, but haven’t really used it much as it’s DC and I’m a DCC guy.
Getting hold of anybody post Christmas->April is just about impossible as the C.S. department is swamped. Once they lost my return shipment! Good thing I kept the tracking number!
My 2-6-6-2 has been broken since last Christmas. I’ve been trying for 3 months to get it fixed. A 2-10-2 is not an acceptable replacement for a C&O road H-5! All they have to do is replace the running gear most likely, or a slipping U joint. But apparently that takes too much time and they don’t really have parts!
Not exactly a steller track record.
I’m about to drop my Bachmann Spectrum recommendations for anybody entering the hobby. I’m starting to send them to Atlas, and P2K as starter locos.
Don H–
Wow, I’m REALLY surprised about that. I’ve had one since they first came out (in fact my LHS had one of the first ones produced, which I bought) and I’ve had wonderful performance from it. No problems whatsoever. In fact, it’s a more powerful puller than my other plastic articulated–the P2k 2-8-8-2. I use the 2-6-6-2 as a helper with the P2k just to get that other darned Mallet up the grades with 20 cars (the Spectrum will do that on it’s own, BTW).
I’m really sorry you’ve had problems with yours. Mine’s a little jewel. And like I said, it’s a real little POWERHOUSE!
Tom
The Grizzly Northern Railway operates two Spectrum 2-6-6-2’s. The Chief Engineer loves them! Very smooth runners. One is factory sound equipped, the second without sound. They frequently are seen at the club double heading drag freights, “speeding” along at 15 to 20 mph. [:)]
Have one and love it, it has about 50hrs on it and no problems. My 2-10-2 on the other hand is a pile of junk. P2ks beats it hands down.