Last winter I bought a Spectrum 4-4-0 from Micro Mark, decoder but no sound. It runs fine forward but in reverse, there is a definite bind somewhere in the mechanism. With each driver revolution, it slows a little. Running at a high speed, it’s not really noticeable but I want to fix this. I’ve already taken it apart to examine the drive train but don’t see anything out of the ordinary. Someone at another forum suggested the drivers may be out of quarter but if that was the case, wouldn’t I see the problem in both directions? I’m hoping someone has experienced the same problem with a 4-4-0 or whatever and has found a solution. I have run it enough that if this was just a break-in issue, it should have corrected itself by now.
I had posted this question on the Bachmann board several months ago. It seems no one had run into this problem or had tried to fix it. Several folks just said contact Bachmann and arrange to return it. I’ll probably end up doing that. And I will update as to how that is handled.
Update on my Spectrum 4-4-0. I decided to send it back to Bachmann. First problem, my paperwork from the Micro Mark purchase was gone. Will be more careful from now on but Micro Mark was able to e-mail a copy of the invoice. I then e-mailed Bachmann, as they instruct, to request service. The next morning I had an e-mail reply stating I should send the engine along with a letter explaining the problem. That was done about 10 days ago. Today I received a post card to acknowledge they have the engine, gave me a customer ID and indicated an approximate 6 wk turn around.
I’ll post an update when I hear from them or get the engine back.
It could be there’s a tiny burr on something like a worm gear or something that’s OK when the engine’s going forward, but gets in the way when it’s going back. A little sanding can fix it. Could be a “thrust” problem too, when the motor is spinning it tends to ‘pull’ on the gear tower or ‘push’ on it, depending on which direction. Could be when it’s going backwards it got too much play and that is causing some binding.
But engines (esp. steam) can be mysterious. I have a Mantua 4-4-2 that I had trouble with when I first got it - sanded the gears/worm, lubricated it etc. but it still ran poorly…until one day I was running it and something went “click!” inside it and then it started running very smoothy. Something must have been hitting in there and eventually it snapped off or something.
it sounds like their process is working , even if it seems kind of slow . 6 weeks to fix a model engine ? either there’s one part time guy doing repairs , or there’s thousands of them waiting to be fixed !
Good news regarding my Spectrum 4-4-0. As I’ve stated, it was mailed back to Bachmann around June 2. Today a new engine arrived. I didn’t think they would try to analyze the problem, tear it apart, etc…
And the best part, the new engine runs as it should, in both directions !!! I’m happy. This experience with Bachmann worked as it should, from the first e-mail to request service. Turnaround time was about 22 days.
Hmm so you like it eh? Might have to back date the layout make it the RI&P and get a couple of these. They kinda match up.Plus make up a few for the RI&MC. How well does it pull SOO
And a big Oooo Rahhhh to Sparky. From one Seabee to another We buil we fight we party all night CAN DO!
For future reference, I have one of their older 4-4-0’s and it had a driver out of quarter. It ran fine in one direction, but bound up going the other. Re quartering fixed the problem.
To answer your question as to how it pulls; I only have a test loop so far and it pulled 3 or 4 very free rolling cars (Atlas and Walthers) but when I added a Walthers Heavyweight it just spun the drivers.
MR did a review, I believe sometime last year, and they always give a tractive effort in ounces and an equivalent # of cars on straight level track.