Guys,
I got a Spectrum N scale F7 a/b powered set as a gift last year that, well…runs like a piece of junk. It grrrs down the track and takes a lot of power to get going…it just doesn’t seem to glide like my other Spectrum SD45, and certainly not like my Atlas GP9. Is there anything I can do to tune it up??
It is new with a few hours break in on it, but it ran so bad I just boxed it in favor of my other better running diesels. Thanks! ----Rob
Unfortunately Bachmann is not known for being consistent in their N-scale loco quality, and their Spectrum F7’s have not drawn great reviews anyway.
I can’t really suggest anything other than to make sure the wheels are clean, the gears free of any gunk and are adequately lubricated (as in not over done). If you think something specific is not working correctly, then you can consider returning it to Bachmann under their warrantee program. For a small fee, if they can’t fix it, they will send you a new one. Maybe the new one will work better?
If you’re into F-units, then you can’t go wrong with either Kato or Intermountain. Both make far better quality F-units.
Hey Rob i feel your pain there, i had been after an a/b set in southern pacific black widow for a while, finally found one on ebay that was going for less then i had seen it in one of the discount catologs, won it, and well yeah it growls like heck, pulling power is not real good, and now after running for awhile it is doing this speed up slow down on its own thing, actually stopped once or twice, i have cleaned the wheels, i have tried lubbing, still the same! also got an a/b set that is supposed to be Spectrum by E-R models, a sharknose Baldwin RF-16, well i would not really recomend that one either, sounds like a tiny leaf blower and at 3/4 throttle moves really slowly!, and yes as has been noted kato does make some a/b sets, but for us on a budget those are very pricey, and as i have a number of inexpensive life like/bevbel units that run very nicely and quietly i was hopeing these would to, oh well, and i have sent stuff back to Bmann and been happy with what i got back, but sadly in this case as i failed to send in the warrenty cards will have to pay the $10 diesel s & h fee, and does any one know whether that is per unit or per set? i.e. 2 a/b sets =$20 or 2 a/b sets= 4 units= $40? let me know, thanks.