After reading threads about some of the Bachmann Spectrum locomotives and their problems, it finally happened to me–bought a Spectrum Heavy 4-8-2 today at my LHS, got it home, put it on the track and promptly had a rear-end collision–the little devil was wired BACKWARDS! This is my fourth Spectrum and the only one I’ve had trouble with. Took it back to the shop, one guy cracked up, the owner looked as if he was going to have a heart attack (I give him quite a bit of business). It was the only one in stock (SP), so they offered to flip the motor for me. Nice guys, there–I mean it! I’m so glad I didn’t order it over the net–but it was certainly a shock when it went barreling into my little brass 2-8-0, which was just sitting on the track minding it’s own business. Anyway, now I know what some of you guys say when you mention that Spectrum can sometimes be a crap-shoot, LOL!
Tom [:p][:p]
that’s awfull hope the 2-8-0’s ok.I’ve never had a bachman wired backwards but i have had a few other minor problems.Bachman’s usually pretty good to deal with so I can’t complain too much about their customer service,they just need to address their QC. Rob
that poor 2-8-0, beaten up by a jealous 4-8-2. I mean really, how could it be so jealous as to intentionally ram a defenseless engine sitting idle.
Glad everything turned out ok, and hope the 2-8-0 isn’t damged to bad.
i had problems with my 4-8-2. the wheels were quatered and it went along with a noticable limp! it was swapped the next day at the store.
Peter
Actually, the 2-8-0 is just fine. Hooked it up to its standard cattle train when I got back from the shop and it just wobbled up the grade as per usual. I think it was more surprised than injured. But it’s a Rio Grande C-45, and they’re crusty little devils!
Tom[}:)][}:)]
If the motor is wired backward, just unsolder the motor leads, and reverse them, resolder, and presto, runs the right direction.
Mac
Glad to hear the little brass boy is ok, well except his feelings but that’s to be expected.
Besdt watch that little 2-8-0, he might retaliate one day.
Fantastic that your LHS was responsive. The fact that the owner reacted the way he did says alot about how he feels about the product he sells. I’m glad everything worked out OK. What is the name of the LHS? Let us know what the name is of the place that backs up what it sells so that if any of us are in the area we can drop by.
I’ve had a few problems with my light 4-8-2, too. One of the electrical contact wipers was bent so bad it was jammed way up in the driver, making the loco go “click-click-click” everytime it ran. It drove me crazy! I’ve had it over a year now and I just figured it out about 2 weeks ago.
The 4-8-2s seem to be the most problematic Spectrum steamers. I’ve never had any problems with my Spectrum 2-8-0.
At the risk of annoying someone perhaps it is worth pointing out that what makes a model locomotive wired “backwards” versus correctly is a matter of conformance to NMRA standards. And I see plenty of posts that suggest there is no importance to the NMRA, that all the important standards have been set, and that there is no reason to join or to support the organization. These kinds of experiences suggest otherwise – without NMRA standards there is no basis for saying this Spectrum locomotive was wired incorrectly.
Dave Nelson
Dave–gladly. It’s Railroad Hobbies in Roseville, CA. Actually, we’re very lucky in this area, we’ve got two really fine LHS’–Railroad Hobbies and Bruce’s Trains in Sacramento. I’ve never had any problems at all with either of them, and they know their stuff. Both owners are very knowledgeable about the hobby, as are the people that work for them. Both shops carry huge inventories in all the popular scales, plus a large stock of super-detailing parts. I’m a very happy camper when I go MR shopping.
Tom [:p][:p]
Mac–I was going to do that, but then I looked at the instruction sheet that came with the loco, and I realized that getting to the motor was going to be a MAJOR disassembly. I mostly run brass, which means three screws to get the superstructure off the mechanism. Thankfully, the guys at the LHS said not to worry, they’d take care of it for me.
Tom[:D]