Hi, guys,
I got a chance to check out the new Bachmann K-27 at the ECLSTS this weekend...and I love it! Here's my question: How is the functional quality of Bachmann's stuff? Admittedly, I only have ONE Spectrum Series loco (4-4-0), and it's beautiful, but the other lower-grade (non-Spectrum) Bachmann stuff I've obtained is fairly cheap quality (gears, electrical conductivity, etc.)
I know many of you more experienced guys have a pretty extensive Bachmann roster, as I see many of Kevin's articles in GMRR and his posts here, as well as many others. But....I run track power, and have virtually NO grade on my RR. I've noticed that even my Spectrum loco, and ALL of my other Bachmann stuff, seems to run erratically on my track....but my USAT and LGB stuff runs flawlessly! Now, I realize that those manufacturers incorporate the "pickup shoes", while B-mann does not. Could this be the problem? Are those of you who are big Bachmann fans using battery power, for the most part?
I picked up a little (brand new in box) Bachmann hand-car at the show this weekend, and found it to run erratically, also. It wouldn't even START to move without a push! I took it into my shop, polished the darkened wheel surfaces with an abrasive dremel tool (to improve electrical conductivity), and used light lube oil on the gears and moving parts....it ran MUCH more smoothly, and started without a push.
One can only assume that this stuff should be considered before it's shipped from the factory (That the bluing/blacking of the wheels restricts conductivity). I've heard about certain manufacturer's (not specifially B-mann) original metal wheels being out-of-true, pieces being broken out of the box, etc. I'm amazed at the general lack of quality control seen in some fairly expensive and delicate equipment in this hobby! People seem to think nothing of spending $500-$4,000 on a piece of new equipment, which needs "tweaking" before even running reliably out of the box!
I'd love to hear from track-powered Bachmann owners, to see how thier stuff runs. I maintain my Aristo Stainless Steel track, power supplies, joints and roadbed about as well as anyone I've seen, yet my B-mann products don't seem to run as smoothly or as well as my USAT-LGB stuff. I'd love to buy a K-27, but don't want to drop $700 on a piece that doesn't run perfectly under track power.
Thanks,
Axdop (Chip)
I got a chance to check out the new Bachmann K-27 at the ECLSTS this weekend...and I love it! Here's my question: How is the functional quality of Bachmann's stuff? Admittedly, I only have ONE Spectrum Series loco (4-4-0), and it's beautiful, but the other lower-grade (non-Spectrum) Bachmann stuff I've obtained is fairly cheap quality (gears, electrical conductivity, etc.)
I know many of you more experienced guys have a pretty extensive Bachmann roster, as I see many of Kevin's articles in GMRR and his posts here, as well as many others. But....I run track power, and have virtually NO grade on my RR. I've noticed that even my Spectrum loco, and ALL of my other Bachmann stuff, seems to run erratically on my track....but my USAT and LGB stuff runs flawlessly! Now, I realize that those manufacturers incorporate the "pickup shoes", while B-mann does not. Could this be the problem? Are those of you who are big Bachmann fans using battery power, for the most part?
I picked up a little (brand new in box) Bachmann hand-car at the show this weekend, and found it to run erratically, also. It wouldn't even START to move without a push! I took it into my shop, polished the darkened wheel surfaces with an abrasive dremel tool (to improve electrical conductivity), and used light lube oil on the gears and moving parts....it ran MUCH more smoothly, and started without a push.
One can only assume that this stuff should be considered before it's shipped from the factory (That the bluing/blacking of the wheels restricts conductivity). I've heard about certain manufacturer's (not specifially B-mann) original metal wheels being out-of-true, pieces being broken out of the box, etc. I'm amazed at the general lack of quality control seen in some fairly expensive and delicate equipment in this hobby! People seem to think nothing of spending $500-$4,000 on a piece of new equipment, which needs "tweaking" before even running reliably out of the box!
I'd love to hear from track-powered Bachmann owners, to see how thier stuff runs. I maintain my Aristo Stainless Steel track, power supplies, joints and roadbed about as well as anyone I've seen, yet my B-mann products don't seem to run as smoothly or as well as my USAT-LGB stuff. I'd love to buy a K-27, but don't want to drop $700 on a piece that doesn't run perfectly under track power.
Thanks,
Axdop (Chip)