Bachmann 4-8-2 Light Mountain users wanted

[TVRR]

  After being impressed with how adding 34 grams of weight to a 0-8-0 made things mo' better, I decided to play around with the 1st run Southern Green 4-8-2 and see what happened. Placing 8 grams of weight over the 1st driver increased the number of Kato corrugated cars from 4 to 7 on a 1% slope thru a curve at top. Placing weight over the cab didn't seem to change anything. If you have a "weak sister" 1st run please try this and let me know what you find. Thanks, TVRR

[Mike C]

 I didn't add any weight to mine , I put scotch tape shims in the frame slots for the traction tire driver . It pulls at least 15 cars on the level , have no idea what it will do on a grade though . Before I shimmed the drivers you could see it speed up / slow down as the TT driver lost traction . Now it's one of the best running locos I have . And it's really cool with sound !

[badlandnp]

I picked one up, on sale, and haven't played with it yet. Thanks for the tips! So, adding weight AND a shim should help this thing to pull a nice train up a 2%. Can't wait to try it.

[mcjaco]

Mine's been pretty much mothballed, since it can pull about seven MT Heavyweights, and WoT Baggage cars.  Not a very impressive Mountaineer.....

I have the decoder in the notch of the boiler, but am intending to move it to the tender.  Anxious to see if a few more grams of lead in that notch help anymore, as I've foudn a minute bit of pressure from a finger will increase it's pulling power significantly.

I will note that I tried the scotch tape method multiple times, and saw no improvement to pulling.  In on case it made the whole loco worse off, in that the third driver then sat lower then the other three, and could barely make contact with the rails anymore.  I don't subscribe to that method as a fix.

[Nato]

           Paper or thin cardstock shims where the traction tire slot is, that is what was recommended in several years old posts. I have done this to the four I own, I guess tape would also work. I can pull 15-16 freight cars, do not know about on a grade as they are considered big power for use on my branch line which does have a grade. Nate Goodman (Nato). 

[Mike C]

           Paper or thin cardstock shims where the traction tire slot is, that is what was recommended in several years old posts. I have done this to the four I own, I guess tape would also work. I can pull 15-16 freight cars, do not know about on a grade as they are considered big power for use on my branch line which does have a grade. Nate Goodman (Nato). 

I tried blue masking tape first . Too thick , the front drivers tended to derail on 16" curves . When I put the scotch tape in there I pressed it in tightly and haven't had any problems . I'm guessing that tolerances vary a bit between locomotives  .