Bachmann 2-10-2 driver woes

[Bill H]

Group:
Just bought a pair of Bachmann 2-10-2 lights and both, immediately as I put them on the track and they moved a few inches, shed their crank pins on one side. Interestingly, I noted that despite the drivers being geared the quartering on both was a mess. I have a lot of Bachmann EM-1s, Connies, and Heavy Mountains that have had some minor issues but frankly run quite well. However, these two locos have quartering that is all over the map. Is this endemic to this particular engine or run or? My current inclination is to send them back immediately, but I am also reluctant to spend another $40 to Bachmann for engines i have had exactly a few weeks.

Thoughts?

Kind regards,
Bill

[central.vermont]

Well for me I would be pissed!!!   But then I would fix it myself just because "if you want it done right do it yourself" as my Dad would say. As to what happened with the crank pins I do remember someone saying something of this before. Also you say the quartering is a mess and I would think that may have had some part in the pins working free. If your going to do it yourself that's first thing I would address is the quartering issue. Just my 2 cents worth.

Jon

[Nato]

                 I' am sorry to hear this, I own four in three different roads and undecorated (bought when they first came out) that have run thousands of hours at train shows over the last few years. It would appear that Bachmann steamers are now suffering from the dreaded "Crank Pin" failure which I experienced on my two K4's one fixed under warrantee one replaced in kind by Bachmann before they said there were none left to replace. Nate Goodman (Nato). 

[davefoxx]

@Bill H,

I own a Bachmann 2-10-2 and have had none of those problems you described, although I admit that mine doesn't have hours and hours of running yet. My only complaint is that the gauge is narrow, but I'm afraid to attempt to correct this for fear of ruining the quartering.  So, it sort of hops through my Atlas Code 55 turnouts, but it doesn't derail.  It's hard to complain too much, though, because I bought this steamer with DCC for only $94.00.

DFF

[Cajonpassfan]

Bill, I have several, and only one with a similar problem and that occurred after several hours of running. Generally, mine are sweet runners. The quartering problem may not be as bad as you think: only the number one, three and five drivers have pins and need to be accurately quartered for good performance. The siderods are a two-piece assembly, pinned to the main driver. I bet that's the pin that popped. (It's not actually just a pin, it's he whole eccentric crank assembly, but unless it's come apart, it shouldn't be too hard to press fit in place).
The intermediate drivers, number two and four, are not connected to the side rods in any way and while they might look goofy out of quarter, they are not your performance problem and should be relatively easy to quarter by eyeball. You'll need to turn her upside down, and gently remove the retaining plate to do that, without messing up the good drivers). N scale steam is so much fun
Good luck, Otto K.

[Bill H]

Group:
Got back home today and took a look at both Bachmann 2-10-2 locos. Both exhibit the exact same issue, the plastic middle driver is a) slipping on the axle shaft allowing it to get out of quarter b) the hole that accepts the main crank pin is cracked, enlarging the hole, and causing the crank pin to fall out. I am torn between fixing this if possible - though I am very uncomfortable with the thought that the driver is loose on the axle and sending both engines back to Bachmann and being told that they do not have replacement 2-10-2s.

Thoughts?

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[narrowminded]

Group:
Got back home today and took a look at both Bachmann 2-10-2 locos. Both exhibit the exact same issue, the plastic middle driver is a) slipping on the axle shaft allowing it to get out of quarter b) the hole that accepts the main crank pin is cracked, enlarging the hole, and causing the crank pin to fall out. I am torn between fixing this if possible - though I am very uncomfortable with the thought that the driver is loose on the axle and sending both engines back to Bachmann and being told that they do not have replacement 2-10-2s.

Thoughts?

(Attachment Link)

I would be very suspicious of that material that those were molded from and as such, they can't be "fixed" but replaced.  Therefore, to me, it's a return to Bachmann.  Fortunately, since others haven't been having the problem it's hopefully an anomaly.  Frustrating.

[mmagliaro]

If it were some rare engine with no available replacement, or a brass loco where not such "spare parts" exist,
I would try to fix it.  But in your case, I could return it.  A crack like that is pretty catastrophic.
It will be extremely difficult to get that crank to stay put.   If the driver is geared and the rod is only going around for
show, then you might have a shot filling it in with JB Weld and then redrilling the hole, or trying to just epoxy or
Loctite the crankpin in place.

But the driver slipping on the axle --- that's a very hard thing to fix and seeing as how this is Bachmann's failure and they have a warranty, I'd have them replace it.

[Bill H]

Hi Max:
Have to agree with your conclusion. After putting the pin back in the axle started slipping inside the driver again. Weird that both engines have the exact same problem. They are going back to Bachmann on warranty. But first I am going to call their service department, just to make sure they have 2-10-2s to send back. Otherwise I will ask them to send the driver set - which is showing in their parts department as available.

Kind regards to all,
Bill

[Rich_S]

Hi Max:
Have to agree with your conclusion. After putting the pin back in the axle started slipping inside the driver again. Weird that both engines have the exact same problem. They are going back to Bachmann on warranty. But first I am going to call their service department, just to make sure they have 2-10-2s to send back. Otherwise I will ask them to send the driver set - which is showing in their parts department as available.

Kind regards to all,
Bill

Bill, If you cannot get a reasonable answer from someone in the service department, please contact Richard Whalen at 1-800-356-3910  ext.232

Note, I do not work for Bachmann, just a customer. After having issues with both of my K4 Pacific's and getting what I considered the run around, I sent a few emails to Bachmann mentioning my displeasure with the company. Long story short, my messages found their way to Richard Whalen's email account. Richard reached out to me, asking how Bachmann can make things right. After talking with Richard, I came away with the impression that Bachmann truly wants happy customers. Maybe he was just blowing smoke up my pant leg, but I did not get that impression.  At the minimum, if they do not have your locomotive in stock, Richard can tell you when they will be available or like you mentioned, if they still have the replacement drivers in stock.   Good Luck and keep us posted.



 

 

[mmagliaro]

If they will send you just the driver set, I would vote for that option *even* if they have replacement engines in stock.
If the one you have was running good other than this problem, you might find that the one you get as a replacement doesn't have a broken driver, but doesn't run as well as the one you had.  They are so hit-and-miss with their QA that I would not be in a hurry to give up one that runs good if you can get the parts, and if you aren't afraid to pull the gear plate off, put in the driver and install the pins (and it sounds from your earlier messages that this doesn't scare you!)

[Specter3]

I hit their website and it shows 1 driver set left in stock. Simple enough to replace.

[Bill H]

Specter:
One driver set won't fix two locos. I emailed Bachmann and was told that they first try to repair locos before substituting others. I asked if they could just send me the drivers, Bachmann responded they don't send parts. They never answered if they have replacement 2-10-2s. I received two separate emails that their repair department would call me between 2-4. Nobody ever called - twice. I think I am going to send them back.

Kind regards,
Bill

[Bill H]

Group:
I decided to continue to try to repair these two engines, as Bachmann had no replacements to send, and I really need 2-10-2s. Was finally able to buy two sets of drivers, used, courtesy of Bachmann parts. Unfortunately the new drivers have not solved the problem on either loco. Both engines, under power, do not move and the middle (3rd) driver axle spins inside the driver.

So, I assumed it was a bind in the linkage or in the gears driving the 2nd and 4th drivers, even though for the life of me I cannot find it. So I decided to tear down the engine and keep removing things until something works. I had thought that if I removed the tender, I would be able to apply DC to each side of the frame and be able to observe something. NO joy. Any ideas?

Kind regards,
Bill
 

[Kisatchie]

Hmm... you can have N
scale steam...