Bachmann Steamer driving rod screws

[bbunge]

Good morning,

I have a number of Bachmann steamers.  On one of them, the screw holding the side rod to the last driving wheel worked lose while running and was lost (likely at a show). 

I've found these screws can be swapped - well at least between the EM-1 and the ten wheeler. 

The Bachman doesn't list these screws on their parts website.  After being on hold for an hour, the nice Bach-lady in the service department informed me they don't sell the individual screws and my best option would be to purchase an entire set of running gear... a bit more than I would like to shell out for.

Doesn't any one know of an alternate source for these?  I don't have a good way to tell what the size and thread on them are.

Thanks,

Bob

[NDave]

I swapped the hex head screws from my Ten-wheelers to philiips head wafers (the hex heads were a pain to remove and re-install). I think I used these:

https://www.metricscrews.us/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=13_122_391&zenid=arerfe88rgg16l3ql8vds04pt2

Off hand, I can't recall the length I used. Don't have time to look right now, but I can try and find my receipt or measure later today.

If you specifically want hex heads, PM me... I have the ones I replaced in my parts box.

[mike_lawyer]

Good morning,

I have a number of Bachmann steamers.  On one of them, the screw holding the side rod to the last driving wheel worked lose while running and was lost (likely at a show). 

I've found these screws can be swapped - well at least between the EM-1 and the ten wheeler. 

The Bachman doesn't list these screws on their parts website.  After being on hold for an hour, the nice Bach-lady in the service department informed me they don't sell the individual screws and my best option would be to purchase an entire set of running gear... a bit more than I would like to shell out for.

Doesn't any one know of an alternate source for these?  I don't have a good way to tell what the size and thread on them are.

Thanks,

Bob

Which particular model are you working on?  That would be helpful to try and nail down the screw size.  It is a screw or a crankpin?

[bbunge]

Thanks NDave, just what I was looking for.  Should have more imaginative in my googling.  I like your idea of replacing the hex heads; it is also difficult to tell if they are lose or not.

Thanks for the offer to measure, I have several that I can check and measure.

Cheers,

Bob

I swapped the hex head screws from my Ten-wheelers to philiips head wafers (the hex heads were a pain to remove and re-install). I think I used these:

https://www.metricscrews.us/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=13_122_391&zenid=arerfe88rgg16l3ql8vds04pt2

Off hand, I can't recall the length I used. Don't have time to look right now, but I can try and find my receipt or measure later today.

If you specifically want hex heads, PM me... I have the ones I replaced in my parts box.

[mmagliaro]

If you're sure they are M1 (those wafer screws in the other link are M1) and you want a hex head, you can use these:

https://model-motorcars.myshopify.com/collections/small-parts-hardware/products/bolts-hex-head-brass-nickel-plated-1-0-x-3-mm-bt103s
20 for 5 bucks, and they have them in stainless steel or brass.  They are 3mm length, whereas the longest wafer screws were 2.5mm.

I don't know what length you need, but can always trim them down with a Dremel cut-off disk.  If the thicker head bothers you (it bothers me), they can be filed thinner just by holding the bolt by the shank in some needlenose pliers and filing down the head a little.  Even the stainless ones can be filed with a diamond jewelers file.

That same store also has tools that include some wrenches for tiny bolts, but I am not sure which one actually fits the "1mm" bolt.  I have sent them some questions about the actual thread size of that "1mm" bolt, and their wrenches, and I'll let you know what they say.

[peteski]

It is a screw or a crankpin?

Yes.  Bachman uses small screws as crankpins. They have sheet-metal-screw type threads.  At least that is true on the older models I own.

[NDave]

Tbe Bachmann Ten-wheeker does use M1 screws. Found my receipt, I bought three sizes, thinking that the screw that pins the main rods + side rods on the middle driver set needed to be a bit longer than the rear driver screw that just pins the side rod, and also hedging my bet on which lengths would work best.

Products
------------------------------------------------------
4 x M1x2.5 Nickel Wafer Head Machine Screw #21482 (21482)  = $5.00
4 x M1x2 Nickel Wafer Head Machine Screw #21481 (21481)  = $5.00
4 x M1x1.5 Nickel Wafer Head Screw #21480 (21480)  = $6.00
------------------------------------------------------

I didn't measure, but it looks like I have the 1.5mm screws still in the bag, so I must have used the 2mm for the rear and 2.5mm for the middle driver pairs in my ten wheellers.

After I installed them, I gave them a light touch of graphite paint... they look pretty good:

[mike_lawyer]

Good to know that Bachmann steamers use M screws as crank pins.  That is very helpful to know for replacement parts.  Incidentally, I had to order some spare crank pins for Kato Mikado kitbashes, and found some in Japan.  The Japanese 2-8-2 uses the same crank pins as the Mikado, so you can order additional ones from dealers in Japan.

[Lemosteam]

Good to know that Bachmann steamers use M screws as crank pins.  That is very helpful to know for replacement parts.  Incidentally, I had to order some spare crank pins for Kato Mikado kitbashes, and found some in Japan.  The Japanese 2-8-2 uses the same crank pins as the Mikado, so you can order additional ones from dealers in Japan.

Links?  Part numbers?

[porkypine52]

When retightening or replacing crank-pin or other small screws, I like to use just a bit of clear Silicone Caulk on the threads.  It acts as a thread locker.  There are commercial brands, IE--LOCTITE, but I find that they worked too well, if a screw needs to be removed/replaced.  The silicone seems to do the job.  Just a SMALL bit on the threads ONLY, not the bearing/moving surfaces. 

[mike_lawyer]

Links?  Part numbers?

I will look at the part number tonight when I get home and post it.  You can buy packs of 20 crankpins for just a couple of bucks.

[bbunge]

Thanks to NDave, it's fixed. 

For the record, the M1 x 2mm did the trick (the pin to attach the main rod to the last driver on a Bachmann 10 wheeler.

M1x2 Nickel Wafer Head Machine Screw #21481

Since I had robbed this screw for the similar position on an EM-1, the same screw works there as well.



Bob

[brill27mcb]

Nice interurban in the back, Bob! Tell us about it...

Rich K.

[bbunge]

Nice interurban in the back, Bob! Tell us about it...

Rich K.

A work in progress.  Ohio Public Service #21, Niles Car Company, 1905, a car I rode in my youth when it was operational at the Ohio Railway Museum in Worthington, Ohio where my father was a volunteer, Public Relations person and motorman. 


Photo by Dave Bunge

Mine is a 3D resin body from Interurban Models.  I've made minor changes to his standard Niles car to make it more like OPS21.  It's on a Tomytec TM-21 chassis.  This is my 2nd try at the "people catcher," and I think a 3rd try is warranted.  This style of "catcher" was a requirement of the City of Toledo.  OPS ran between Port Clinton, Ohio (Ceder Park Amusement park) and Toledo.   This version is hacked Gold Star Medal Venetian blinds. 




Bob

[Mike C]

   I'm pretty shure it's still at the museum , but it's undercover now .