I got out a B'mann Consolidated from the "rarely run" box for a train show this weekend to test on the layout. After resetting the decoder and setting the engine number on the programming track (all good), it didn't go but a fraction of an inch on the running track. Cutting to the chase, three of the four siderod pins were missing, nowhere to be found. Front and rear drivers are not geared and the second driver is not pinned to the rod, so obviously this was not going to work, nohow. Checking the fourth pin revealed it was loose, too, and would have met the same fate had I not intervened.
Fortunately Bachmann offers spare pins for 30ยข, so no apparent issue with replacements.
Is this characteristic of this model? Or other B'mann small steam? It seemed odd that there was little to no friction fit on the fourth pin, it was just loose, and still loose after pressing back in. I've seen this on other locos when over-lubed, but this one showed no signs of problems, and IIRC may have had 30-45 minutes total run time. I'm tempted to use Loctite when replacing the pins, deeming it necessary to at least do something. Are there other solutions?
