A Bachmann USRA 0-6-0 followed me home, can I keep it?

[Slim Rail Mike]

I’d like to pair the engine with a lifelike Vandy tender. This reminds of the loco at Fleishhacker Zoo in San Francisco, when I was a kid.


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The loco is one of the early runs, with the gears along side of the drivers. It has no traction tires.

This engine ran when I received it from the E-bay seller, thou it smelt of ozone, I’ve wiped the commutator with an alcohol swab. It still smells but less so. It will run fairly slow on ¼ dc throttle.

The 0-6-0 will push at least 12 cars, that is all that fits on my test track.

I am looking for suggestions for:
 How to improve the locos performance
 How to fit a DCC decoder in the tender
 How to fit a pair of Bachmann Spectrum tender trucks to the tender.

[mmagliaro]

Absolutely the most important thing:

Get pickup from that tender up into the motor.  I think those LL Vandy tenders did have at least some pickups in them, but it might just be from axle wipers.  If so, then I would do a more major cut and rewire job and put either Bachmann or Kato tender or caboose trucks (whatever you can find that has axle-point all-wheel pickup) and wire those forward to the motor. 
This is not a trivial job, but not having tender pickup will eventually become a major nuisance over turnouts or on less-than-very-clean track.  That's why that one is so important.

Hate to say this, but alternatively, give up on this one and just buy one of the newest generation Bachmann 0-6-0's which have better motors, better aesthetics, some tender pickup (still axle wiper and only one truck, but it's something). 
People swap in other Bachmann tenders that have all-wheel pickup already in them, but since you want the short Vandy tender, that's not an option.

[Slim Rail Mike]

@mmagliaro.....Hate to say this, but alternatively, give up on this one and just buy one of the newest generation Bachmann 0-6-0's which have better motors, better aesthetics, some tender pickup (still axle wiper and only one truck, but it's something)....    That of course is the best option, but I'd like to see what I can do with these parts. The tender will pickup power. A DZ123 looks like it will fit in the Vandy tender.

I have already hit a snag. I've disassembled the loco and tender. I want to replace the rear coupler on the tender with a MT coupler. In the lifelike coupler box there is, what lools like, a pin with a washer on it. My question is the washer part of the casting or is it removable? If it not removable I'll just cut it off, if it is what technique to get it off?



Sorry found a MT 1015 that seems to fit the space where rapido was.

[johnb]

I am actually thinking about picking up a pair of Bachmann 0-6-0's and using a pair of OLD Western Railcraft tenders for them....they are solid resin

[NDave]

I have fitted Bachmann tender trucks (with all wheel power pickup) and installed DCC-sound/speaker into a couple of Model Power Vanderbilt tenders... I don't know how the Life-like tender differs from the MP (they look pretty similar), but perhaps this will give you some ideas: https://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?46735-Bashing-UP-618-from-A-Bachman-2-8-0-Phase-1-Vandy-tender-DCC-install

[Cajonpassfan]

I'd love to see how you did that too, have the same Vandy on my list of conversion projects. Unfortunately, the link only allow me to see your notes, not the photos (members only) and I'm not sure I want to join yet another internet group
Otto K.

[NDave]

Most of the pics can be viewed here: https://pbase.com/gard/2019up618 (you should not need any log in to see them). The titles should give you an idea of what each image represents.

[wm3798]

I received the exact same engine a few weeks ago, DOA with a bad motor.  It was their dreadful plastic frame 3 poler.
I replaced it the the open frame 5 pole motor from an early run Spectrum 2-8-0.  I had to trim the frame a tiny bit, but otherwise it was a direct fit.  I changed the worm gear to use the OEM one, then swapped the USRA tender with a modern short one (same appearance) with all wheel pick up.
It now creeps at slow speed, pulls a decent 10 car train, and cruises through insulfrog turnouts without missing a beat.
If you can put your hands on a replacement motor, I think it ends up better than the new one.

[Slim Rail Mike]

@NDave Thax for the link. I have a pair of spectrum tender trucks with the larger whole for the king pin. They had me puzzling how to attach them. So now there will be plenty of electrical pick up.

@wm3798   I didn't find a motor that fits in my stock-pile. Improving or replacing the motor is on my list.

What about adding some neodymium magnets there is room in the cab?

BTW, I miss spoke the tender is by Model Power not Lifelike. (It says so on the bottom of the case. )
 

[Cajonpassfan]

Most of the pics can be viewed here: https://pbase.com/gard/2019up618 (you should not need any log in to see them). The titles should give you an idea of what each image represents.

Oh, very good @NDave, thank you. You even managed to squeeze a good size cap in there.
It's now a good looking engine with the small Vandy, nice.
Otto

[wm3798]

For a motor, be on the lookout for a later release white box 2-8-0 or 4-8-4.  With the cracked gears, you can usually pick them up cheap.  I think they're still 3 poles, rather than the 5-pole in the Spectrum, but it's essentially the same frame.
The 4-8-4 motor should work well, but you'll have to trim back the motor shaft after you position the worm gear. 

I may have a residual 2-8-0 motor.  I'll check stock and let you know.  Would be happy to share it.

Lee

[mmagliaro]

That 5-pole Spectrum 2-8-0 motor was a gem.  And it used to be available cheap on Bachmann's website for $10.  Very small, very low RPMS, terrific motor. 

[Slim Rail Mike]

@wm3798  Lee thank you very much for the offer.

 First I'll pull the motor from an old 2-8-0 on the to fix list.  It seems the same size, but with a better looking brushes.  I'll see if it fits and if the loco runs better.

Michael

[wm3798]

Post a photo of the motor you end up using.  I'll be curious as to how it goes.

Lee

[Slim Rail Mike]

The vintage consolidation motor doesn’t quite fit. This older frame has the back bearing mount cast on. I would prefer not to have the motor sticking out of the back of the cab. If the 2-8-0 motor is rotated 90 degrees about the shaft and the plastic around the front bearing trimmed it could squeeze in but the then the shell wouldn’t fit. For now I’m sticking with the stock motor.



I’ve ordered some super magnets off the web to see if they will improve the motor.


In the mean time the new trucks and the decoder can be put in the tender.