I've said it before, and I'll say it again - you, sir, are a genius, No broken loco is safe when in your hands - they ALL seem to be fixed perfectly. My hat's off to you, sir!!!
I'm nearly 50 y/o but as a young'n...8-10 y/o I was big into model railroading. I had 2 4X8 plywood layouts in what my family named the train room. The layouts are long gone but I still have all the trains, track, buildings, etc. Your channel, which I found a few weeks ago, is inspiring me to drag out the 5 or 6 train sets I have, plus the tons of extras I spent my childhood allowance on, and build a new layout. I've really enjoyed your channel and it has taken me back to a simpler time that would now be a nice relaxing hobby that is much needed right now. Keep it up with that awesome content! Howdy from Kentucky, USA!
I have to thank you for fixing it, that was my second ever HO scale locomotive and I ran it to hell and back when I was a kid. Brings back good memories, thanks Harrison.
I remember way back in the 80's, those were sold en-mass at the Pocono summit, Pa. train station ,when Steamtown was running steam to that location from Scranton. They always sold out,lol.
I'm 58 years old. I started with a Bachmann kit back in 1974. I'm still in the hobby but in a more serious way I should say. I only run DCC and sound engines. But the simple rule will always remain the same : Clean wheels and tracks is ALWAYS the first step to do things when it comes to electrical pick up. It's most of the time the problem. Keep on your good work.
Just a line to say Thank you ,by watching your videos i have felt confident enough to have a crack at loco servicing. Your presentation is great ,even an old timer like me understands what is required
I have avoided Bachman locomotives in my buying of used locos, though I do have two GP30 Spectrum locos and one runs slow to start but will warm up and run well, the other is on its way via USPS so unclear how it will work. Thanks for the video!!
I love how this guy fixes, and runs trains on his layout and has a huge variety of trains. I really with for a city/suburban Australian rail network, I wish I was him.
Many thanks for your extremely interesting videos. There are some extremely innovative and useful ideas in improving locos working. You do mention quite often your use of Fibre Glass pencils. Can I suggest that these can pose a health hazard - fibre glass is not nice stuff - Another channel I watch - 00 Bill - used to use Fibre Glass pencils but now uses a metal cleaner - he uses TCut (Autosol is also good) - which he then cleans off with an electrical contact spray. One does not need much - just put a little onto a cotton bud. I use this technique on my railway especially for wheels and track. I also use a really excellent tool - a Dremel - its wire brush is excellent for wheels....the cutting disks I use all the time for cutting track and its little drills are excellent for accurate drilling of small holes .
I have only one of these bachmann type motors which runs in a f unit. One thing I did as I noticed it had split axles in the front I used model cement and let it try outside the loco in 2 coats and make a good fix. However I know if it ever dies I'll change out the chassis is a modern type probably from something that can fit it. Looks to me the date code on the board says 6-03-02 like it would be from 2002 I'm thinking because lifelike did same thing with date codes. Also when you mentioned current draw dropped the light bulb wasn't lit anymore so I'm thinking it blew out when it dropped current draw but I see at end it is working again
The prototype Erie Lackawanna never had the EMD GP-50 or even a GP40 or a dash two GP40. They did have the EMD SD45-2 with the extra large extended fuel tank for the New Jersey - Chicago runs. They looked great in maroon, gray and yellow and in the bicentennial red white and blue paint scheme. They even posed them atop Starucca viaduct in Lanesboro Pennsylvania so rail photographers could document them.
Well done restoring the Erie Hackawana! Since watching your videos, I've been performing regular maintenance on the commutator and gears and its been working like a charm on my Athearn locos!
Hi mate. I'm a big fan of your channel. I've opened and repaired, greased and maintained a few bachmann gp35 and gp40 pancake motors in my time. Also bachmann 060 steam train cracked gear replacements. Fun stuff.
Great Video! As soon as I seen this I clicked on it I have a grandfather that worked on the Erie Lackawanna from its beginning until it's end in the Buffalo New York area. Fun Fact the North Shore RR in Pennsylvania still has locomotives with this exact color scheme, not sure if they are old units that were purchased from EL, but cool to see rolling around. Best Wishes!
New subscriber 52 years old with all my childhood HO and N trains getting unboxed and used for the first time in 25 years or so. My stuff is all Atlas, AHM, Athearn, Bachmann and IHC with a couple Katos, Riverossis and Tycos. Most of my old track is garbage so I’m going to give EZ track a shot with extra feeds and solder.
Since the wheel sets on the rear truck have gears (and clearly don’t need them), swap one with the wheel set on the front (powered) truck that had the bad gear. Instant fix! BTW: this unit may be more “Hackawanna” than you originally thought; looks like the fuel tank + weight was from Bachmann, while the frame and motor was probably from Tyco/Mantua, and the body shell looks newer than either one, maybe an Athearn “blue box” kit?
I actually have one of those models painted in Union Pacific colors. I actually fitted it with DCC and sound by replacing the solid conductor bar and hardwiring in a soundtraxx ECO-PNP decoder and an oval speaker from a Digitrax decoder.
@@mercuryoak2 uh im assuming that could be the serial number for that circuit board right there instead of a date code I could be mistaken on it but I know around 2002 bachmann was like making the all wheel drive locomotives here instead of the pancake motor design.
The Erie and Deleware,Lackawanna &Hudson didn't merge until 1960 to create Erie Lackawanna. But most guys that worked for the EL Previously worked for the Erie or DL&H. My grandfather started out at Buffalo Creek, then went to the Erie railroad and was with them until it turned into Erie Lackawanna and he retired right before Conrail took over in early 71. Erie Lackawanna was really only in business for about 10 years before they failed and the great consolidation happened.
Congratulations ! Great job. Amazing what water and a paint brush can do. Unfortunatly, this is a foobie as EL had disappeared into Conrail before EMD began producing the GP15. "The EMD GP15-1 is a 4-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between June 1976 and March 1982. Intended to provide an alternative to the rebuilding programs that many railroads were applying to their early road switchers, it is generally employed as a yard switcher or light road switcher. This locomotive is powered by a 12-cylinder EMD 645E engine, which generates 1,500 hp (1,119 kW). The GP15-1 uses a 50-foot-9-inch (15.47 m) frame, has a wheelbase of 29 ft 9 in (9.07 m) and has a length over couplers of 54 ft 11 in (16.74 m). A total of 310 units were built for American railroads. A number of GP15-1s remain in service today for yard work and light road duty. The radiator section is similar to those found on the EMD SD40T-2 and EMD SD45T-2 "tunnel motors," leading some observers to incorrectly identify the units as such or as GP15Ts, and giving them the nickname "baby tunnel motors" "]
This is one of the reasons I'd rather get an old Mehano, Lima, frateschi, Piko or roco loco over a bachmann, never had a fleischmann before but I might get one.
The cheaper Bachmanns maybe, but the original 8-wheel drive chassis for the GP40, U36B and F9A was pretty exceptional in its day (even comparing to Athearn!) with a 5-pole can motor, all metal frame and some really durable gearing (axle gears were metal). Fleischmann's models are built like tanks!
Nice work Harrison! These old Bachmann locomotives certainly had their quirks, although the all wheel drive versions weren't to bad, but certainly no match for the Athearn, Atlas and Katos of their day!
Great job Harrison. I thought it was beyond repair when it went up in smoke on your live stream. Also maybe you can find a replacement for that cracked gear in your parts bin.
@@SMTMainline Ok so unfortunately half the screws are stripped and another is caked in dirt. I guess this is what I get for just impulse buying at train shows.
I noticed an extra spur gear from the donor motor. It may be a good idea to replace the cracked gear with it as long as it would fit. Another idea I had to experiment with is using MEK solvent to see if the solvent will bond the cracked nylon gears on the old Bachmanns. This would chemically fuse (melt) the crack, and it would a great alternative if it works. It's just a theory if it works. Also, I would use caution due to the VOC fumes if you want to try the experiment.
Do you hire someone to read all of these comments? No? Fine, I’ll do it. $20 an hour. 10. 5. I’ll do it for free. I’ll pay you. Another great fix. You’re a wizard Harry.
Ah yes, the pungent smell of burning electronics and the curl of white smoke. More often than not a sign of catastrophic failure. Luckily the force was with you, young trainmaster., I think the "help" from the cat made the difference!
Good job! That is kind of what I expected on the engine. Those pancake Bachmann motors are one of my least favorite. I think I have 2 or 3 of them where the housing is melted. I remember seeing that on the live stream.
The best way I have found to repair Bachmann gears is to clean them, super glue the cracks, ream the hole out until they're a slip fit on the shaft and then I dot of super glue on the shaft then slide the gear on. The superglue will hold the gear to the shaft. Half the problem with these gears is that they're press fit onto the shafts and the pressure splits them after a while. I have locos that have been running for years with no clicks for years.
Hey Smt you may know me as TechboyCJP or Train time with Chris if you remember on one of your recent streams I told you there was a free layout but sadly it was taken. The good news is that now I am building my own layout and starting up my train channel! I have bought a few lots to get some more track and some bridges with lots of trains. I have 5 locomotives on the way with 25 cars of rolling stock. Edit: it’s also always nice to see Nerf cat!
I discovered that once Bachmann went to the Bachmann Plus line of trains, the flywheels and dual drive system was a definite improvement. However, they suffer from the same split gears issues that later Athearn and Proto 2000 locomotives have. I don't know if Bachmann has replacement gears for them, or if northwest short line offers a better replacement.
What is that cleaning tool you used at 15:41 in the video? I've been wanting to get one of those for a while but I have no clue what its called or where to get it.
Bachmann, enough said. Don’t get me wrong, they are good to get started with the basics of the hobby for someone starting out and not experienced, anything more than that, no.
Hi Harrison, omg such a cute cat, she seems to be a little bit older but of good character! (Chewing trees is not a bad character trait - that's just what cats do). I ♥cats.
That loco has the same motor(similar) or pancake motor as you said in a couple of my 0-4-0 switchers that I have One switcher body that I have is completely locked up. As a kid I was very hard on it when I used it. It was a very fast switcher and I would run it until it fly's off the tracks and I melted the body too by some foolishness of me with it.
Good thing you have a locomotive graveyard, Harrison. Although the other motor may be fine now that you cleaned the pickups on the other truck. She's a runner. Still need to replace that cracked gear. Thanks for sharing. 👍🐾👍
Hi. I really enjoy your videos. I hope to see more in the future. I usually just take the shell from old Bachmann and Life like locomotives and attach them to a powered Athearn frame.
@@RedSkeletonGames yes. At times the old clamshell motors are so easy to burn out or just not run right. It's better to find something more dependable to attach the shell to.
To add to this they where called GP50 . In real life saw them pulling a freight train at 55mph to maybe 65mph.It was 3 of them pulling a mixed freight.All have sense have there noses lowered.
The armature looks like the ones in my Aurora “Thunder Jet” slot cars from the ‘60s. The magnets also look very suspiciously “familiar” as well. I wonder if these are the same? It might be fun to try one of the reproductions from Auto World. I really don’t understand why manufacturers like Bachmann and Tyco didn’t put more into their drive trains.
Excellent video. Very interesting to see the Bachmann pancake motors are similar to the ones in Life Like diesels. I have one of the later run Bachmann GP50s in NS that has DCC on board. Same shell tooling as yours. Super detailed it but looking to replace the factory decoder with something better.
On the subject of the actual Bachmann loco, I have always wondered why so many of Bachmann’s HO locomotives from the 80s had one power truck while the other one was a dummy. Curiously, their N locomotives had all wheels powered. Maybe it was just the ones that I bought.
Looking good. Glad you cleaned it up too. You made it look like a new engine. I was watching when you were working on the pick up truck and saw that it has gears but no drive. Are those the same size as the split gear, and would it be worth the hassle to pull them and switch them over? It would be nice to watch a video on gear pulling and resetting. I like how you trouble shoot.
When you first started looking for parts, I would have bet you would try a Model Power motor for parts. Even though they’re similar, I see far fewer of the Model Power locos going bad.
Those was my first train my mom got it for me for Xmas and I still have it and I have spent about $400 over the years buying donor trains for parts! She is the queen of my layout and some would say it's just a cheap junk engine! But not to me! So it makes me smile to see I'm not the only one that has to piece one together to get it to run! Oh yeah braces rubber bands work grate on the wheels!
I think those old pancake motors are way more prone to gear failure because the motor is so close to them, it heats them up, deforms them, and makes them wear faster.
Bachmann had gear failures for years. The problem was with quality control. The assemblers had bins of these of these nylon gears and axle shafts. On went the gear whether it fit properly or not, sometimes there would be a locomotive that the gears were loose. I have an older N scale 2-8-0 ( pre Spectrum) that the axle gears split and all the drivers fell off.
Clean the wheel treads, at the very least on the locomotives. I didn't see you do that in a few videos I watched then you had trouble running the engines you were working on. Wheel cleaning should be a monthly practice. Great videos btw. I watch this channel along with Darth Santa Fe and Classic Model Trains among many more daily.
I sometimes clean the wheels off camera since it doesn't tend to be terribly exciting. I did skip it in some of my earlier videos from years ago when I didn't know better.
Nice job there. Did you replace the springs in the unit? If so, how was the performance? You also have a really nice layout. I sure wish I got my up and running. Some day.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again - you, sir, are a genius, No broken loco is safe when in your hands - they ALL seem to be fixed perfectly. My hat's off to you, sir!!!
Unbelievable
I'm nearly 50 y/o but as a young'n...8-10 y/o I was big into model railroading. I had 2 4X8 plywood layouts in what my family named the train room. The layouts are long gone but I still have all the trains, track, buildings, etc. Your channel, which I found a few weeks ago, is inspiring me to drag out the 5 or 6 train sets I have, plus the tons of extras I spent my childhood allowance on, and build a new layout. I've really enjoyed your channel and it has taken me back to a simpler time that would now be a nice relaxing hobby that is much needed right now. Keep it up with that awesome content! Howdy from Kentucky, USA!
Great comment Howie have fun!
I love watching you work on these trains and I am amazed at your knowledge of how these things work! I enjoyed seeing the spare parts drawers!
I have to thank you for fixing it, that was my second
ever HO scale locomotive and I ran it to hell and back when I was a kid.
Brings back good memories, thanks Harrison.
"All you need to get a Bachmann going again is Life-Like parts."
I burst out laughing when you said that.
That certainly does make sense since Kader, forgive me for eviscerating the name, did have an influence over the two companies.
I remember way back in the 80's, those were sold en-mass at the Pocono summit, Pa. train station ,when Steamtown was running steam to that location from Scranton. They always sold out,lol.
I'm 58 years old. I started with a Bachmann kit back in 1974. I'm still in the hobby but in a more serious way I should say. I only run DCC and sound engines. But the simple rule will always remain the same : Clean wheels and tracks is ALWAYS the first step to do things when it comes to electrical pick up. It's most of the time the problem. Keep on your good work.
I fought your channel almost 1 year ago, but I saw a train video today in my feed and remember your channel. so glad to see you again.
Yes! I did enjoy watching you bring the Erie Lackawanna back to life!!
Just a line to say Thank you ,by watching your videos i have felt confident enough to have a crack at loco servicing. Your presentation is great ,even an old timer like me understands what is required
Always nice to have "help" (fur balls included). Nice work Harrison
You done it again. You brought another one back to life. Congrats!!!
I have avoided Bachman locomotives in my buying of used locos, though I do have two GP30 Spectrum locos and one runs slow to start but will warm up and run well, the other is on its way via USPS so unclear how it will work. Thanks for the video!!
I love how this guy fixes, and runs trains on his layout and has a huge variety of trains. I really with for a city/suburban Australian rail network, I wish I was him.
Many thanks for your extremely interesting videos. There are some extremely innovative and useful ideas in improving locos working. You do mention quite often your use of Fibre Glass pencils. Can I suggest that these can pose a health hazard - fibre glass is not nice stuff - Another channel I watch - 00 Bill - used to use Fibre Glass pencils but now uses a metal cleaner - he uses TCut (Autosol is also good) - which he then cleans off with an electrical contact spray. One does not need much - just put a little onto a cotton bud. I use this technique on my railway especially for wheels and track. I also use a really excellent tool - a Dremel - its wire brush is excellent for wheels....the cutting disks I use all the time for cutting track and its little drills are excellent for accurate drilling of small holes .
Just when I think no way this loco will run. Good job. You've got the Midas touch. From Texas
I have only one of these bachmann type motors which runs in a f unit. One thing I did as I noticed it had split axles in the front I used model cement and let it try outside the loco in 2 coats and make a good fix. However I know if it ever dies I'll change out the chassis is a modern type probably from something that can fit it.
Looks to me the date code on the board says 6-03-02 like it would be from 2002 I'm thinking because lifelike did same thing with date codes. Also when you mentioned current draw dropped the light bulb wasn't lit anymore so I'm thinking it blew out when it dropped current draw but I see at end it is working again
The prototype Erie Lackawanna never had the EMD GP-50 or even a GP40 or a dash two GP40. They did have the EMD SD45-2 with the extra large extended fuel tank for the New Jersey - Chicago runs. They looked great in maroon, gray and yellow and in the bicentennial red white and blue paint scheme. They even posed them atop Starucca viaduct in Lanesboro Pennsylvania so rail photographers could document them.
only Southern/NS had Hi-Hood GP50s - Almost were either rebuilt to GP38-3s, GP33ECOs or road slugs
EL was a kick ass railroad in the day!
I too do Southern railway. They ran high hood and all ran long nose was the front.
The first GP50s were built in 1980 - four years after the EL ceased to be.
Well folks today we're working on a 1990s bachmann locomotive. I just love your intros
So glad your Bachmann loco turned out for you…clean tracks ahead!
Well done restoring the Erie Hackawana! Since watching your videos, I've been performing regular maintenance on the commutator and gears and its been working like a charm on my Athearn locos!
Engine looks really happy to be alive again!
Hi mate. I'm a big fan of your channel. I've opened and repaired, greased and maintained a few bachmann gp35 and gp40 pancake motors in my time. Also bachmann 060 steam train cracked gear replacements. Fun stuff.
Renumber/Repaint to Southern/NS number 7058 - the actual loco is now GP33ECO 4720(to be renumbered 6720 to make room for Dash-9 to C44C6AC rebuilds)
Great Video! As soon as I seen this I clicked on it I have a grandfather that worked on the Erie Lackawanna from its beginning until it's end in the Buffalo New York area. Fun Fact the North Shore RR in Pennsylvania still has locomotives with this exact color scheme, not sure if they are old units that were purchased from EL, but cool to see rolling around. Best Wishes!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Hi Harrison 🙂
You definitely saved that Geep 👍🏻
Looks good and runs well regarded to the hulk you started on.
Best wishes ☺️
New subscriber 52 years old with all my childhood HO and N trains getting unboxed and used for the first time in 25 years or so. My stuff is all Atlas, AHM, Athearn, Bachmann and IHC with a couple Katos, Riverossis and Tycos. Most of my old track is garbage so I’m going to give EZ track a shot with extra feeds and solder.
Since the wheel sets on the rear truck have gears (and clearly don’t need them), swap one with the wheel set on the front (powered) truck that had the bad gear. Instant fix! BTW: this unit may be more “Hackawanna” than you originally thought; looks like the fuel tank + weight was from Bachmann, while the frame and motor was probably from Tyco/Mantua, and the body shell looks newer than either one, maybe an Athearn “blue box” kit?
No, she's all Bachmann made I should know it used to be mine.
Good deal. Doesn't Bachmann have a lifetime warranty on their locomotives. Very good job.
I love watching you fix things.
I actually have one of those models painted in Union Pacific colors. I actually fitted it with DCC and sound by replacing the solid conductor bar and hardwiring in a soundtraxx ECO-PNP decoder and an oval speaker from a Digitrax decoder.
Well done Harrison! This is a rare find! Glad that EL GP50 is running again!
It definitely is running here again like a champ here! Im thinking this erie lackawanna emd gp50 mightve came out in 1985 but i could be wrong here!
@@MattKonsol there is a date code on the board it says 6-03-02 I would think it's from 2002 being that's how they did the date code.
@@mercuryoak2 uh im assuming that could be the serial number for that circuit board right there instead of a date code I could be mistaken on it but I know around 2002 bachmann was like making the all wheel drive locomotives here instead of the pancake motor design.
Just saw this video awesome my Grandfather used to work for the Erie & Lackawanna back in the 40’s through the early 70’s
@williamduncan1435 where about..? My grandfather was a conductor for Erie Lackawanna railroad at the same time period 1940's-1970
The Erie and Deleware,Lackawanna &Hudson didn't merge until 1960 to create Erie Lackawanna. But most guys that worked for the EL Previously worked for the Erie or DL&H. My grandfather started out at Buffalo Creek, then went to the Erie railroad and was with them until it turned into Erie Lackawanna and he retired right before Conrail took over in early 71. Erie Lackawanna was really only in business for about 10 years before they failed and the great consolidation happened.
Congratulations ! Great job. Amazing what water and a paint brush can do. Unfortunatly, this is a foobie as EL had disappeared into Conrail before EMD began producing the GP15. "The EMD GP15-1 is a 4-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between June 1976 and March 1982. Intended to provide an alternative to the rebuilding programs that many railroads were applying to their early road switchers, it is generally employed as a yard switcher or light road switcher. This locomotive is powered by a 12-cylinder EMD 645E engine, which generates 1,500 hp (1,119 kW). The GP15-1 uses a 50-foot-9-inch (15.47 m) frame, has a wheelbase of 29 ft 9 in (9.07 m) and has a length over couplers of 54 ft 11 in (16.74 m). A total of 310 units were built for American railroads. A number of GP15-1s remain in service today for yard work and light road duty. The radiator section is similar to those found on the EMD SD40T-2 and EMD SD45T-2 "tunnel motors," leading some observers to incorrectly identify the units as such or as GP15Ts, and giving them the nickname "baby tunnel motors" "]
Nice restoration. Interesting that lifelike motor fit the Bachmann locomotive so good. 👍
Yup same with the lionel ho locomotives from around 1976-77 here im thinking?
Amazing how many vids this fellow made, all on the same theme: clean and lubricate.
This is one of the reasons I'd rather get an old Mehano, Lima, frateschi, Piko or roco loco over a bachmann, never had a fleischmann before but I might get one.
The cheaper Bachmanns maybe, but the original 8-wheel drive chassis for the GP40, U36B and F9A was pretty exceptional in its day (even comparing to Athearn!) with a 5-pole can motor, all metal frame and some really durable gearing (axle gears were metal).
Fleischmann's models are built like tanks!
Just a tip with fleischmann trains, depending on your tracks maker sometimes the flanges are too big and will hit the ties in the middle.
Nice work Harrison! These old Bachmann locomotives certainly had their quirks, although the all wheel drive versions weren't to bad, but certainly no match for the Athearn, Atlas and Katos of their day!
I bet they were alittle different here.
Their all wheel drive locomotives from the 70s were decent but they had issues too. Zink pest and motor burn out are super common on those.
BTW, I think your videography has improved - more engaging. Well done. Love the parts stash.
Thanks, i've been trying new things out with it so I appreciate that.
Great as always! Love the Nerf cat cameo too :)
I just bought that exact loco at the antique store, thanks for letting me know
Thats a pretty paint scheme. I always have liked that.
Great video...very clear and precise... thanks for sharing
Thanks to this video I was able to fix a non running bachman gp30 locomotive I picked up cheap thanks!
Fantastic, I'm glad this was helpful.
SMT, You need a Hobby Town drive to put under that EL shell. Great video btw.
Great job Harrison. I thought it was beyond repair when it went up in smoke on your live stream. Also maybe you can find a replacement for that cracked gear in your parts bin.
I'm so glad I found a video on fixing a loco with a pancake drive because I have 2 locos with pancake drives that do not run or pick up power
Hopefully this helps. They are usually pretty easy to revive.
@@SMTMainline Ok so unfortunately half the screws are stripped and another is caked in dirt. I guess this is what I get for just impulse buying at train shows.
I noticed an extra spur gear from the donor motor. It may be a good idea to replace the cracked gear with it as long as it would fit. Another idea I had to experiment with is using MEK solvent to see if the solvent will bond the cracked nylon gears on the old Bachmanns. This would chemically fuse (melt) the crack, and it would a great alternative if it works. It's just a theory if it works. Also, I would use caution due to the VOC fumes if you want to try the experiment.
Do you hire someone to read all of these comments? No? Fine, I’ll do it. $20 an hour. 10. 5. I’ll do it for free. I’ll pay you.
Another great fix. You’re a wizard Harry.
Haha, thanks.
Ah yes, the pungent smell of burning electronics and the curl of white smoke. More often than not a sign of catastrophic failure. Luckily the force was with you, young trainmaster., I think the "help" from the cat made the difference!
Good job! That is kind of what I expected on the engine. Those pancake Bachmann motors are one of my least favorite. I think I have 2 or 3 of them where the housing is melted. I remember seeing that on the live stream.
The best way I have found to repair Bachmann gears is to clean them, super glue the cracks, ream the hole out until they're a slip fit on the shaft and then I dot of super glue on the shaft then slide the gear on. The superglue will hold the gear to the shaft. Half the problem with these gears is that they're press fit onto the shafts and the pressure splits them after a while. I have locos that have been running for years with no clicks for years.
Another great repair job even with the possible cracked gear, it sounds like to me, or it's getting ready to crack.
Mostly everything was crap in the 90's..cars,music and of course modeltrains. Thanks for a good show.
I've seen some pretty reliable 90s cars but not many of them were exactly good looking 😂
Thank you SMT very much for joining and interacting with us! We love your Model Railroad videos!
www.youtube.com/@MoosesWorkshop
Hi SMT I love your vids!
Hey Smt you may know me as TechboyCJP or Train time with Chris if you remember on one of your recent streams I told you there was a free layout but sadly it was taken. The good news is that now I am building my own layout and starting up my train channel! I have bought a few lots to get some more track and some bridges with lots of trains. I have 5 locomotives on the way with 25 cars of rolling stock.
Edit: it’s also always nice to see Nerf cat!
You'll probably like building a layout anyway, it can be a very rewarding process.
I can’t wait to get started!
I was there for the Erie Hackawanna, and that pancake is burnt too charcoal
Nice work 👍 What is that layout behind the mountain layout?
great jobs runs nice👍
Serenity!! Really Smoke Iwanna lives to smoke another day.
Thank you for sharing.👍
I discovered that once Bachmann went to the Bachmann Plus line of trains, the flywheels and dual drive system was a definite improvement. However, they suffer from the same split gears issues that later Athearn and Proto 2000 locomotives have.
I don't know if Bachmann has replacement gears for them, or if northwest short line offers a better replacement.
Those split gears have ruined Bachmann’s reputation in both HO and N scale.
Another great video. Love how u make them work again. I just got a few locomotives yesterday
That motor looks suspiciously like an old Aurora AFX slot car motor.
Great video! Considering the amount of small parts cleaning you do, an ultrasonic cleaner would be nice I think.
I'm on the market for one.
The Lifelike and Bachman pancakes are suspiciously similar
What is that cleaning tool you used at 15:41 in the video? I've been wanting to get one of those for a while but I have no clue what its called or where to get it.
Track brite track cleaner. Or track bright hope this helps if ok to let you know
I remember how much it was smoking on that live stream. Glad to know its up and running again!
it is in very capable hands!
Surprised ya didnt change that cracked gear out as well when ya had it apart, sure looked like ya had the spare parts-! lol Running great-!
what kind of oil do you use to lubricate the Berrings and moving parts?
Bachmann, enough said. Don’t get me wrong, they are good to get started with the basics of the hobby for someone starting out and not experienced, anything more than that, no.
Hi Harrison, omg such a cute cat, she seems to be a little bit older but of good character! (Chewing trees is not a bad character trait - that's just what cats do). I ♥cats.
That's NerfCat - famous on this channel.
Hermosa locomotora
That loco has the same motor(similar) or pancake motor as you said in a couple of my 0-4-0 switchers that I have
One switcher body that I have is completely locked up.
As a kid I was very hard on it when I used it.
It was a very fast switcher and I would run it until it fly's off the tracks and I melted the body too by some foolishness of me with it.
Love the appearance of CatZilla
great job againt
Good thing you have a locomotive graveyard, Harrison. Although the other motor may be fine now that you cleaned the pickups on the other truck. She's a runner. Still need to replace that cracked gear.
Thanks for sharing. 👍🐾👍
I think I will just wait for it to break completely and replace the gear then.
Hi. I really enjoy your videos. I hope to see more in the future. I usually just take the shell from old Bachmann and Life like locomotives and attach them to a powered Athearn frame.
If I don't feel like working on a motor, that's what I do too lol
@@RedSkeletonGames yes. At times the old clamshell motors are so easy to burn out or just not run right. It's better to find something more dependable to attach the shell to.
@@nathanbarger3449 Yes, definitely. And why waste a perfectly good shell?
These are based on the Southern Railway later Norfolk Southern.A train guy from N.C.And I saw these locomotive in action around Charlotte
N.C.
To add to this they where called GP50 .
In real life saw them pulling a freight train
at 55mph to maybe 65mph.It was 3 of them
pulling a mixed freight.All have sense have there noses lowered.
Serenity!
The armature looks like the ones in my Aurora “Thunder Jet” slot cars from the ‘60s. The magnets also look very suspiciously “familiar” as well. I wonder if these are the same? It might be fun to try one of the reproductions from Auto World. I really don’t understand why manufacturers like Bachmann and Tyco didn’t put more into their drive trains.
Life like and Lionel used the same design, I wouldn't be surprised if they stole the designs from slot cars.
Excellent video. Very interesting to see the Bachmann pancake motors are similar to the ones in Life Like diesels. I have one of the later run Bachmann GP50s in NS that has DCC on board. Same shell tooling as yours. Super detailed it but looking to replace the factory decoder with something better.
On the subject of the actual Bachmann loco, I have always wondered why so many of Bachmann’s HO locomotives from the 80s had one power truck while the other one was a dummy. Curiously, their N locomotives had all wheels powered. Maybe it was just the ones that I bought.
That armature looks like the ones in my old AFX slot cars.
Looking good. Glad you cleaned it up too. You made it look like a new engine. I was watching when you were working on the pick up truck and saw that it has gears but no drive. Are those the same size as the split gear, and would it be worth the hassle to pull them and switch them over? It would be nice to watch a video on gear pulling and resetting. I like how you trouble shoot.
When you first started looking for parts, I would have bet you would try a Model Power motor for parts. Even though they’re similar, I see far fewer of the Model Power locos going bad.
Those was my first train my mom got it for me for Xmas and I still have it and I have spent about $400 over the years buying donor trains for parts! She is the queen of my layout and some would say it's just a cheap junk engine! But not to me! So it makes me smile to see I'm not the only one that has to piece one together to get it to run! Oh yeah braces rubber bands work grate on the wheels!
That's some serious dedication for one of these.
@@SMTMainline you always remember your first!
I wonder if they’ll work on my Bachmann 4-4-0s?
I think those old pancake motors are way more prone to gear failure because the motor is so close to them, it heats them up, deforms them, and makes them wear faster.
Bachmann had gear failures for years. The problem was with quality control. The assemblers had bins of these of these nylon gears and axle shafts. On went the gear whether it fit properly or not, sometimes there would be a locomotive that the gears were loose. I have an older N scale 2-8-0 ( pre Spectrum) that the axle gears split and all the drivers fell off.
SMT awesome!!!
It’s the Erie hackawana
SMT"I dont know if it was the armuture or the coils" if it was me i would be like "I dont care whats rong with it but as long as it works IM FINE"
dont it need to be coal between comutator and spring. just wondering havent done any bachmann. i do though work alot with small motors. great vid.
Awesome video 😊
The same problem can be found in all off the bachmann TTTE range, the sole exception is Daisy
The "Inspector" showed up.
9:06 The scrapyard. Broken model trains are real!
Clean the wheel treads, at the very least on the locomotives. I didn't see you do that in a few videos I watched then you had trouble running the engines you were working on. Wheel cleaning should be a monthly practice. Great videos btw.
I watch this channel along with Darth Santa Fe and Classic Model Trains among many more daily.
I sometimes clean the wheels off camera since it doesn't tend to be terribly exciting. I did skip it in some of my earlier videos from years ago when I didn't know better.
Nice job there. Did you replace the springs in the unit? If so, how was the performance? You also have a really nice layout. I sure wish I got my up and running. Some day.
I think I used the life-like springs but I can't remember to be honest.