New York Central 4-8-4 5016 Issues

[Albritton88]

Hello!

I am just getting back into the hobby. I purchased this model new in box but it is clearly many years old. All the plastic was still on it and the steam liquid was still unopened as well. However, when I started to run it the glue that held the piston rod on came off then it jammed and its been a pain ever since. I ordered glue for it to reinstall it and then place the rod onto the rail and lubricant to soften it up.

For perspective. I only bought this because I had the same model as a child and this model is sentimental to me. Part of the hobby is learning repair and I look forward to this project.

The question. Is this common for this model to be a pain as my old one as a child had the same issues with jamming and just stopping. This is the only model Ive had that has had such problems with the coupling rods...

Thank you!

[trainman203]

I think you're talking about what the Railroads in the past called the crosshead, which drove the main rod, and the crosshead guide, which is apparently the rail you were talking about.  I wish I could see a photo of it, but unfortunately, this otherwise excellent forum is not the easiest in the world to post photographs into, and I wish that our friend the Bach Man would remedy that.

Not exactly sure what the problem is, since I can't see a photo, but it sounds like the crosshead guide popped out of the cylinder block.  If it's that, you ought to be able to cement it right back in. But if it broke off, leaving a piece of it in a mounting hole, that's more difficult and for someone who sounds like they're not very experienced, it may be more trouble that it's worth.

You might have a display model on your hands. You would not be the only one to have such a model, spare parts are few and far between for old models in today's model railroad world.

These earlier Bachmann engines were not as well crafted as their models  today, and periodically people report problems with them.  I started buying Spectrum line Bachmann locomotives in 2007.  I'd have to count, but I probably have 25 of them now and I've never had any kind of real problem with any of them, just periodic maintenance stuff which is to be expected.

[trainman203]

Does this describe for you having issues with?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crosshead