If nothing else, I hope Bachman might look at this problem as a business opportunity. I'm not keen on having to buy $50 of parts every few years to keep a model running, but I have hundreds of dollars invested already. I'd buy a new drive-line assembly when needed. I hate the prospect of having a $250 model sitting on a shelf. I don't know how many Shays and Climaxes they have sold, likely thousands. Every one of them will need new drive-line components at some time. Mine for one, and I'll put more money in Bachman's pocket to be able to count on using the model. Just don't sell me a $250 firecracker, that once you light the fuse, it lasts as long as it lasts. I won't buy another.

The design is genious. The materials in the tiniest key components were just not up to the demand. Bachman needs to get with a manufacture, there are thousands in this country, have them manufacture an improved mechanism, and market it. Just changing the dive shafts uiversal joint yokes to brass would cure a lot, same with the truck shaft gears on the shay. The plastic components are either subject to degradation over time or can't handle the torsional stresses. You can bet GM, MoPar, and FMC make money selling replacement parts. Bachman can too. If engineered with the proper materials, not the cheapest, there is no reason a well maintained Climax should not last a modeler's lifetime, with some repair now and then.

My Climax came out of the box, went on display, and was run a few minutes every six months to keep it limber, less than an hour since I got it. I've discovered the same problems, driveline slippage due to fractured plastic components. Why is it the $50 diesels are tough as nails, never failing, and the $225 steamers deteriorate just sitting on the shelf? I've emailed customer service in regards to my Climax. I certainly hope parts are available.

The bevel gears have split on the front truck of my shay too. They slip on their shafts. I think this is a materials problem. The plastic shrinks with age and causes the component to split. I've replaced a couple dozen axle gears in early Proto diesels, with Athearn gears, for the same reason. If Bachman doesn't step up, perhaps some other manufacture (NWSL PLEASE) will see the market for replacement parts for these short-lived high-dollar locos. I hate that mine may be destined to display-service while my 39 year old $12.95 AHM 0-4-0 runs everyday, smooth, quie, and reliable. After my recent 2-8-0 acquisition came without worm shaft bearings (see my post New 2-8-0 Woes & Fix), I doubt I'll buy anymore Spectrum steam locos. I have over a dozen Spectrum diesels, and none have ever as much as whimpered. I reckon Bachman is pushing the envelope of price-detail-quality in its steam program, and the Chinese are misrepresenting their quality-control to Bachman.

Hey Bachman!

I wanted to offer congradulations on your new 45 tonner. Mine arrived today and it is a fantastic-looking and smooth, quiet running loco. The box showed it to be Bethlehem Steel #22, but happily it lacked any number. I numbered it #34, a better fit for my roster anyway.

This isn't a criticism, just curiousity. Next to my Spectrum GE 44-tonner, it looks a little puny. Might it be a 30 or 35 ton loco? Perhaps the 44 tonner is oversized, or just bigger in volume but lesser in weight.

Thanks for a great model!

See my post "New 2-8-0 Woes and Fix". To cure one poor running and noise problem with a non-sound DCC 2-8-0, I ended up removing the power wipers from the in-board drivers. The outboard drivers and tender wheels supply plenty of power contact. Mine were badly mis-shapen in manufacture or assemby, beyond repair. Remving the in-board axle contacts also GREATY simplifies reassmebling the bottom end of the engine. If you've tried, you know what i mean!

Understand, this modification likely voids your warranty, but it was less hassle than boxing it up and sending it back. This poor lockey had even more severe problems (missing worm gear shaft bearings allowing the worm gear shaft to wobble), but with some patient, enjoyable engineering, The B&O 2781 is as fine a steam loco as any now.

If you find the driver spur gear to slip on the worm gear, make sure it has bearings of some sort in place. I retrofited mine with K&S brass tubing that fit perfectly, and consider removing the springs from the #4 and #2 axles. The springs have too high a spring rate and deform the thin plastic drive axle bearing plate enough to allow the worm gear to not mesh with the driver axle spur gear. Once "rigid" I had no nore slipping gear problem, it tracks fine over 0 percent to 2 percent to 0 percent grade transitions and handles my tightest curves (18") still like a champ.