GREAT ideas, THANKS!!!

Yes, all couplers are exactly the same.

I have all brand new Bachmann track, turnouts, engines and running stock and I continually have trouble with the loco and especially the cars not following the turnout that is set for a straight thru run. For example, My loco and the first two cars go straight and then the next car decides to go the way of the turn out. Upon inspection the turnout is still  positioned exactly for a straight thru run. Occasionally my diesel loco will try to turn even though the turnout is straight. Can anyone shed some light on how to fix my problem. I have already bent up all the disconnect coupler wires that hang low to the track to make sure they didn't hit anything. Heck, I don't even know what the problem is other than constant derailments. And its inconsistent, sometimes it works great for several runs, and then derails and on various turnouts.


2nd question, my brand-new Bachmann 40' cars are at the proper weight. Would it help, or hinder, to add a bit more weight?

Kadee 148

To solve my uncoupling problem I'm replacing all of my Bachmann couplers with Kadee couplers. As was suggested on this web forum. My problem now is that when I go to tighten down the screw that holds the cover over the couple, it pinches the couple shaft and the coupler can't move side to side, unless I back off the screw. I'm afraid to run that way as the screw may vibrate out. In eyeballing the thickness of each coupler shaft, the Kadee looks to be a bit thicker, thus the reason it pinches when I reassembly it. I thought about filing a bit off of the Kadee shaft, but don't know if that's wise. Any suggestion how to fix this?

I have brand new Bachmann rolling stock and they continually come uncoupled. Everything is brand new and brand new flat track. They come uncoupled but not at the same place. I checked the couplers height and they are all exactly the same height. I read on another message board that one guy simply throws away the Bachmann couplers as junk and replaces them with Kadee. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks, I am using a Kadee height gauge but don't know how to make the passenger car couplers higher.

I bought a brand new Bachmann Diesel and Bachmann passenger cars (HO) and they uncouple from the engine when running. I checked the diesel couple height and it is right on but the height of the passenger cars is far too low. I don't want to lower the couple on the engine because then it will not match my other rolling stock. How can I raise the coupler on the Bachmann passenger cars? I thought about lower the truck, with a washer, but don't know if that's a good idea or not.

My passenger cars:  Bachmann #13504 Durango & Silverton Combine #213 Home Ranch

Please help me understand. The Mikado 2-8-2 has eight drive wheels and so does the 2-8-0 Consolidation you recommended. Why would the 2-8-0 work better than the Mikado on 18" curves? To me, four drive wheels in a straight line don't seem to coincide with an 18" radius curve. I noticed that all the drive wheels have the inside flange so there is no place for the wheels to slip when going around a curve. I think I'm confusing myself.

Thanks for the information.

I have lots of 18" curves in my layout. Can you recommend some good steam locomotive that can handle these short radius?

I'm running two Bachmann and one Walther's locomotives using  an NCE Procab. I know I can disable the sound using #8, but that is only temporary. How can I disable the sound permanently, without it affecting anything else?  My Lionel locomotive O gauge had a simple switch and volume control, so easy. Also, how to control the volume "permanently."

I bought a brand new Bachmann 54303 HO Pennsylvania 2-8-2 Mikado w/Medium Tender w/Sound & DCC #9630 and it derails on the EZ Track curves that have the power connection. This power connector track should realign the wheels but instead the locomotive and tender derail. Diesels work just fine. I have checked all track connections etc. Its too late for a refund, any help would be appreciated.

From my experience the taller Bachmann switches, that come with the crossovers, caused the problem.

SUCCESS!!!

I tried the same procedure of connecting an Atlas 200 snap switch in parallel with my Bachmann turnout switch and this time it worked. First three burned out the motor and switch, but finally success. The difference, the first three times were with the taller Bachmann switches that came with the crossovers, the fourth time was with the regular smaller switch that comes with turnouts. It appears the bigger crossover motors are total junk.

THANKS for all your help.

Great information, THANKS.

As mentioned earlier, when I paralleled an Atlas 200 snap with with my Bachmann EZ Track HO turnout, it burned out the turnout motor and the controlling Bachmann switch, this happened three times. Then I came here for help.

So my question, can I connect two Bachmann turnouts to one Bachmann control switch, without damaging the turnout motor and/or the switch. Power is Bachmann 16v.

I do have a Capacitor Discharge on order as you gentlemen, opps, I mean Engineers, suggested.