Bachmann On30 Davenport cogwheel replacement?????

[Traunbahn]

Dear Members!

I have some troubles with a few of the axle-cogwheels of some of my On30 Davenports. Three of these axle-cogwheels broke in the past on hardly unused models. It must be a problem of the plastics. So in these 3 models one axle is driven by an undemaged cogwheel and on the second one, I removed the broken one and these axles are only driven by the siderods. A solution, not the best, but better than with a broken cogwheel.

Now I wonder about a change of the missing/broken cogwheels against another ones, maybe a brassmade. Does anyone of you have done something similar and where can I get an exact fitting new cogwheel? I dont have any dimension-dates to look for fitting ones on www.

I tried many ways to get new wheelsets from Bachmann but without any success.

Gradeful for any tip and idea...............

Traunbahn

[CNE Runner]

I have one of those On30 Davenports myself and your comments gave me concern (when will the gearing on my locomotive fail?). I know that Northwest Shortline makes gears for many locomotives. I do not, however, know if they make one for the Davenport. Northwest Shortline's website is:

http://nwsl.com/

This is a very reputable company and may have an answer to your problem. Good luck and please get back to us with your results.

Regards,
Ray

[Traunbahn]

Hello Ray!

Maybe, I have the solution to replace the broken cogwheels. After measuring the demaged cogwheel, I found out that it is a cogwheel of the metric Modul 0.4 with 14 teeth. In the www I found brassmade ones and cogwheels made in syntetic material as well, both in the correct dimensions outside but all with a too small hole in the middle. The Bachmann-locomotive has axles of 3mm diameter, the cogwheel-holes are 2mm.

So it will become necessary to built a little fastening-equipment for my turning-lathe to drill in an exact 3mm hole.

The syntetic cogwheels are offered from the German model-producer WEINERT (#9617) and cost about 1,50 Euros (for 2 cogwheels in a package). Similar brass-wheels, you can get at about 1.- Euro (pp) (for example from LEMO-SOLAR Germany). There, the axle-holes must be drilled to 3mm also.

The 3rd possibility is to order brass-cogwheels at a firm that produces the cogweels on request. Here you can get them with the correct diameter inside but if you order
only 10 - 20 pices, two cogwheels cost hardly the same than a new locomotive. Forget it!

I will try to take the way of Weinert cogwheels. I will order one in the next days. If it will be successful to repair the Davenports, I will inform you.

Best regards from Austria
Herwig ("Traunbahn")

[CNE Runner]

Excellent Herwig...it sounds like you have a plan. Properly secured, I do not think it will be too hard to drill out that center shaft hole another 1 mm. I do see why it would be very expensive to order gears from Northwest Short Line and have them shipped to Austria. I will appreciate hearing of your progress.

Cheers,
Ray
Alabama, USA

[robinstrains]

Hi good folks, I'm new here. I had the same problem with a split gear on the axel. After many months of looking and searching I called NWSL and I got myself a gear to replace the split one.
Here are the details of the package.
NWSL  Part # 2281- 6.
14 Tooth Gear.
0.4x14 Tooth SG x 6.5mm ODx3.0mm face x 3.0mm bore.
Fits CB Orion NYC S-3 Electric.
Now we can now say it also fits the On30 Davenport.
It cost US $15, shipping was extra. Let me say this my little loco runs quite well, I am thinking of replacing the non split gear as I don't trust it.
Hope this helps us all.
Robin.

[LBS]

Hi from the UK,
I have the same problem on my Davenports,There is a model helicopter company called E-Flite use these brass gears on there choppers but the gears have got a 2mm hole,you will need to check the web who's got them in stock,These a model shop in the Czech Republic who makes plastic type gears,www.pojezdy.eu.
Hoping this mite help Mike,

[CNE Runner]

Thank you for the information Robin...we are all in your debt. I haven't run my On30 Davenport more than 10 minutes; and most of that time was on rollers - hence I haven't experienced any perceptible gear problems as of yet...time will tell.

More to the point is why Bachmann continues to produce products with an obvious defect? It would seem that a company as large as Kader (owners of Bachmann Trains) could easily replace those [seemingly] defective plastic gears with brass ones. In volume I can't imagine the brass gearing adding much to the price of the model. I guess there isn't much we modelers can do about corporate policy.

Again, thanks for the post. I made notes on the NWSL gearing and placed it in the Davenport's papers.

Regards,
Ray

[Biglars]

The gear issue has prompted this request on line.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/888/384/236/open-letter-to-bachmann-regarding-their-on30-products/
A lot of people love Bachmann's products but just want them to run.

[CNE Runner]

I checked out the petition regarding Bachmann gears as Biglars suggested. Frankly I am reluctant to provide my all my personal contact information to an unknown source. Furthermore, I think others feel the same way...hence only 200+ petitioners.

Gear issues, in Bachmann locomotives, are a serious quality concern that must be addressed if the company wants to retain their position in the industry (and I have no doubt that they do). Third party providers of replacement gears should only be necessary for those older models - produced before improved metal gears were installed at the factory.

The Chinese are very clever businessman; and I am sure they will look very closely at this recurring problem.

Regards,
Ray