While there is only one version of the Climax as Bill lists, there was a modification.

As delivered the Climax had one piece front and rear drive shafts. This set-up caused torque binding at the gear box.  In some cases this caused one of the universal joints to break.



To overcome this condition, Bachmann made available a two piece rear drive shaft, as shown above.  There are still a few NIB and used Climax locomotives being offered for sale that do not have this two piece drive shaft.

If you purchase a Climax make certain it has the two piece rear drive shaft. If not, Bachmann Service will be able to provide the replacement shaft.


One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

Bruce,
I think the above responses answer your question regarding the counterweights.  There never were any shims used except that some of us used them as a stop-gap measure when the K-27 was first introduced.  Once Bachmann supplied replacement counterweights the shims some of us had installed were no longer required.



The K-27 has significant side to side movement of the drivers.  The picture shows how much a driver can move to one side or the other.  Note the centering spring around the axle.  This side to side movement is necessary due to the locomotive's wheel base and because it has all drivers flanged.

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

The item # 816XX is the Industrial Mogul.  It is small in size when compared to any of the other 1:20.3 scale locomotives.  Remember, it is an Industrial locomotive used around large factories, power plants and plantations.

The engine/tender combination measures 23 1/2" from coupler to coupler. Width at its widest point, the front pilot beam, is 4 5/32".  Height from railhead at stack is 5 13/16".

Placed next to the Centennial Mogul, a small engine in its own right, the Industrial Mogul is small.  

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

Bill,
Please send me your mailing address.  I have the Spectrum Lynn box and sleeve packed and ready to ship.

Sorry I forgot to bring it to the ECLSTS.

My e-mail address is jlsclw@aol.com

Trust you had a good trip home after the show.

JD

Bachmann item number 92421 would be the correct metal wheels. These are 31.0 mm.

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

With the 1:20.3 vesion, introduced late 2006, the answer is NO. Unlike the 1:22.5 version, the latest side tanker is a different casting.  

The side tanks are cast as one piece with the boiler. The base of the side tanks are also cast to the lower part of the boiler.



There are weights mounted on the base of each side tank. The main PCB also extends slightly into the side tank.

To make this side tanker into a conventional engine will take construction of a new boiler.


One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

The main PCB is the same in both the regular three truck Shay and the factory sound equipped three truck version.  That's rather obvious when looking at sheet G824X-IS007 and sheet G824X-IS008.

By DCC ready, are you making reference to the plug and play socket as installed in the K-27, 2-6-6-2T, and the Forney?  If so, no there is not the plug and play like the three mentioned locomotives.

The three truck Shay is set up to support DCC.  However, the Revolution is not a DCC system.

Installation of the Revolution is not difficult. There are four three truck Shay locomotives in our club that have the Revolution installed.  Their owners reported that installing the Revolution was not difficult.  Just follow the installation instructions that are provided with the Revolution system.

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

What about #464 on the Huckleberry Railroad, Flint, MI?

I thought #2, a 10-Wheeler and #464 were their primary locomotives.

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

Here's a picture of the locomotive. It has been decorated for use at Christmas time.  In order to get it to pull three coaches a power block was added to the tender.  The power block was tested and found to run at the  speed as the locomotive.

The engine has over 150 hours of run time, almost all of it on our club's Holiday Train Shows.

As Brian mentions, the drive train is weak.  The drive axle is split and the halves are insulated by a very fragile plastic piece that is prone to break. Trying to repair a broken drive axle is next to impossible.  Also, it's not that great for power pickup.  You've got to keep the wheels clean on this one.

Might be a good purchase if you can buy it for little to nothing. 

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

Those are wires that run from the cylinder chuff contacts.  They are there to connect to a sound card, should you decide to add sound.  The opening and closing of the contacts in the cylinders are what triggers the chuff of a sound card.  There is no power in these wires.

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

Loco Bill,
Some additional information on the Bachmann Spectrum Lyn.



Same box as posted by NM. I purchased this Lyn April 15, 1994 from Charles Ro. I have another Lyn box with sleeve where I dated it 10-6-94.  There's a third box floating around here someplace, just can't find it right now.  I seem to remember that the Lyn came with documentation but haven't been able to find that either.



What NM fails to mention is that the Lyn is packed in a Big Hauler box inside the black Spectrum Sleeve.  There is no part number on the sleeve or the Big Hauler box.  This is the only locomotive I'm aware of that used a sleeve over a Big Hauler box.  Also no mention as to its scale.



This Bachmann address  appears on the center of the back of the sleeve.  There is also a SKU number on the lower left hand corner of the backside.  Both the Bachmann address and SKU are stick on labels.  They were not printed on the sleeve.

First reference I can find to this locomotive is in our club's newsletter dated March 1994. Along with the mention that a club member had received this new locomotive is a further statement the the Lyn is an uncataloged item.

Looking through Bachmann catalogs I can find no mention of this locomotive.  Possibly you have a catalog reference.

I'll be attending the ECLSTS.  You are more than welcome to one of the Lyn Spectrum boxes and sleeves.  Just let me know.  I can drop it off at the Bachmann booth.  No doubt we'll meet up there at some time.

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

NM

Quotedurability of the gears are another subject.

You obviously have first hand experience with a K-27 and gear durability.  Since there are six K-27s in our club and no one has had a gear problem your insight could be helpfu.

We'd like to take whatever steps necessary to avoid a gear durability problem. Several of the K-27s are now over two years old with many hours so it would be a good idea to keep an eye on these lcocomotives for any duribility issues.

Thanks.


One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

Here is a short YouTube video clip of the K-27 with 27 loads behind the tank.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaQ_K3_t2-c

This particular consist is made up of a few Bachmann 1:20.3 cars. The rest of the consist is scratch built 1:20.3 cars.  The caboose is a modified Bachmann 1:22.5 bobber.  The locomotive had not reached the maximum number of cars it would pull.

The K-27 is coming off a 1% grade and the curve is 10' radius (20' diameter).

Have no idea how many AMS cars the K-27 will pull.  They are not the easiest rolling equipment. 

The K-27 has not been modified in any way.  It is equipped with an RCS PnP.  Kinda puts to rest the early assertions that the locomotive would not pull and the electronics would go up in smoke.

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"


JD

Dave,
Yes. Batteries, the only way to fly or run LS trains!

One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD

Simulate?

With large scale you don't have to simulate.  Just cross the water!  We don't simulate snow when we are plowing.  Why simulate water when fording a stream?





Here at the CD&StL RY we don't speculate; just go out and give it a shot.   


One of the "Enthusiastic Children"

JD