Hello. I have the Santa Fe 4-8-4 Northern....the second 4-8-4 locomotive that Bachmann just shipped me last year after the first one (purchased Feb 2008) had a series of issues including staying on the track. This 2nd unit runs slightly better, but only after I changed decoders to a Tsunami Heavy Steam and clipped the capacitor across the motor circuit that effects the speed curve when using a quiet drive decoder (this was highly recommended from several owners on the Model Railroad Forum who also own the same 4-8-4).
But I still can't get the locomotive to run "smoothly" at slow speeds. It tends to "jerk" when it is slowly moving, and on clean track (I am a stickler for clean track). It was doing this before I cut the capacitor. I have read other folks messages with the same issue. QUESTION: is there a way to correct this or at least reduce the jerky movement? Would I have to take the entire motor assembly apart ?(I hope not). Any suggestions you have are welcome except sending this back (2 times is enough). PS.....the sound is wonderful with the Tsuname.
Thanks.
JRP
But I still can't get the locomotive to run "smoothly" at slow speeds. It tends to "jerk" when it is slowly moving, and on clean track (I am a stickler for clean track). It was doing this before I cut the capacitor. I have read other folks messages with the same issue. QUESTION: is there a way to correct this or at least reduce the jerky movement? Would I have to take the entire motor assembly apart ?(I hope not). Any suggestions you have are welcome except sending this back (2 times is enough). PS.....the sound is wonderful with the Tsuname.
Thanks.
JRP