Matt,
       too much sideplay in the leading driver set will allow the inner face of the leading drive wheel to contact the chassis.  This will give the squeak.  My fix is to place a thin washer on the axle on the inner side of each leading driver wheelset.  This will stop the wheel inner face contacting the chassis on curves.  I had one that would do it even on 10-foot diameter curves,  until cured.

I feel that you may be disappointed as the model will be the latest incantation as seen running.  The loco is based on engineering drawings which depict the loco in latest running configuration.

Hunt,
                I addressed the posting to you as you have a knowledge of greases and the grease that you have described is definately not the grease that I have ever received from a Bachmann authorised dealer. 

Hunt,
        please explain the purpose of a thickener in the Bachmann grease,  when to date,  every container that I have purchased direct from dealers in the States,  has consisted of either a waxy soap residue or a wax like substance on the upper part of the container and a very light oil in the base of the container.  I have never seen a homologous grease from Bachmann as you describe.  The oil is always separated from the thickener.  This is at room temperature, standard 15 deg. C.  The grease as supplied on Bachmann locomotives, ex-factory is a white grease.  This is not the grease supplied by Bachmann through dealers.


      In so far as the industry,  quality greases are manufacturered to military specs. for aircraft and SAE specs for automotive trade.  Please be so kind to state the specifications to which the Bachmann grease complies.  Until then I will happily use my Labelle or LGB grease and be assured that the grease will not separate at room temperatures.

The original LGB power unit was approx, 0.5 - 0.6 amps maximum output.   Bachmann unit was a similiar output.  This is about the current draw of your trolley.  You definately need a power unit with an amperage output of at least one amp to operate the trolley.

Bob,
       I have purchased at least ten containers of Bachmann grease.  As far as I know there is only one size container.  All have been the waxy soap type 'solid' which broke into chunks when touched,  with some containing the very runny liquid oil,  which after application ran to the base of the gearbox cover. 

Hunt,
          I have purchsed many containers of Bachmann grease and have not seen one container that was solid, as shown on the Bachmann videos.  The grease in the containers is not even the grease that locomotives are delivered with, ex-factory.   Every container purchased, (in excess of ten quantity) has been a wax-like substance at the top of the container (thickener?) with an oily liquid residue on the base of the container.  Attempting to mix the two results in a cloudy, very liquid fluid (extremely low viscosity),  which when applied, simply slides off the gears,  leaving just a thin residue of oil on the gears.  If one applied just the waxy thickener then exactly how much lubrication ability does the thickener have.


            I spent my entire working career in the aircraft industry and your description of the properties of grease would certainly raise a few eyebrows for anyone who has actually used grease.  A grease which breaks down to its thickener and lube oil at ambient day temperature is basically no better than simply applying a gear oil to the gears.  The thickener as supplied by Bachmann does no function at all.  I have yet to see either an automotive or aircraft grease which separates, as does the Bachmann grease.  Also,  greases from other manufacturers of hobby based greases (Labelle, LGB) do not behave as does the Bachmann grease.  They retain their lubricating oil in suspension with the thickener at both ambient and elevated operating temperatures.

Skip,
       all very profound,  but the bottom line is no matter how complicated we make things,  manufacturers are really unable to service those items that do fail.  Many found out the hard way with the 3-truck Shay when they were shunted between Bachmann and Sierra when their sound system failed.   Bachmann was the only supplier of the sound board as it is unique to Bachmann.  Purchasers believed that they were buying a Sierra sound board,  not a corruption of Sierra technology.


      It seems to me that you are stating that a fully sound/DCC equipped factory supplied locomotive is going to be more reliable than a consumer 'optioned' model.  This I find a little difficult to swallow.  I do not want DCC on any model.  If a sound unit is supplied then I want it to be a quality sound board,  not a manipulation of another manufacturer's technology.


     Today's hobby is certainly more user 'ready to run' mentality and with the increase in complexity,  the 'modellor' (for want of a better word) is no longer able to rip a loco apart and do what he wants to it.  The production standards set by the current 3-truck Shay lead me to believe that with increasing complexity will come increasing unreliability.  Is this the route that modellors have chosen or are manufacturers trying to compete with the computer technology world of ipods, mobile phones, computer games, etc.?  It seems more of a technology ego-based trip for manufactuers and a downslide for the end-user.

Whether you leave your models outdoors or not depends on how much 'value' you place on them.  While designed for outdoor use,  the designation, 'designed',  is purely the use of UV-resistant plastics in their construction.  In general the drive mechanisms are not intended for long term exposure to the elements.   Even though UV-resistant, the models will quickly fade to a weathered finish, with firstly paint fading and then structural fading of the plastic as the UV inhibitors breakdown.


I would not consider the Bachmann largescale steam locomotives as 'designed' for outdoor use, as in reality there are many openings in the drive unit chassis to permit snow, moisture, dirt, etc., to enter the drive.   The geared steam models do have enclosed gearbox/drive units but I would not consider them sealed against the elements of nature.   LGB designs it's units for outdoor use,  by sealing off the drive chassis.  However,  they still caution the operator to bring the unit inside after using in rain, snow, etc and drying it off to remove moisture.


You leave locomotives and rolling stock outdoors at your own risk as exposure will eventually damage the model.

For those who like to 'bash' their Big Hauler locomotives into something else,  then over the coming winter months (southern hemisphere),  I have decided to do several bashes on Bachmann locomotives that I acquired for the purpose.  All models will be freelance (remember that the ETW&NC/Tweetsie  is the only prototype loco that the Big Hauler is based on,  all other roadnames are ficticious for the loco in question).


The models being built are as follows -

4-4-4-0 superheated simple articulated mallet
2 off  mastodons (4-8-0), each with a different body style
4-6-2  pacific
4-6-0  ten-wheeler
4-4-2  Atlantic
4-4-0  modernised American


These projects are well inhand,  with chassis built and body mods commenced.  Remember that these are all freelance,  narrow-gauge models.  Those interested could visit mylargescale.com forum and check under the 'Model Making' forum section.  Do a search under my name, as in my posting name or under 'Bachmann'.  I have also some several more bashes on existing Bachmann locomotives to more represent the prototype.


The Bachmann loco is extremely easy to 'bash' and very user friendly as regards glue compatibility and ease of working/modifying.  I use only latest model spectrum Anniversary pieces,  but the timid amongst you could start with the easily available (cheaper) earlier model Big Haulers to start your bashes.  The Bachmann loco is a very rewarding basis to get involved.  Everyone of my locomotive bashes has a family look, but each is unique.

If considering a starter set,  then look at the newly released or soon to be released Bachmann White Pass set.  This has an Annie loco with simplified metal inside valve gear and metal rods,  as opposed to the commonly seen outside valve gear.  The loco has all the Anniversary options (with the exceptions of the outside valve gear).  Should be definately worth the asking price.

David,
          I am aware of the existing On30 tooling for the Forney,  but my point is that no matter  how popular a Spectrum 1/20.3 scale Forney would be,  actual 3-foot prototypes were not the popular Forneys that modellors associate with.  I do not see Bachmann producing a 32mm gauge Forney.  There were 3-foot gauge models,  but to letter them for the popular names would not be correct in 45mm gauge.

The problem with a Forney is finding enough prototype to enable a production run.  The Climax, Shay and Heisler were well catered for with three-foot prototype,  however,  it appears that only obscure operators had a three-foot Forney in use.


The traditional Forneys are the Maine (two-foot gauge) and the elevated Forneys used in suburban settings on elevated commuter roads (standard gauge).


LGB did a reasonably accurate job on their Forney in 1993,  however, they modified it with a swivel drive mechanism to enable use on four-foot diameter.  The LGB Forney works out around 1/19 scale and is on 45mm rail as opposed to correct 32mm rail.  I do not believe that Bachmann would offer such a loco under its scale correct Spectrum range.


I see little use for an overly large standard gauge Forney as scale and gauge would be inaccurate for 45mm rail.  This leaves us with obscure three-foot prototypes,  generally used in the timber and cotton industries in the south.  A Disneyland loco could be produced but then licencing would be an issue to be sorted out.  End result,  I see little manufacturer need to produce such a loco,  however,  I am sure that there would be a demand for inaccurately scaled models (Sandy River/Maine).

Sam,
        no one is missing anything.  The 'problem' boils down to what camp you are on.  Those with a DCC prediliction are want to favour everything coming out of Bachmann with DCC onboard.  Those who favour track or battery power are saying to Bachmann before you tread this path think of the damage to potential sales.  Part of LGB's woes may be directly attributable to Lehmann stuffing mandatory 'DCC' in our faces and not offering analogue equivalents.  DCC afficiandos are in the minority and yet it seems that a very vocal lobby group is pushing hard for standard fitting of onboard DCC.



            For the majority track/battery power hobbyists,  the 'modified' Sierra-based sound system is woefully inadequate and for battery power followers the sound unit is incompatible.  The future of manufacturers in this hobby is giving the customer what he wants and not making him pay for what the sound manufacturer wants.  A battery user will need to gut the DCC and original factory supplied sound before converting to radio control.  A track power user will need to tolerate the inadequacies of the factory-supplied sound unit (regardless of the positive views expressed by some of the supposed quality of the factory onboard sound unit).



               All people are asking for is the ability to make a choice.  To offer some models only with onboard DCC and sound fitted, as standard, will limit potential sales.  There is no predjudice here about one operating system or another,  simply the right to be able to make a choice and get what one pays for,  without having to gut a loco of redundant factory-supplied 'extras', at cost to the consumer.

Skip,
       the fragility in handling is common with Bachmann's highly detailed locomotives,  extending back to the first release Shay and subsequent locomotives.  Even the Anniversary model  'Annie' is a little daunting when first deciding how to handle it.  Basic commonsencse approach is all that is needed.


       In reality,  even if a handling warning/advice was emblazoned on the packaging,  few would actually take any notice of it.   The video/DVD at least encouraged people to view it,  with its scale model and prototype info and the extended lube scenario.   It still amazes me that modellors who have read the lube advice in the warranty booklet still question whether lubrication is really necessary.  If they take no notice of lube warranty requirements then no amount of handling advice is going to convince some people.