Thanks Barry,

I ordered the delrin gear as you recommended and will install those. You don't know of a source for the driver axlebox springs by chance?

Regards,
Chuck Collins

I found the same thing with Lee Springs. Way too expensive in small quantities. I had dissembled my connie to replace the plastic driver gear which had split with a brass one from Northwest Shortline. I ordered the gears but before they showed up my wife came through my workspace and cleaned up. She did not even see the springs because they were so small and they ended up  in the garbage. Now if I cannot find the correct springs I guess the connie becomes a boneyard for spare parts. Again, I am very upset with Bachmann that they could not provide replacement springs for this very popular locomotive. They told me to return the whole engine for repair or replacement when all I asked for was the springs. The thing is in pieces on my workbench.

What a way to run a railroad!

Chuck

Thanks to everyone who replied. I am very upset with Bachmann that they do not carry replacement springs. It should not be up to their patrons to search out sources for these items. I will look into the sources mentioned here. I did find some springs on Precision Scale Company's website that appear to be usable but not sure.

Best Regards,
Chuck

Hi Jeff,

No the springs fit into holes in the frame at the top of the axle blocks. The axle blocks have a peg that hols the spring to it. The springs are steel and appear to be approximately 2mm wide by 8mm long.

Chuck Collins

Hi All,

I am looking for replacement driver springs for my Bachmann Connie 2-8-0. I contacted Bachmann parts department and was told they are not available. These are the coil springs that sit between the frame and the axleboxes. I took mine apart a while back and have lost the springs. Anyone know of a source for these springs?

Chuck Collins

I am also having problems with one of the trucks on my Heisler.  Since I am installing onboard battery power I disassembled them to remove the "suppression" pcb's, the wheel electrical contact rollers, modify the wiring and do TOC's modification to provide lubrication for the brush end bearings.  After re-assembly I tested each truck to make sure they ran properly.  The rear truck was smooth as silk but the front truck Sounds like a coffee grinder.  I disassembled that truck again to make sure I got everything back correctly and all was found good.  This truck made the same noise before I made any modifications so I know it is nothing I did.  Sounds like a gear problem.  I tested the trucks before I installed them back on the loco so it has nothing to do with the drive line slop or triggers.  Has there been problems with the gears as they came new from the factory?

Does anyone know the voltage rating of the smoke generator unit in the Heislers?  I am installing an Airwire R/C and want to run the smoke generator off the outputs on the decoder. I am installing 14.4 volt battery power and removing the factory PC board but I am not sure if the  smoke unit will handle 14.4 volts directly from the batteries.

Got the picture.  Thanks JD that really helps.  I saw those wires in the bunker of my Heisler but did not think they were the chuff triggers because they are red and black, and also because there are two pair.  I was looking for one pair of blue wires like the shay has.  I am going to try and make them work even with TOC's warning.  I really prefer triggered chuff sounds over the auto chuff.  Since Phoenix sound can be programmed to do two chuffs per trigger I am going to try that.

Regards,
Chuck Collins

Thanks JD!  Unfortunately I cannot see the picture you posted.  Everytime I try to access it I get a popup asking for my username and password.  When I enter them nothing happens except the requester keeps coming back again asking for my username and password. Could you email me the picture at [email protected]?

Before I tear my Heisler (81799) apart to add Phoenix sound can anyone tell me if it has chuff trigger contacts built in or do I have to add them myself? I cannot find any mention of trigger contacts in the exploded view drawings or the wiring drawing.