Bachmann Class 08 problem

First of all, I would check for any traces of dirt on the wheels and track. If everything is clean, it may be worth dismantling the loco. Looking at the exploded parts diagram for the 08, there appears to be leaf springs pressing down on the top of the wheels to make the contact. You could check if these springs are clean and have a reasonable downward tension on the wheels. If necessary, you could try adjusting the spring fingers by carefully bending down slightly. If you decide to dismantle, take care with the body release clip at the rear underneath as this is easy to break.

Hope this helps.

Best regards

QUOTE (Howzatt @ 20 May 2007, 16:58) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>First of all, I would check for any traces of dirt on the wheels and track. If everything is clean, it may be worth dismantling the loco. Looking at the exploded parts diagram for the 08, there appears to be leaf springs pressing down on the top of the wheels to make the contact. You could check if these springs are clean and have a reasonable downward tension on the wheels. If necessary, you could try adjusting the spring fingers by carefully bending down slightly. If you decide to dismantle, take care with the body release clip at the rear underneath as this is easy to break.

Hope this helps.

Best regards

I think that it is likely the contact leaf springs (or one leaf spring). The only problem is that I'm not sure how to take the body off properly. As far as I can see, there are 2 pairs of screws on the underside. Do they both have to be removed in order to release the plastic body? Also I'm not sure where the release clip is.

Sorry for the questions... but I do NOT want to force anything!

Thanks in advance

-MAS

Mas, the body is a bit fiddly to get off and as Howzatt has said, it's very easy to break the clip under the cab. It you do break it don't panic though 'cos as far as I can see it does very little any way. To get the body off you need to remove both NEM sockets and remove the air tank moulding at the front. The NEM sockets can be prised out by sliding a craft knife blade or similar between them and the chassis and the air tank moulding is held on by a small screw which will be visible once the NEM socket is removed. After you've done this remove the two body securing screws (one either end) that are now visible. The body is now free to come off except for that bl**dy clip. It is possible to ease the clip through the aperture underneath but you should find that it you lift the front of the body away from the chassis the clip will release itself. Note here that there is a small wire (which represents the electrical conduit to the front lamps) which fits into the body at the top of the front left hand step. This must be released by simply easing it way from the body.

Now, having said all that, it's not actually necessary to remove the body to gain access to the wipers which rub on the top of the wheel treads (incidentally it's a dead cert that's where you're problem is as these wipers collect all the muck that gets onto the wheel treads). You will obviously need to remove the wheelsets however and unfortunately this is not simply a matter of removing the bottom retaining plate. The way I do it is like this: first ease off all four sand boxes. These are are held to the chassis by a plastic stud which protrudes from the back of each sand box and is a tight fit in a hole in the chassis. If you look up inside the chassis you'll see the studs of the rear sand boxes protruding through to give you an idea as to how they're fitted. Once the sand boxes are removed, remove the LH and RH plastic brakegear assemblies. These simply plug into the chassis and can by easily pulled out. Now remove the bottom plate and take the wheelsets out en bloc. You'll see the fine wipers now and these can be cleaned and adjusted to suit before putting everything back together in the reverse order you took it all apart. Just a word of caution though Mas, when putting the wheelsets back check that the wipers actually locate onto the wheel treads and do not get displaced over the edge of the wheel.

Steve

Thank you for the detailed reply

-MAS