Bachmann Class 20

Very good. It seems like a good idea operating two together as a multiple unit. Good to get some feedback on that. It will be interesting to see how the digital sound version compares. Whenever it gets released that is...

Try this:



True pulling power 6 Bachmann Ivatts.

1:40 Doug you should be able to get more pulling power with the A4, time to add some liquid lead. Up a 1:40 I'd get a Hornby Black five to pull 7 mark1's up it with not too much bother. The secret is to remove the weights from the mark 1's, they stay on the rails much better.

Or even a single Class 20 out hauling an A4 Sponge

On the noise issue Doug I've noticed that one of my two Class 20's is very much more noisier that the other when under load yet no noticable difference between them when running light.

In July 2006 I wrote up a little review on the Bachmann Class 20



Click here for the review.

I now have the Class 20 with DCC Sound that I purchase thanks to a good deal at OnTracks.

Class 20 Diesel D8113 BR Green With Discs/Tablet Catcher (Digital Sound)





You can see the tablet catcher under the drivers window on the cab side.



The double fly-wheel make for excellent running. Smooth, slow and powerful. Good control at slow speeds and super-stable running at higher speeds make for a good loco. I must go and weigh this, it feels heavier that the other two, but I'm not certain.

The decoder and speaker.


A close-up of the decoder. The decoder is seated on a 21-pin connector under that seal. I don't see how the warranty of the loco can be voided if the seal is broken. It seems a little over the top. What if someone just wanted to change the decoder, should that void the warranty of the whole loco. Or do you think that Bachmann will use common sense and apply this to the decoder only?



The three locomotives together show my liking for these strong little locomotives that have more power to weight that anything else on the layout. They can go anywhere and pull anything.







You may have seen the little video of the loco on my layout. If not, here it is a link to it: Bachmann Class 20 with Sound.

Bachmann include good instructions for the locomotive with the usual 'exploded' drawing of parts. They include info on the use of the indicator disks allowing you to make use of the detailed parts supplied: indicator disks - closed and open, a ladder, hoses and pipes.

A good info sheet on the sound decoder is also supplied, but for owners of this loco, it is a good idea to read the full sound decoder manual from Loksound (all 52 pages!).

As mentioned elsewhere, the model benefits from a lowering of the sound decoder volume and a slight tweaking of the inertia values.

Quite agree Gary.

As a retailer we have only had about three loco's returned with "faults". On 2 occasions (from the same customer) when we checked (before replacement) it was clear that they had both been partly dismantled (cross headed screws, heads chewed, wiring displaced) & they had been used enough for the wheel treads to be shiny. These 2 loco's were repaired & returned.
This particular customer also "re-oiled" 2 loco's that we repaired for him (with 3 in 1 - you could smell it !) getting it on the comutators, wheels & pick ups.
The other loco (which was not "interfered" with) was replaced & the faulty one returned to the manufacture.

From the photo's I cannot see any reason for the purchaser to interfere with the decoder on this model - it looks entirely possible to service and/or lube the loco & leave the decoder seal intact. If any fault did develop that required removal of the decoder then I would tend to return it to Bachmann - from most reports their service appears to be excellent.

At the end of the day many other electrical things we buy have similar seals.

He oiled a bachmann loco??

I have problems getting all the bachmann grease out so they will run better!

People dont realise you only need oil about the size of a pinhead! that should be enough to last any loco for many years of happy running.

My voyager was the worst. it had enough teflon grease to lubricate a 1:1 model!

I like the mods to the sand pipes. they look much better than on the first batch. i wish i had waited!

Peter

QUOTE (pedromorgan @ 27 Feb 2007, 09:10) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>He oiled a bachmann loco??
Peter

To protect the guilty I did'nt quote the make(s) of locomotive.

For anybody still looking for a Bachmann Class 20 with DCC Sound, I have finally had a spot of luck today and found a seller offering 2 on Ebay.

I've not dealt with the seller before, but his rating is 508 (100% positive), so it all looks promising

At the time of writing, he still has one further example available for £110 on a Buy It now.
Ebay Item No. 270103037240

Good luck!

AshleyH