Bachman Climax - unsure what to do

Ralphmp

Ralphmp

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I have a venerable Climax bought several years ago from Taloosa Junction, a shop near Salt Lake City. It’s DC and I’ve always been DCC so I have only run it a couple of times briefly just to check it worked ok. My original plan was to fit a decoder and speaker but, having seen a couple of articles on how to do this on the web, I was put off by the complexity and fiddly nature of the work which was/is way outside my experience of fitting decoders, gained from working on LGB locos.

I don’t want to run the loco on address 0 with my Massoth central station and I don’t want to set up some complicated wiring that allows me to run DC on my layout as well as DCC (I’m assuming that’s possible?) so I’m left with, I think, four choices - have a decoder professionally fitted, have someone convert the loco to battery operation, sell it on or accept it’s always going to be a shelf queen.

I’m pretty sure I can find someone who would tackle the decoder fitting (I’m also pretty sure that won’t be cheap!) but as for finding someone to do a battery conversion I’m not sure who to ask/trust. (I’ve decided not to attempt this myself as I’m simply not up to the “mechanics” of dismantling and re wiring this particular loco.). Selling would via here or the well-known auction site.

So looking for thoughts on which way to go. Any suggestions?

TIA

Phil
 
Ralphmp said:
I have a venerable Climax bought several years ago from Taloosa Junction, a shop near Salt Lake City. It’s DC and I’ve always been DCC so I have only run it a couple of times briefly just to check it worked ok. My original plan was to fit a decoder and speaker but, having seen a couple of articles on how to do this on the web, I was put off by the complexity and fiddly nature of the work which was/is way outside my experience of fitting decoders, gained from working on LGB locos.

I don’t want to run the loco on address 0 with my Massoth central station and I don’t want to set up some complicated wiring that allows me to run DC on my layout as well as DCC (I’m assuming that’s possible?) so I’m left with, I think, four choices - have a decoder professionally fitted, have someone convert the loco to battery operation, sell it on or accept it’s always going to be a shelf queen.

I’m pretty sure I can find someone who would tackle the decoder fitting (I’m also pretty sure that won’t be cheap!) but as for finding someone to do a battery conversion I’m not sure who to ask/trust. (I’ve decided not to attempt this myself as I’m simply not up to the “mechanics” of dismantling and re wiring this particular loco.). Selling would via here or the well-known auction site.

So looking for thoughts on which way to go. Any suggestions?

TIA

Phil
Click to expand...
Never been into the inside of a Climax otherwise I would have offered to help out on a battery fit. But I could certainly recommend Fosworks. He may also have an agent nearer by. However does not PhilP PhilP of this forum do this sort of thing?
 
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If you have the early version of the Climax you may find some answers here Bachmann Climax Tips If you have the later version, it has the reversing light on the cab roof, then there is a DCC wiring schematic for DCC operation, I can copy this to you. Max
 
Thanks Jon and Max.

Jon - thanks for the potential offer of help; I did wonder about Fosworks as I’ve had some things from them to batterify a couple of LGB locos.

Max - It’s the early version and, yes, I’ve seen the link; very comprehensive. However, that’s what put me off trying to do the work myself! Also, what the link doesn’t tell you is that taking the coal bunker off is a “challenge“ if you don’t know about some hidden screws (Who on earth thinks it’s a good idea to make stuff so hard to take apart?!). I’ve also lost the link to the site that explained where the screws are…

Ideally, I think I’d like to batterify but I’ve only used NiMH cells and I think the lack of space means I’d need to cross to the dark side and use Lithium of some sort.

Some more ruminating I think.
 
Did somebody call?
:D

This should be a possibility..
If you are a 'one transmitter per loco' person, then it does not matter which system you choose.
If you already have a multi-receiver transmitter, you may wish to stick with that particular 'flavour'.

PhilP
 
Paul at P& S is very helpful, I spoke to him about DCC big my Heisler, s
, he gave me tips and I bought a Massoth XLS decoder with a shay sound as there is not one for this particular loco, I installed a volume control as well, I took out the old printed circuit in the tender and buzzed out the wires and just connected everything up, it runs great.
Alternatively, I’m sure Paul would fit the decoder, no idea of cost but a phone call would tell you
Dave
 
PhilP said:
Did somebody call?
:D

This should be a possibility..
If you are a 'one transmitter per loco' person, then it does not matter which system you choose.
If you already have a multi-receiver transmitter, you may wish to stick with that particular 'flavour'.

PhilP
Click to expand...
I have an Omni TX multi-channel controller with 2 locos currently bound to it and I get on with it ok, so probably wouldn’t want to get a different make.

I have a NiMH charger so I guess ideally sticking with that technology would make sense but, as I mentioned, not sure there’s room for enough cells.

Basically, I understand the logic of what’s needed to convert to either battery or DCC but I just can’t physically manage it. If you’re interested in maybe doing a conversion let me know.

Thanks
 
I have a Bachmann Heisler that has recently been converted to battery/RC and DCC. I have used the Omni TX 4.3 with the correct Fosworks RX for use with a ESU V5 (it is a sound card with a n ESC) programmed with their Heisler sound project (they do not list a Climax sadly). This, switchable, Omni TX has the DCC enabled loco and two other more conventional RC locos bound to it. I do not know but possibly the Heisler (another non PnP PCB Bachmann product) may use the same wiring set up as your Climax. I could send you some pictures that may help with your installation. I have two of the later generation Climaxes,one with an old Sierra card and the other with the Tsunami factory fitted card that is DCC compatible out of the box. Max
 
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I expect this is for a newer version than you have, but you might look at Remote Control Systems - How to, scroll down to geared locomotives and see if the how-to's give you any ideas. You might have to go to largescalecentral.com and search on climax. Tony has posted a couple of Climax R/C installations.
 
Greg Elmassian said:
Not really useful, new climax indicated on Tony's site, wiring completely different. But worse, LSC links no longer work, they changed software on their site and links to threads/topics broken.

Greg
Click to expand...
Having re-read the OP, I now understand that he is not looking for how-to, but possibly who-to or should he just sell. Forumites on his side of the pond would be best for advice on the who-to and I since I am personally in a "throw it all out" mindset at the moment, I won't offer my opinion on the battery, sell or shelf question. I have noticed that some of the links on Tony's site to LSC don't work so I suggested doing the search on the LSC site itself for "Climax."
 
Greg Elmassian said:
Yep, got that, just posted that the links from your post #9 don't work.

Yep, he wants someone to do an install.

Greg
Click to expand...
Regrettably, that’s what I’m after. I’d love to tackle the job myself but the risk I’d end up with a “box of bits” as opposed to a running loco is just too high for me.
 
I have done several DCC/Control/Battery installations into Bachmann Climaxes. Space is tight but I put a 14.8 volt 3600 mAh Li-on battery into the fireman's position in the cab. Painted black it is visible but unobtrusive. Attached is a primer on such installations. At the end of the document are a series of links to YouTube videos on such installations. One of them is a battery installation into a Climax that had a factory installed decoder.

Steve Seidensticker
 

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Steve Seidensticker said:
I have done several DCC/Control/Battery installations into Bachmann Climaxes. Space is tight but I put a 14.8 volt 3600 mAh Li-on battery into the fireman's position in the cab. Painted black it is visible but unobtrusive. Attached is a primer on such installations. At the end of the document are a series of links to YouTube videos on such installations. One of them is a battery installation into a Climax that had a factory installed decoder.

Steve Seidensticker
Click to expand...

Very useful Steve. Thanks for posting. I notice the video in Greg's post is the same as the one linked to in your download. I will use that to convert my Bachmann factory fitted DCC/sound Climax to RC/Battery operation. I use the ESU product, with UK Fosworks Omni TX & RX, on other conversions I am engaged on, for the reasons that they are "close" to hand and have the right sound library. Minor note - the OP has the earlier version of the Climax, rear light on the bunker. Max
 
yes, I stated the video I posted was from Steve's link in his document.

Unfortunately for the OP, he has the old style climax, that does not have the sound and motor and lighting controller already installed so this video is really not applicable, since the system chosen DEPENDS on a DCC decoder already installed, basically it is feeding DCC commands to the existing electronics.

(also the switches and connections are different)

So the OP needs a "traditional" r/c install, and chosen judiciously, it should all fit in the bunker, not partially in the cab.

Greg
 
None of what I have seen thus far (unless I missed it) comments about the space in the boiler, would there be space for a made up pack of NiMh batteries?
 
I don't think you would get more than six NiMH 2/3AA cells in the boiler?
That would probably not be enough voltage (for top-speed) or current capacity (for duration of running).
There would be space for a Lithium-based battery pack, though.
(This assumes the boiler is not full of motor and gearbox).

PhilP
 
Compact electronics, throwing out the circuit board, perhaps a lower profile speaker should leave room for li-ion batteries in the bunker I would think, or perhaps a couple more in the boiler.

George Schreyer got that huge 6v gel cell for the Sierra board in there along with an oval speaker:
climax_sierra_in_tender.jpg


climax_tender_on_flatcar.jpg
 
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