Bachmann 2 truck Climax

P

phils2um

Phil S
Country flag
Trainworld.com has Bachmann 2 truck Climax locos with DCC and Tsunami sound on sale at a terrific price of $299 + S&H (was $15 for me NY to Michigan). I've had a chance to put the one I bought through it's paces - had it running forward and reverse for about four hours over the weekend. I did have to run my track cleaning car (LGB 5005) around the circuit a couple of times behind a LGB loco with skates before the Climax would run without any hick-ups. The Climax only has wheel pickups for power, no skates. The only real disappointment I have is that the smoke unit is not that great and is not decoder controlled. There is a three position switch behind the smokebox door for the smoke unit; DCC, off, DC (analog). The switch only sets the type of power on the rails - not that it is decoder controlled. I asked Bachmann's support group. I purchased an unlettered unit. It is brand new - not a return or used item. The detail is spectacular and the loco comes with parts to convert the tender box from coal to oil and two different balloon stacks that can be exchanged for the installed straight stack. For the money invested I have absolutely no qualms about weathering the unit to make it even more realistic. This is an amazing price.

Phil S.
 
I don't want to burst your bubble but Al Kramer has them for US$249.95 on eBay.
You may even get a better price if you bought of him directly although his shipping may be a little more than what you paid.
I used to buy plenty off TrainWorld but they now have a weird policy with overseas customers having to pay a large premium on top of their advertised price. They can stick that up their back siding as far as I'm concerned.
 
I saw the "ana.kramer" price, shipping is $53, so still a bit cheaper overall and I think no tax in Nevada, as opposed to trainworld in NY.

But both great prices nonetheless.

Botchmann has never had remotely controlled smoke, nor fan-driven smoke as far as I can recall.

One other warning, the decoder in it may be the "Quasinami" which will freak out at track voltages around 20-21 volts, and just plain stop running.

But overall an incredible deal.

Greg
 
Just unpacked my Bachmann Climax (with Tsunami Sound Sytem) from Al Kramer and delighted with its test run - the detail and complexity is awesome. On a side issue the Shays, Heislers and Climaxes come with a rigid lubrication scheme. Could anyone advise on sourcing a good heavy gear oil equivalent to Bachmann Cat. No. 99983 in the UK?
 
twojags said:
On a side issue the Shays, Heislers and Climaxes come with a rigid lubrication scheme. Could anyone advise on sourcing a good heavy gear oil equivalent to Bachmann Cat. No. 99983 in the UK?
Click to expand...

I use the Hob-E-Lube (Woodland Scenics) range of oils, greases and dry lubes. Much recommended on here. Easily available in the UK. Seemingly pricey for a set but worth it. The multi product packs give recommended uses for each of the items supplied. LaBelle also make a similar range of lubes. They are all suitable for use with plastics.

The white HL657 grease is the one I have used on my Bachmann loco's gearboxes, not heavy oil - they include examples of Shay, Heisler and Climax. Love 'em to bits. A couple of mine came from Al Kramer - good reliable source. Max

 
Last edited:
Hob-E-Lube sets are literally half-price stateside. I'll be bringing a few packs back with me later on this year for our large-scale members. Note that the thin lube oil in the set IS plastic compatible, unlike good ol' 3-in-1, which will eventually rot any plastic components on which it is applied - early Bachmann plastic gears were particularly susceptible to disintegrating into greasy powder.....
 
There's also a black molybdenum grease in the set which is good for the external gears :nod::nod:
 
I like Hob-E-Lube, good price point and lots of different products. I like the heavy gear oil for the sliding axles on Aristo locos, and the journals in USAT dismals. I use their light oil a lot and I also like their moly grease for gears, although the gear "jels" are great but very expensive. I also like their powdered graphite as it also has moly in it, superior to graphite only.

greg
 
tac foley said:
Hob-E-Lube sets are literally half-price stateside. I'll be bringing a few packs back with me later on this year for our large-scale members. Note that the thin lube oil in the set IS plastic compatible, unlike good ol' 3-in-1, which will eventually rot any plastic components on which it is applied - early Bachmann plastic gears were particularly susceptible to disintegrating into greasy powder.....
Click to expand...
If you bring back enough, I'd be up for a set please tac :nod::nod:
 
twojags said:
Just unpacked my Bachmann Climax (with Tsunami Sound Sytem) from Al Kramer and delighted with its test run - the detail and complexity is awesome. On a side issue the Shays, Heislers and Climaxes come with a rigid lubrication scheme. Could anyone advise on sourcing a good heavy gear oil equivalent to Bachmann Cat. No. 99983 in the UK?
Click to expand...

In the packaging there SHOULD be a set of exploded parts lists, the usual guarantee stuff AND the DVD on how to use the thing.
 
Thanks Tac. I knew I had put some important information aside when I unpacked the locomotive for its test run. Will watch the DVD before I do anything further! All the best.
 
twojags said:
Thanks Tac. I knew I had put some important information aside when I unpacked the locomotive for its test run. Will watch the DVD before I do anything further! All the best.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry to say that unpacking the loco for a 'test-run' without pre-lubing will have shortened it's effective running life by a measurable amount. Many of the early Shays suffered extensively and drastically from this 'rush to run' that takes over from common sense when such a complex model is involved. Get to it now, is my best advice.
 
The sound climax is a superb loco. Detaling, smooth running, unique.
What I particularly like is it looks diminutive. Compared to the bmann shays. And , the detailing is stunning, truly a fine scale model, imho.
So much shrter than the shay. And,both sides are interesting to watch.
Pretty forgiving of rough and tumble track.
Not at all weather or moisture resistant. to be treated like a brass loco.

It is one of my favs.

No volume control however. Volume can be faint outdoors, nice indoors. Best..
never irritating.
And the auto bell can come on when i want to run slowly. Sometimes good sometimes not.

Bachman makes amazing locos. Lube is critical, as is kid glove handling, as there are no spares.
That is the big drawback. If it breaks, and cant be repaired, its over. At these prices, imho, its worth the risk.

(Now that i think about spares, lgb marklin, since The Change, is no better. Cannot find spares for at least 2 recently offered saxon locos.)

Smoke.....meh....bachmann . if i crank up the voltage, plumes, but im very careful not to ever run it dry.

That price merits another, right now!

Update....now, in addition to my climax demonstrator livery, a nice lined undecorated version.
 
Last edited:
Actually, as i updated, part one is done, tac.

Part two.......not so much.

Frankly, at this price, i dont know why any are left, if one has any interest in US stuff. (Although, i suppose most modelers follow a theme rather than buying willy nilly). I gave up on this shortly after i became interested in lgb, and just bought what i liked. Otherwise, id have little , given any given prototype railroad...).

About the price of good sunglasses or a very nice dinner for 2.
Cheaper than almost any other new, current production g scale loco.

Seems i bought my first sound versionclimax maybe 18-24 months back at 399 from the same seller and thought THAT to be a bargain.. then there was the three truck shay, non sound, at $297’ as i recall.

Shipping is unusually high,but i imagine thats to offset ebay fees and still provide the seller a margin.
 
Most certainly.
I take it if you ordered, customs would add a hefty tax?

Otoh, tac, theres one for sale, new, in the classified for 399 right now!
This tells me customs levied about -80-95 pound in extortion fees???

So....if i were to send a gift to a friend, does HM customs intercept and hold hostage?
I long ago sent an LGB coach to the COf E preist who married my wife and I, and it never dawned on me that he might have had to pay to get it.
 
Last edited:
stevedenver said:
Most certainly.
I take it if you ordered, customs would add a hefty tax?

Otoh, tac, theres one for sale, new, in the classified for 399 right now!
This tells me customs levied about -80-95 pound in extortion fees???

So....if i were to send a gift to a friend, does HM customs intercept and hold hostage?
I long ago sent an LGB coach to the COf E preist who married my wife and I, and it never dawned on me that he might have had to pay to get it.
Click to expand...
Gifts over £30.00 I believe can be stopped and duty "requested".
 
Here's what happens here -

The Item costs $300.

The insurance and shipping costs another $300.

Total $600.

It arrives in UK at the Coventry international goods inwards port and gets valued by HM Customs and Excise for importation tax - in the case of this now $600 item - around $100.

Total $700.

Converted into UK £ = 538.46.

VAT is then calculated on the TOTAL cost so far, and added at the usual rate of 20% = £107.69

Total so far = £646.15

Plus £8 'handling fee'.

£654.15 [$850-ish.]

Now you know why we don't buy much from the USA.
 
I think you will find the handling fee goes on BEFORE the VAT is calculated.. :cry:

Oh, yes! ... The item(s) take three-days to get from the USA to UK(Coventry), then sit there for 7-10 days, before they get round to processing them.
:mad::banghead::banghead::banghead:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom