Taming a BH

[trammayo]

This loco was an ex-seasonal set. I gave it a little makeover to hide its' origins. Right from the start, it proved troublesome on my trailer layout. It was my first experience in G Scale of the (Bachmann) non-standard bogie swivel system. Common it was on Basset-Lowke O Gauge I know, but it was PITA on R1 reverse curves.

If it derailed, the truck would either catch under the cylinders and/or side swipe the motions slide bars. Such was the truck's wandering tendencies that it finally destroyed the side bars.

I must confess that, as I my trailer trackwork was laid flat, it may have contributed to the derailments. Eventually I added some slight super-elevation to the curves (but too late for this loco).

In the end, I purchased a chassis (well two actually) off that well maligned auction site and it/they awaited fitting. Yesterday was chassis exchange day!

Pics of the loco's predicament...



The replacement chassis was the type with the valve gear as opposed to the original (supposedly) inside gear.


It was a fairly simple fit - and the wiring was just black to black and red to... - just had to find some screws and snip off some locating lugs on the footboards above the air tanks. Once back together I tried it out...



Everything worked fine - which it should have done as I had tested the chassis on the track when I got it - the only anomaly being the colour of the wheels (the replacement being black as opposed to the dark red of the original).

So another loco returns to the fold and, I have a chassis to carve up to replace a growling Santa Fe BH - the original truck will be grafted on. That will leave me with an operable 0-6-0 chassis (ear plugs are cheap) - plus the other purchase!

 

[Imagination Station Kids]

I don't know if you're aware that you can pop the plastic wheel inserts out of the original wheels and do the same on the new drive and put the originals in your new drives wheels after removing the side and main rods.
It's a tedious job and takes time and experience. (Try your old drive wheels first.)
The process is very intricate and you have to use extreme caution not to break spokes upon removal and insertion.
I use real small screw drivers and exacto knives and push outward from the back and sides of the wheel. I cannot emphasis enough to use caution and take your time using gentle pressure working them out a little at a time.
It'll be worth the effort to have the original color wheel inserts installed. If you think you can do the job, you'll be glad you did it when it's finally completed.
Hope that helps and let us see the results if you decide to tackle it.
Ken

 

[trammayo]

I don't know if you're aware that you can pop the plastic wheel inserts out of the original wheels and do the same on the new drive and put the originals in your new drives wheels after removing the side and main rods.
It's a tedious job and takes time and experience. (Try your old drive wheels first.)
The process is very intricate and you have to use extreme caution not to break spokes upon removal and insertion.
I use real small screw drivers and exacto knives and push outward from the back and sides of the wheel. I cannot emphasis enough to use caution and take your time using gentle pressure working them out a little at a time.
It'll be worth the effort to have the original color wheel inserts installed. If you think you can do the job, you'll be glad you did it when it's finally completed.
Hope that helps and let us see the results if you decide to tackle it.
Ken

Thanks Ken. - I have had to repair wheels before today but I'm tempted to leave well enough alone - patience and dexterity aren't my strong points these days! I might just paint them with the colour I used on other parts of the loco.

 

[Imagination Station Kids]

Not a problem and that is probably wiser because they are in there kinda tight.
I just replaced a Bachmann locomotive (Santa Fe) battery drive with the exact same drive (but green wheels) you have pictured but there's no smoke unit and the headlght had to be changed to a 18 volt bulb. Now it's electric and runs fantastic as long as you don't pull more than 4 cars.
You should enjoy the new drive, there not bad runners.
Ken

 

[trammayo]

Not a problem and that is probably wiser because they are in there kinda tight.
I just replaced a Bachmann locomotive (Santa Fe) battery drive with the exact same drive (but green wheels) you have pictured but there's no smoke unit and the headlght had to be changed to a 18 volt bulb. Now it's electric and runs fantastic as long as you don't pull more than 4 cars.
You should enjoy the new drive, there not bad runners.
Ken

I had thought of using one of the chassis to do just that If I don't manage to acquire a 49Mh remote!

 

[Imagination Station Kids]

I wish I'd known, I gave a remote to a friend and it was brand new. I hope your able to find one. I'll keep my eyes open here if you want. We are setting up at the Helena Rail Fair, April 30th and they have a lot of stuff every year.
Never know! Ken