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Re-gauging N Scale Bachmann 4-8-4 Locos and rolling stock
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New member 3 posts Fidel Naidoo New member 3 posts
Fidel Naidoo

Hello.....

 

I was brought here a few hours ago by the thread that had to do with a Bachmann N scale 4-8-4 not negotiating tight curves.

On further investigating, I found out that a potential problem is that of the wheels being gauged correctly. I know that this must be done GENTLY, but just don't know what to do to decrease the gauge.

Or, am I correct in thinking that the wheels must be tapped down? That sounds like "what could possibly go wrong?"
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LDBennett Active Member 77 posts
LDBennett

I was the originator of the

I was the originator of the first post and here is what I found out:

The catalog incorrectly lists the smallest radius the engine will handle and the web page was correct. Here is the post where I pointed this out:

 

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This whole issue of minimum radius is confusing but I found out why:

The link is for 82154 and the radius called out on that Bachmann page is 19 inches. If from that link page you search out the 82153 (the version I have) you get the same 19 inch minimum radius.

The 2012 Bachman Catalog (downloaded off their web page exactly 6 months ago) calls out 11.25 inches for both the 82154 and the 82153. I just downloaded the 2012 catalog off their web page minutes ago and it is the same as the one downloaded in March of this year. It too says the turning radius is 11.25 inches for both the 82153 and 82154. The "J" I have is the 82153 which differs only in external details from the 82154.

 

So my beef is with Bachmann. It was NOT my stupidity of ordering an engine that will not run on my grandson's layout! Bachmann has a misprint in their full .pdf 2012 catalog as downloaded off their web pages.

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Bachmann came through in the end and exchanged the Northern for an engine designed for the tight radius snap together track my grandson had. It ended up being a diesel but he was happy and I was happy with their service. I doubt either Northern we had was gaged wrong but only had to be run on the radius track it was designed for. The whole of the problem was that the catalog had the wrong minimum radius listed there.
 
LDBennett
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