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Improving performance of Bachmann On30 Porters with sound Journals/Blogs
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Frequent poster 890 posts Verne Niner Frequent poster 890 posts
Verne Niner

I have a thing for little Porter locomotives...and when Bachmann announced their Tsunami sound-equipped models, I was delighted. Once running my 0-4-2 and 0-4-0 locos, however, I found they tended to stall and cut out to the point that they simply remained on the shelf.

I explored cleaning track using several high-tech options...I added pickup shoes underneath added brake detail...on and on. Nothing seemed to a) consistently solve the pickup problem whileb) not adding any new problems or issues. I was stalled just like my locomotives.

Enter TCS and their Keep Alive modules and decoders...I had success using their decoders with KA in several Bachmann Davenport locos that run poorly, and they transformed the locomotives into some of my favorities. I tried adding a KA2 capacitor unit to a brass 2-6-0, and that worked wonders too. So, I had to try using KA2s to see if they would do the trick for my little Porters.

Here is my modified 0-4-2 wired to a KA2 capacitor module riding behind in a simple tender. Following Bachmann's documentation that comes with the loco, I first unsoldered the two leads running to the small capacitor Bachmann mounts in the sand dome and isolated the leads with heat shrink tubing. The blue and black/white wires leading from the side of the pc board are the new capacitor connections.

Next, I soldered new leads for right and left rail leads, and connected them to power pickups in the tender. The tender, built on a modified Bachmann passenger car truck, has 1/2 ounce of added weight to help it track properly. Tested everything, and had to crank my jaw up from the floor...the addition of four more wheels of pickup combined with the KA has transformed this locomotive to a reliable runner.

Here is the tender tank under construction. I have plans for a similar approach, but different tender tank, for my little 0-4-0. I can't overstate how much a difference this makes in transforming these locos. I will post photos of the finished projects, and can share a step-by-step if there's interest.

 

ne-alt-1.JPG 

See my website here: The  Maverick Canyon Branch of the Rio Grande Southern 
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PJCwasHere New member 4 posts
PJCwasHere

I'm very interested

I have the same problem with my 4 Porters!  I just bought a KA2 to trail and was greatly encouraged by your post.  I am a novice at DCC and would really, really love to see the step by step and photos for the porters.

Kind Regards,

Peter
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Verne Niner Frequent poster 890 posts
Verne Niner

Thanks

Peter, I will try to do a step by step...this really isn't a beginner's DCC project, but success depends mainly on being able to solder well...those tiny terminal sockets on the PC board require a fine tipped soldering iron and some soldering skill. There's a little pressure when operating on a $200 loco, but it's all worth it when it checks out ok and you get to fire it up!

ne-alt-1.JPG 

See my website here: The  Maverick Canyon Branch of the Rio Grande Southern 
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gnryrob Active Member 59 posts
gnryrob

The truck query

Verne,

The truck looks like one from the On30 passenger cars from Bachmann.  Were you able to order them from B'mann?

Thanks,

Rob Morrison
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gnryrob Active Member 59 posts
gnryrob

Step by step

Verne,

I would like to see more of how you did this also.

Rob Morrison
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Geared Steam Frequent poster 633 posts
Geared Steam

Truck....

Quote:

The truck looks like one from the On30 passenger cars from Bachmann.

 

Not a passenger car truck but perhaps this could work too, complete with power pickups. 

http://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_71_125&products_id=422

-Deano the Nerd

"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein

http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/

[two_truckin_sig_zps05ee1ff6%2B%25281%2529]
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Verne Niner Frequent poster 890 posts
Verne Niner

Thanks

The truck is indeed a modified Bachmann passenger truck. Good call, Rob - they are available in bubble-pack sets of one pair per package. Geared Steam, I suppose the shorter wheelbase truck would work, but the passenger truck gives a longer wheelbase for smooth tracking, a nice long top frame section to support decking for the tender, and is relatively heavy...to help ensure the pickup wheels do their job. However, the item would definitely look good on some critter!

ne-alt-1.JPG 

See my website here: The  Maverick Canyon Branch of the Rio Grande Southern 
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Leo Starrenburg Regular poster 211 posts
Leo Starrenburg

Bachmann spare On30 trucks

As it happened I just made a wee list of the spare trucks with their order numbers:

 

  • 29901   arch bar freight trucks, pair.  standard as under the On30 freight cars
  • 29902   passenger trucks, pair.   standard as under the On30 coaches
  • 29903   long wheelbase arch bar trucks, pair.   wee bit longer/bigger than the standard trucks
  • 29904   inverted arch bar trucks, pair.   these give a low ride
  • 29905   Vulcan trucks, pair.   short and sturdy, bit more modern truck for heavy haulage
  • 29906   freight car under frame, oxide red, 3 off.   use these with the freight trucks to create your own car
  • 29907   freight car under frame, black, 3 off.   use these with the freight trucks to create your own car

 

cheers, Leo

 

 

Farmers & Bluestone Railroad, a small On30 layout located in The Netherlands

 
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gnryrob Active Member 59 posts
gnryrob

Bachmann spare On30 trucks

Thanks Leo.

A note: 29902 passenger car trucks appear to be the only ones with electrical pickup.

 

Rob
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Leo Starrenburg Regular poster 211 posts
Leo Starrenburg

That's correct Rob

the passenger trucks come with a lead soldered on and you have to place the wheels the right way round on the track to get both + and - aka phase and zero.

Could well be that tender trucks with pick-up are available as spares from Bachmann USA, the trucks from the list are generally available in the LHS and web shops.

A wee phosphor-bronze strip on the arch bar trucks would do the trick as well, takes some work to install them.

 

cheers, Leo

Farmers & Bluestone Railroad, a small On30 layout located in The Netherlands

 
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Prof_Klyzlr Moderator 7,947 posts
Prof_Klyzlr

Pickups for all (trucks)...

Dear Leo,

...or you could do this...

http://www.55n3.org/cars/tender_wipers/

Works a treat in HO and On30 on most any truck I've applied them to...

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

PS also works great as a way of adding "calibrated drag" to Ho SG cars in micro/small layout switching service, to avoid most-if-not-all of the common "can't couple to a single car, they run away from the loco when pushed" and "spontaneous uncoupling over magnets due to uncontrolled slack-action" issues...

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drwonga New member 17 posts
drwonga

Thanks!

Thanks for the info - I'm looking to do the exact same thing on my 0-4-0 Porter!

Be Among The Giants - An On30 mining and logging railroad
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GregH New member 1 post
GregH

Keep Alive unit in Bachmann Porter 0-4-2

I realize I am a little late getting in the game, and after an absence in Model Railroading for 12 years I am getting back into it.   I am working in On30 scale, and have a Bachmann Porter with sound.  I am going to add a small tender to help with electrical pick-up but would like to wire in a Keep Alive unit.  Is there anyone who could give  brief step by step on which wires go where?  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks
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dahunt New member 2 posts
dahunt

Porter keep alive

David Popp of Model Railroader Magazine has a great video explains how to install one. In their Video Plus service . David Hunt

 
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Prof_Klyzlr Moderator 7,947 posts
Prof_Klyzlr

Search says...

Dear GregH, dahunt, No need to search out a video behind MR paywall, 10 secs with the Search box at top right of this page, with terms "porter keep alive", found the follow-up step-by-step to this thread... https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/13405 Happy Modelling, Aim to Improve, Prof Klyzlr PS Greg, sorry it's taken sooo long to reply to your question, over 6 months, it's likely you've already worked it out...
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David Stewart Regular poster 348 posts
David Stewart

Verne Niner's information here is wrong...

 Hooked up the way he describes will only prolong the sound...it will not power the motor.

This thread from Railroad Line:  http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=42624 gives the correct information.

David Stewart
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