B'mann / NWSL Climax gears

Dear Joe, Adrian,

A quick check of the NWSL site shows that part #s 2802-6 (2 truck) and 2803-6 (3 truck) Climax gear sets are indeed the TRUCK bevel gears, not the Cross-box or Reduction Gearbox sections in the middle of the loco.

The Bachmann website provides exploded diagrams of the central gearbox for both locos,

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/H828X-IS001.PDF

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/HO_70_TON_3_TRUCK_CLIMAX_DCC_EXPLODED_DRAWING_H829X_(2).pdf

and offers an "Sold Out" status chassis+gearbox assembly spare-part for a bit over US$130 :-(

http://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_68_153&products_id=6491

SOOOO, things don't look promising, assuming one (only) is a
"I just take it out of the box and run it, I'd never take off the shell myself" level modeller...

EDIT: A further deeper search on the NWSL site does reveal part #s 2280-6 (12 Tooth) and 2905-6 (10 Tooth) internal gearbox gears for the Climaxes.

http://shop.osorail.com/category.sc?categoryId=97 

These may be relevant to Adrian's inquiry, I would reccomend answering the diagnostic questions asked below, to ascertain whether they are appropriate or not in this particular instance...

Assuming $$$ is no-object, geared-loco-specialists such as

"Floyd the Shay Fixer"
http://www.shayfixer.com/

or Keith Wiseman of "Wiseman's Models"
http://www.locopainter.com/

MAY be able to assist. (Whether they want to is a different question ).
However, as skilled as these guys are, a lack of available spare parts may still be a show-stopper... :-(

That said, if one is willing to take their Climax apart into many more pieces that they ever expected to,
and have a patient, logical, and methodical trouble-shooting approach,
it may be possible to channel one's "Inner Bernd"
https://forum.mrhmag.com/journals-was-blogs-891775 

and repair the most-likely "split gear", at minimal cost, using the available parts. Previous postings here onlist (use the Search box at top right of this page with terms "shay split gear fix") have outlined various adhesives, techniques (heat welding), and mechanical re-inforcements (brass sleeves, wire-wraps, etc) which are all fair-game in getting locos with rare components back to operating condition.

I'd ask the following questions, so we could at least start to get an idea of exactly where the issue lies.

If _analog_ power is applied: 
- Does the motor audibly start spinning?
- Are the cross-shaft/cranks/pistons moving?
- Is the output shaft of the cross-box (where it feeds fore/aft into the Uni/sleeve/uni driveshafts) moving?
- Are the Uni/sleeve/unit driveshafts between the gearbox and the trucks moving?
(It's assumed the wheels are not moving at this time,
although for the 3-trucker, it may be worth removing the 3rd-truck/bunker unit and testing the loco as a "2-trucker", to simplify the diagnostics)

The answers to these questions will help identify where in the drive-train/signal-path the "break"
(split-gear, airgap, slipping-shaft, whatever) is located,
and hopefully provide a guide as to "how far does the loco need to be disassembled" to resolve the issue...

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Diagnose Effectively,
Prof Klyzlr

Your link to the "inner Bernd" got me nowhere

Page not found...

Bachmann Parts

Bachmann does sell the requisite parts, however taking these things apart ... ( well actually taking it apart isn’t so bad, getting it back together is another story)!!

There are 3 parts, all labelled “driveline”, if possible, get the ones with metal gears.

I was planning to do a video next time I take one apart. Have a 2 truck and 3 truck that need repairing, I believe the gearbox is the same in both. At the moment I have too many other projects on the go to tackle these yet.

The issue is that the gears split, then they just spin on the shaft and no power gets transferred.

When the Bachmann Spectrum

When the Bachmann Spectrum Climax has a running motor, a spinning crankshaft, but has no movement, the the cause is inside the center gear of a Climax 2-truck or 3-truck. The small bevel pinion is the one which fails. It wears out and lost the meshing to it's counterpart.

You have one chance. Use NWSL washers to shim the combined bevel pinion and spur gear between casing and flange. Try with washers of different thickness until the mesh is restored and the gear still runs freely.

Lutz