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 Posted - January 31 2019 : 5:51:39 PM
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its at reliable as a bachmann track cleaning loco. seen so many of these at train shows because know one wants them! unless you want to do a rebuild, or just display the loco, don't buy it, has to be one of tyco's biggest failers.
just a maintenance tip, your struggle is now salved.
with older loco's, always research there problems and there performance before collecting them. many locos have how to's online to get them running reliable, in most cases it takes a lot of care, buying new parts, and making new parts or modifying parts. there is a Chattanooga upgrade page that i seen, and the efforts it takes to get one running without falling to pieces is about not worth doing.
also watch out for a few low cost new models. bachmann has been selling out some bad quality stuff in the last few years, i received a n scale loco with broken parts. also if its bachmann and it looks british, it is not ho as labled, its oo, and the construction of thomas is a maintenance nightmare, and its small n scale type motor is light and a bit crappy, and the engine has vary low traction, with no space to add good weight, even when you remove the moving eye parts. even of you could make it heavier, the motor wont take it, the loco's life as is is short, on top of it all, its not even scaled properly to even oo scale, it is quite tall and narrow, not a mod worthy loco, unless you want to just save the metal chassis and wheels, witch are descent.
so for all you knew to locomotive repair or even new to the hobby, its aways important to do your research, just because it looks good, doesn't mean it is good.
i have been fixing trains for a long time now, if you wish, you may message me for more advise or help
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Member Since: January 29 2019 ~
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Posted - January 31 2019 : 8:33:27 PM
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Good to know. Lot of less than excellent locomotive stuff,
out there, both vintage and brand spanking new.
I replaced all the Tyco PT motors with the older, sturdy
MU2 motors. Two Tyco Sharks got custom milled
Model Power chassis with fly wheels.
Check out this vintage of a Tyco Chatanooga ad, note the
front driver is derailed. Great ad though: this is the
stuff that I love about Tyco.
https://youtu.be/YKHHnNT7h8I
Edited by - Chops124 on January 31 2019 8:34:06 PM
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Posted - April 06 2019 : 3:04:18 PM
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Thanks for the warning. Unfortunately, it came a little late for me. Or maybe I like challenges - not sure which. But I want to rebuild my 080 Clementine which is similar to the Chattanooga. Can you direct me to a spec diagram or directions I can refer too? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
David Young
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Posted - April 07 2019 : 03:40:53 AM
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There are a number of DYI Tyco pancake motor repair videos out
there. I rebuilt a PT motor a while back, and it ran great...for about
three yards before bursting into gray smoke billowing out the windows
and portholes. Some guys, and this is probably on Youtube as well,
have replaced the rotors with CD ROM drive rotors with good result.
The additional issue I have with the PT motor is the crummy, fragile
pinion gear that is prone to slippage. Having said that, RP Model
Railroads of this site, runs a "Pure Tyco" layout and rarely seems to
have issue.
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Posted - April 08 2019 : 10:00:50 AM
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Yeah, in terms of Tyco, I personally prefer the "Red Box Era" MU-2 style motors - from when Tyco made their train products in the USA. The motors are of higher quality and seem to last forever.
The PowerTorques on the other hand....most of them have a limited lifetime. I've had several PT motors pop the main drive "pinion" gear - recently my Chattanooga Steamer had this issue, and now is waiting on the sidelines until I can get some parts.
As Chops mentioned, PT motors are prone to smoking. HOWEVER, from my experience anyway, this does NOT mean the motor is completely burned out. Not too long ago, when I went to run my A-Team Shark on RETRO TYCO, it stopped working and gray smoke billowed out of the windows. A few weeks later, however, I put it back on the tracks and to my surprise, it worked!! Not sure if that was a fluke, but....
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." - Matthew 5:16
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/rpmodelrailroads
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rp_model_railroads/
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