My Bachmann Spectrum 2-6-0 Mogul #138 running on my track for the very first time.
I've had this little loco for several months, and,except for running it on my desktop test track, it has languished in my closet since .
I bought a TCS #1525 WOW121 steam ,21 pin drop in sound decoder, which I installed, and then did another test run on my desk top.
It ran for about 5 minutes back and forth,and suddenly came to a stop.
And wouldn't move.
Fearing the worst, I examined the drive rods, and it was exactly as I expected: one of the guide rods on the steam chest had came off due to the cheap glue that Bachmann uses to join the guide to the plastic retainer.
The rod had came off the guide, which was now somewhat twisted.
This is a common problem with the Bachmann 2-6-0 On30 Mogul.
So, I fixed it as well as I could by straightening the rod guide, and then applying some B7000 glue on both joints where the plastic and metal pieces come together.
A little masking tape to hold them in in place finished the job.
The mogul was put back in its' box,and placed on the back burner while I built my new diesel trains.
In the interim, I ordered replacement parts from Bachmann for the mogul.
The parts arrived, but the guides on both steam chests(I ordered 2) were already slightly twisted ,and the chests will require a repaint before installation, but for now they're staying in my extra parts bin for the On30 trains until needed.
Flash foreward to today when I decided to finally pull it out and give it a test on the full track.
I'm happy to report that my repairs have worked, and,for now, it's still factory original.
The only problems are the dead spots on my track, and the non-working headlight.
