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Are All Porters Created Equal?

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  • #1

    Are All Porters Created Equal?

    I just purchased my second Bachmann porter from Ebay. The first was advertised as brand new and arrived in that condition. It ran very smooth and quiet. Very satisfied. The second one was also advertised as brand new and when it arrived it appeared to also be as advertised. However when I placed it on my test track it ran jerky and was certainly not as quiet as the first.

    Can purchasing these locos be a crapshoot or do you think I might have gotten a bit of a raw deal from the second seller. I know it is buyer beware but I was so pleased with the first purchase. What have others experienced?
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  • #2
    I had the same experience except both of mine were bought from the same dealer. After a bit of running in, the second one ran as smoothly as the first.

    On the other hand, I've read that Bachmann made a design change after the first ones were produced that made the later model run much smoother, so that could be your problem. I've also read that there is a simple fix for the early models (an electrical pickup problem, I think) but I don't know anymore about it. You might try a google search. There is tons of info about these porters on the internet.

    Good luck!

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    • #3
      Thanks...I am going to run it for awhile and see if the breakin time helps the situation. I have tried a couple of Google searches and no luck on the Porter tuneup. What do you recommend in order to narrow it so I can get the results I am looking for?

      Jeff

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      • #4
        quote:

        Originally posted by jburch

        Thanks...I am going to run it for awhile and see if the breakin time helps the situation. I have tried a couple of Google searches and no luck on the Porter tuneup. What do you recommend in order to narrow it so I can get the results I am looking for?

        Jeff,

        This is not specific to the On30 porters but a more general observation of B'mann locos - both On30 and HO. I have found a lot of variation in the valve gear, particularly the slide mechanisms. Some are too tight, more often too loose. By playing with and adjusting them I've gotten all but one if my B'mann locos to run well. (The exception is a 2-6-0 lost now in Philly.) I have 3 of the HO 0-6-0T mechanisms that I use as the basis of my Porter builds. One ran perfect, one ran with a kind of a lurch and the last after a bit just jammed up. I was able to get them all to work fine by adjusting the slide valve. My one 0-4-2T runs fine out of the box.

        Hope this is helpful.

        Robert

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        • #5
          Jeff,

          Have to agree with Robert. All my motive power is BMann. With a little fine tuning, careful and light lubing, and some "quality" break in running they all run better, smoother and quieter. Once they are running well, I install DCC in those without (even my Porters), and upgrade decoders in those DCC equipped. Then some digital fine tuning, and I have some smooth runners.

          It does take some time and effort, but the Bachmann locos are the only real game in town, short of more expensive MMI or brass imports. Besides, I can get three or four for the price of one!

          Howard
          If it ain\'t steam, it ain\'t...

          Comment

          • #6
            Jeff, (and others),

            One other observation. I have a 24" radius circle on a piece of plywood. After checking out and lubing with ATF when necessary, every mechanism I get is placed on this circle and run in both directions and at regularly varying speeds for hours sometimes as many as 8 or 10. Occasionally a mechanism will get worse in this break-in period which means there is a fundamental mechanical problem with it. The vast majority just get smoother and better as the hours tick off.

            I have on occasion left a loco over night circling endlessly in the dark. Think about it for a minute. In normal operations, it would take years for a mechanism to get 10 hours of running time. A locomotive is a mechanical device. They need to run to establish the equilibrium that a well broken in machine has.

            Robert

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            • #7
              Jeff-

              You might try asking on one of the Yahoo groups - On30Conspiracy is very active.

              Also, http://www.all-model-railroading.co....splay.php?f=69 has some very knowledgeable

              On30 folks.

              Also, the trains.com forum have huge message bases and a good search mechanism.

              Finally, you might start by going to http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/ and asking the site owner about this. I can't recall his name offhand, but he is very knowledgeable about Bachmann On30 equipment and very helpful.

              By the way, I couldn't find anything useful with Google either, but surely some of the folks above can help.

              Comment

              • #8
                quote:

                Originally posted by HarryHotspur

                Jeff-

                Finally, you might start by going to http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/ and asking the site owner about this. I can't recall his name offhand, but he is very knowledgeable about Bachmann On30 equipment and very helpful.

                Jeff,

                (hminky) http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/ is also a member on this site, maybe he will see your post and reply to you.


                Louis L&R Western Railroad
                Pacific Northwest Logging in the East Coast

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                • #9

                  The change (this was the 0-4-0) was the wheel pick-up contacts. The earlier use a plunger/spring arrangement, resistance heat lead to the springs losing tension. The fix was a replacement of the plunger springs with a Kadee coupler spring.

                  The later 0-4-0s use the wiper arrangement as the 0-4-2. Hope that helps. Good luck.

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                  • #10
                    BigLars and I have been discussing by PM old and new Porters.

                    I have a 0-4-0 Porter and a 0-4-2 Porter in front of me. If I look at the bottom of both units I see 4 little brass wipers, one by each wheel. Are these the new Porters?
                    Tom M.

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                    • #11
                      Tom,

                      If you can see the brass wipers you have the new ones.

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        All I know, is that I got 2 "Boss" porters.....they both run like tops....

                        The run in is the ticket as far as I am concerned!


                        The Geezer

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                        • #13
                          Geezer,

                          Those Porters still run after visiting the TML back shops. You need to buy some lotto tickets .

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            NO Way!!! Great job!! Sometimes, I even see a whisp of smoke!!!

                            LMAO!!! (From under the boiler????) LOLOLOLOL!


                            Geezer

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