Bachmann N Scale Doodlebug replacement gears?

[albabe63]

Does anyone know of a source for replacement gears for the Bachmann doodlebug (DCC version)? NWSL doesn’t have them, neither does Bachmann… They are different from the early doodlebug (and trolley) version in that the gear is offset on the shaft.

I tried to add a picture but railwire says I'm not allowed...
-alex-
Alex M. Postpischil
Winston-Salem, NC

[garethashenden]

I don’t know about the gears, but you have to have 25 posts before you can post pictures.

[albabe63]

I don’t know about the gears, but you have to have 25 posts before you can post pictures.

hmm...25 posts...given my _very_ infrequent activity here I suspect I'll be dead before I can post a pic then!
-alex-

[randgust]

Don't despair, worst case scenario is that you can replace the entire chassis with a Tomytec drive.

[peteski]

Hey Alex, looking at https://spookshow.net/loco/doodbug.html I suspect that the truck design has not changed between the original and 2nd run, except for changing the gear material from white to black. I have seen cracked/split gears made from either plastic.  No that this really answers your question.

Depending on the axle-tube/gear design and if you have the skills to do it, you might be able to repair them.  For an idea on how to do that see https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=49440.0 but I'm not sure if that method can be applied to the doodlebug gears.

[delamaize]

IMHO, just repower it.
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=45919.0

[albabe63]

Hey Alex, looking at https://spookshow.net/loco/doodbug.html I suspect that the truck design has not changed between the original and 2nd run, except for changing the gear material from white to black. I have seen cracked/split gears made from either plastic.  No that this really answers your question.

Depending on the axle-tube/gear design and if you have the skills to do it, you might be able to repair them.  For an idea on how to do that see https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=49440.0 but I'm not sure if that method can be applied to the doodlebug gears.

I’m not sure I could do this  repair as I don’t have a lathe or metal milling tools (and it seems unreasonable for me to spend that much money to make the collars for the repair). Similarly, the collars won’t work because the gears for the DCC version are not centered like the older versions. The drive gear is offset to one end (which, if I were allowed to post a pic everyone could see).

As for repowering it, I’m probably not going to go that route as it also means having to add a decoder and lose the interior details
-alex-

[albabe63]

Don't despair, worst case scenario is that you can replace the entire chassis with a Tomytec drive.

If I go that route it will likely happen after I make the Whitcombs I got from you sooooo long ago!
-alex-

[randgust]

Don't wait too long.   On the Whitcomb, only the ORIGINAL TM-series trucks with the longer wheelbase (end-axle pickup) and end gear tower design work with that.   Tomytec has changed their design to a center gear tower, (revised "R" design) which greatly reduces the space for motor and driveshaft, it won't fit the R versions.   I've been recommending the TM21 drive now, when you can even find it.

I have successfully used an ED01 chassis to make the Whitcomb 8x8 drive and pickup, but those drives are so pricey and unavailable I've never written a new set of instructions, just developed a working pilot model.

[albabe63]

Don't wait too long.   On the Whitcomb, only the ORIGINAL TM-series trucks with the longer wheelbase (end-axle pickup) and end gear tower design work with that.   Tomytec has changed their design to a center gear tower, (revised "R" design) which greatly reduces the space for motor and driveshaft, it won't fit the R versions.   I've been recommending the TM21 drive now, when you can even find it.

I have successfully used an ED01 chassis to make the Whitcomb 8x8 drive and pickup, but those drives are so pricey and unavailable I've never written a new set of instructions, just developed a working pilot model.

I have a bunch of the Tomix drives waiting to be installed in various projects (TM-03, TM-21), so I'm good. I just used up my last TM-01 in a little project, too.
-alex-

[Sumner]

     

James of James Trains has produced them (see above). I bought the ones shown above to have on hand. It seems the three Doodlebugs I have maybe don't have broken gears at this point but while they are available  More info from James about the Doodlebug and the gear problem ( HERE ) and ( HERE ).  You could order them on Shapeways.  Maybe contact him and see what the options might be now.

More on my decoder install in a Doodlebug here...

 https://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/Decoder-1/page-25.html

Sumner

[GGNInNScale]

As Sumner showed, there are options.  I designed and 3D resin printed gears for some old Atlas HO diesels.  The original gears crack after 20 or 30 years- usually it is a stress crack from the tension of the gear center hole against the axle.  You need the friction, but it comes with a long-term cost due to the physics of the situation and materials.  Plastic and concrete are very unhappy under tension...  There are gear designs, and methods for making gears on the internet.  Try the "Yeggi" search engine for gears and .stl , or Yahoo to get the methodology.  You might get someone on this site to print them for you if you have the basic file??

[Sumner]

.... There are gear designs, and methods for making gears on the internet.  ....

Not too hard with Fusion and...



.... the Gear software associated with it.  I did it for Bachmann DDA40X's, the older ones where the gears spit.



https://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/Locos-1/page-9.html

I don't need any for the Doodlebugs I have, at the moment anyway, and I'm short on time otherwise I'd offer to see what I could come up with.  Try James though for sure.

Sumner

[albabe63]

     

James of James Trains has produced them (see above). I bought the ones shown above to have on hand. It seems the three Doodlebugs I have maybe don't have broken gears at this point but while they are available  More info from James about the Doodlebug and the gear problem ( HERE ) and ( HERE ).  You could order them on Shapeways.  Maybe contact him and see what the options might be now.

Sumner

The webpage to buy the gears for James' page goes to a Shapeways (dead) link. I sent him an email on June 5th and have not received a response. Your "more info from James" links aren't working, the full url is missing. However, I'm pretty sure I've already read the information he had posted.
-alex-
Alex M. Postpischil
Winston-Salem, NC

[albabe63]

Not too hard with Fusion and...



.... the Gear software associated with it.  I did it for Bachmann DDA40X's, the older ones where the gears spit.

I don't need any for the Doodlebugs I have, at the moment anyway, and I'm short on time otherwise I'd offer to see what I could come up with.  Try James though for sure.

Sumner

I was going to comment that I don't have Fusion, but since it's free I downloaded from Autodesk...however it won't install on my computer (I suspect my OS is too old). So kind of a moot point...
-alex-
Alex M. Postpischil
Winston-Salem, NC