Anybody out there still running their 2011 (DCC) Bachmann Doodlebug?

[spookshow]

I just pulled one of my Doodlebugs out of the display case for the first time in forever and was surprised to find that it's now making an annoying thump-thump-thump "bad gear" type noise. And checking my other Doodlebug (also not run for years), it's doing the same thing. These are the updated DCC-equipped versions with the black gears and I thought that said black gears were suppose to be an upgrade over the shrinky white gears used in the first run, but maybe not. Anybody else running into this problem with the second version?

Thanks,
-Mark

[peteski]

No, those black gears with axle toubes holding half-axles are also prone to cracking - just not as frequently as the white gears.  Welcome to Bachmann's world.  But even Kato has problems with similar type of cracking (although usually those are the universal couplings on the motor and worm shafts, and of course the drive's axles of their GS4 loco).

[spookshow]

Well that sucks, I guess I'll have to go award them a retroactive "F" 

-Mark

[Sumner]

https://jamestrainparts.com/ had replacement gears.  I ordered a set but don't see them now.  I think he had them on Shapeways and then they went down.  Maybe see if he has them back up again there or someplace else.

I designed and printed gears for the 2nd gen DDA40X.  Info and print file links for those ( HERE ).  Might be able to do that for the Doodlebug at some point if there is interest (I'm thinking they are probably different but haven't checked).

I did convert an earlier Doodlebug to DCC ( HERE ).

Sumner

[delamaize]

Eh.
Do like most of us did, and fix it once and for all.

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=45919.0

Well worth the effort. I love mine now.

[peteski]

https://jamestrainparts.com/ had replacement gears.  I ordered a set but don't see them now.  I think he had them on Shapeways and then they went down.  Maybe see if he has them back up again there or someplace else.

I designed and printed gears for the 2nd gen DDA40X.    Might be able to do that for the Doodlebug at some point if there is interest (I'm thinking they are probably different but haven't checked).

3D printed axle-tubes/gears can crack too.  Part of the problem is that Bachman metal parts (axles) have crappy tolerances where some are oversize causing excessive stress on the plastic tubes, while other examples (where the axle dimension is closer to specs) will not cause cracking.

[spookshow]

Thanks Sumner, I emailed James an inquiry about the gears. Not really interested in taking on a major repowering project, particularly one that requires a lot of surgery on the donor chassis. As for the replacement gears also cracking, oh well, so it goes. I guess I'll just need to buy lots of them (if I can still get them).

-Mark

[spookshow]

No word from James yet, but after reading his blog it's my understanding that most of his time is now taken up by his custom layout building business, so it may be a while before I hear back from him.

-Mark

[jjb62556]

I tried contacting him on his N scale Commonwealth truck frames for Atlas trucks and never did here back.

[spr1955]

I also reached out to James about the gear but never heard, this was this summer.

I am going to convert it. Just need to move it up the list.

[nscaler711]

3D printed axle-tubes/gears can crack too.  Part of the problem is that Bachman metal parts (axles) have crappy tolerances where some are oversize causing excessive stress on the plastic tubes, while other examples (where the axle dimension is closer to specs) will not cause cracking.

I had tried something similar with Styrene tubing but it had split as well. Brass tube had never crossed my mind...
thanks for posting this!

[peteski]

I had tried something similar with Styrene tubing but it had split as well. Brass tube had never crossed my mind...
thanks for posting this!

I'm glad to help out.
I posted a full thread about this fix back in 2020. Maybe you missed it.
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=49440.0

[brill27mcb]

Pete, I have been unable to find that thin-wall brass tubing that you used for fixing the split gears. I'm not sure that they offer it anymore.

Rich K.

[peteski]

Pete, I have been unable to find that thin-wall brass tubing that you used for fixing the split gears. I'm not sure that they offer it anymore.

Rich K.

Unfortunately my source (Special Shapes Co.) was acquired by K&S Metals some years ago and they seem to have discontinued carrying many of the Spacial Shapes items (like thin-wall brass tubing).

I seem to recall @mmagliaro mentioned that Albion alloys in UK carries a line of similar tubing.  There might be other sources (I still have a small stash of Special Shapes tubing left).

[spookshow]

I'm curious about the mechanics of this. If the plastic gear sleeve is cracked, but the gear itself is intact, where does the thump-thump-thump noise come from? I would think that the axle tips would slip inside of the cracked sleeve and simply stop spinning...?

-Mark