Bachmann HO Shay and radius

[West Virginia Midland Man]

Does anyone have the Bachmann HO Shay? If so, will it handle a 15" radius? I can't do any better on the Sugar Creek mine branch.

 

[hamltnblue]

I don't know if it handles 15 inch but it might.
I had one and sold it a while back.
I miss that little engine. Didn't fit in with my layout but was fun to watch.

 

[Selector]

I hope the powers that be don't mind my linking to another forum, but when I googled the question, this is the first item that had the apparent results showing in the few words under the title.

http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/p/64992/798854.aspx#798854

 

[Trussrod]

Hi WVMM,
I don't have a Bachmann Shay either, I have two MDC Shay's, but as I recall I think the BShay will only handle an 18" radius? You probably need to check the Bachmann site to be sure. Their Shays are very nicely detailed which I really like.

I was very interested in the Bachmann Climax with the Inclined piston rods on each side but there was a problem there for me to as that loco wouldn't negotiate a radius less than 22" and most all my mainline radiuses are 20" and the logging tracks will be 18" or less, I going to have test my shays out to see what they will handle to be sure.

I'm not sure if Bachmann uses a central drive like MDC or not for their Shay but an easy way to gain more radius truck movement with the MDC is to relieve the outer edge of the journal coupling so the trucks can piviot more freely. Bachmann shays may be similiar as well as their climax which I know is a central too.

Not sure if I've helped or not but maybe?

 

[Trussrod]

The issue of the Jack-Shaft & coupling length on the Shay drive line can be the deciding factor! Those are the square sleeve and square shaft the sleeve slips over. Depending on the length of each that is the determining factor as to weather on a Left hand turn they become disconnedted?

Now I did read where on fellow said that his take a 15" radius with extra effort but they seem to work alright, I guess.

The other thing you need to be concerned with if the engine is bogged down too much is that it might be putting a little too much stress of the bevel drive gears on the wheels and or the drive line. I read somewhere about replacement drive lines, I believe it was as the factory ones weren't quite strong enough?

So, more to think about.

maybe in the spot where the tight curve is you can lessen the curve slightly. I had to do this with my hand laid track on wood ties and the rail is more to one side than it should be but the problem is solved.

I'll just ued the excuse the treack gang had a little to much to drink that day!

 

[TMLW]

The one i have has trouble on 18". The tender likes to come off.