Large Scale Central

Aristo Tech Support

General Discussion
#1

While I was doing the c-16/bug mauler bash (see the current & future products thread) the polarity marks came off the wiring for the connector plug on the tender. Only 2 pin, not a big deal, it’s either right, or a dead short. Still, I thought I’d query Aristo tech support, since none of their online drawings show it. Simple question, simple answer, right?

WRONG! A fellow named Navin responded (after 3 or so days) to tell me that I HAVE to send the tender AND loco in “for repairs” instead. to quote the kiddies “Like WTF?”. I sent him a polite response outlining why this was not an acceptable solution, and… no reply.

Is this their usual way of dealing with customer questions? Why bother even HAVING tech support if it is. Wanting someone to pay a bunch of freight and risking damage to a one off custom piece (and maybe having them send you a “stock replacement” in return) for a 2 minute soldering job is beyond stupid, it’s arrogant.

#2

welcome to the wonderful world of Aristo where most if not all they’re engines are not wired completely, properly, or according to Hoyle by their own admission. I have two of them now. The Regal

Oh! p.s. I’m now waiting for the motor blocks wheel sets or whatever to start locking up or going beserk, as I’ve been told to wait and see if I got a Mallet from them that was the old whatever and may have this problem. Really like the engine but so far believe some of it is wired wrong, and now waiting for the other problem to crap up!!

#3

I’ve generally had good luck with their customer support. Navin manages repairs. That sounds like an odd response, like he didn’t get the nature of the problem. But it’s also true that Aristo locos are wired kind of “eccentrically,” sometimes. He may have figured it was easier on his end to just ask you to send it in than to step through a repair process. Either way, not a good response

#4

I’d call Navin on the phone. He’s probably not able to take the time to explain in detail in an email. There is probably a test procedure he needs to go through to figure it out because there is no wire color codes. I’ve never had a problem dealing with him in person or on the phone.

You should be able to figure it out pretty simply with an ohm meter. Go between a tender wheel and the plug. When you get 0 ohms that’s the one connected to the wheel you’re touching with the meeter. Do the same on the engine side then match them up.

#5

Mik,
use a low amperage power unit to establish your polarity. I use this method regularly. One could also use a multimeter but that would spoil all the fun. Like Aristo-Craft, LGB were not always methodical in their wiring of locomotives/tenders and thus while a terminal may have been marked with a ‘+’, it did not necessarily imply that the polarity was correct. When one connected the banana plugs for through power between a loco and a tender, there are two outcomes. Firstly the loco will move (polarity correct) and secondly, there will be no response from the loco (polarity incorrect). I would not try this foolproof method on power units with high amperage outputs or you will let the smoke out with devastating effects.

 Navin, at Aristo, is regarded as a godlike figure and is the backbone of their tech repairs section.  I feel that there is nothing he does not know when it comes to fixing any Aristo product.  It is more Technical Repairs rather than Technical Support.