Warren Mumpower said:In addition some more information for you, Warren. I had yesterday a phone-call with the new established customer-service from LGB/Trix (Märklin) in Nuremberg. The boss of this team told me, that he knows this locomotive pretty well. He comes from production department of LGB. The problem is, that Aster modified the gearbox and he confessed, that this locomotive is better for displaying then for running on a layout. It might only run several hours, before gearing and motor will be destroyed. Finally he told me, that the gearbox and motor of the second edition of the plastic Mikado is much better, then the frist edition. LGB had big problems with the first ones and had many complaints from their customers. Because it is not easy to change the LGB/ASTER gearbox against the LGB/Mikado-gearbox I will travel to Nuremberg to check whether my locomotive is different to the model, which they have still there. If you like, I'll keep you informed. Please let me know. Regards Michael
If by chance you have a friend that has the plastic LGB Mike, try that on your layout. If it runs and pulls ok then the problem is your locomotive as they both have the same mechanism.
I would be very interested in what occurs. I’ve heard that a lot of people have had problems with both the Aster Mike and the plastic one. I guess I’m just lucky. I’ve never had problems with mine. Of course I don’t run it to death but it does get run on occasion. I’ve had this one since they were first released.
Well, folks, that’s it.
Last night at our club, Aster/LGB White Pass #73 finally fell off its perch.
It came to a grinding halt, and I mean grinding, after seven minutes running on rollers, accompanied by a smell like a burning radio-set from the 1950’s.
It is now dead, defunct, passed on/away, late and snuffed.
So much for Herr Richter’s promise that it would last forever.
It will have to await our return from the PNW in mid-january ere I can summon up the strength to do something about it - quite what, I do not yet know, since it is obvious that Herr Richter’s letter to me is just so much bum-wipe.
There is no LGB repair facility here in UK, and I stay away from Germany as much as possible, having lived there for eight years.
And for those of you whose loco still works, enjoy in good health.
tac - seriously pissed off
Well Terry, it can always serve as a rusted out wreck at the bottom of the trestle. 
TAC
I’m sorry for your loss.
At least it’s a nice looking shelf queen…
Warren exits stage right ------------------>>
Terry A de C Foley said:
Well, folks, that's it.Last night at our club, Aster/LGB White Pass #73 finally fell off its perch.
It came to a grinding halt, and I mean grinding, after seven minutes running on rollers, accompanied by a smell like a burning radio-set from the 1950’s.
It is now dead, defunct, passed on/away, late and snuffed.
So much for Herr Richter’s promise that it would last forever.
It will have to await our return from the PNW in mid-january ere I can summon up the strength to do something about it - quite what, I do not yet know, since it is obvious that Herr Richter’s letter to me is just so much bum-wipe.
There is no LGB repair facility here in UK, and I stay away from Germany as much as possible, having lived there for eight years.
And for those of you whose loco still works, enjoy in good health.
tac - seriously pissed off
TAC
That poor engine probably suffered from the Squirrel syndrome - running on rollers and all that! 
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:Not so, H-J - our club layout is 00/H0 - I just took the loco along to show the guys there what 'large scale' was about. I took my Accucraft K-27 and three-cylinder Shay, NG/G16 Garratt, Bachmann Shay, Heisler and Climax, too, as well as a couple of Gauge 1 German pacifics.
TAC - That poor engine probably suffered from the Squirrel syndrome - running on rollers and all that! :(
ALL performed perfectly on rollers, even the steamies.
Dunno quite what to do now…I really can’t afford to have a $5000 shelf-queen.
tac
How’s your modeling skills Terry? Maybe you could dig around and find a main circuit board from something Aristocraft and use that and a new motor…essentially gutting the locomotive and starting over on the inside. Even if it cost you several hundred to fix it right that would be better than an expensive shelf queen or a locomotive that works…sometimes half assed.
I just got a message from Michael Markus…the gentleman who brought this post back to life…and he took his into the LGB Service Center in Nuremberg. Though he has yet to get it back, he was very impressed with the service tech he spoke with.
This may be your best bet to get yours going again Terry. You may have to bite the bullet and deal with them in Germany…even if it’s by phone and mail.
Warren Mumpower said:Yo Warren, Old Floon - my mechanical modelling skills are pretty good- after all, I build live steam stuff. From what I recall of the three previous clunkers, all of which did the same thing, this is purely a 'motor matter' - certainly the smell is coming from there and not from the smoke-box where all the 'demonic electronics' are located.
How's your modeling skills Terry? Maybe you could dig around and find a main circuit board from something Aristocraft and use that and a new motor...essentially gutting the locomotive and starting over on the inside. Even if it cost you several hundred to fix it right that would be better than an expensive shelf queen or a locomotive that works...sometimes half assed.
I’ll give the Nuremburg bunch a call in the New Year, after we get back from Oregon.
What I’d like to do is to replace ALL the motor-y bits with a gear train that actually stands the weight of the model - something I suspect is at the heart of this problem. We’ll be in San Francisco for a short while this time - wojja think about calling up the LGBoA boys on the off-chance they gots something?
Or would I be wasting precious time?
Besp
tac
TAC,
Perhaps my memory is fading, but I seem to remember that any of the ASTER/LGB had to be handled by Nürnberg.
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:o.
TAC, Perhaps my memory is fading, but I seem to remember that any of the ASTER/LGB had to be handled by Nürnberg.
Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad news.
That will cost a ton of money…either to send or to go.
tac
What can it hurt to call Sandy Eggo. The worst fate would be that they would say “no”. On the other hand they may part with the latest motor/gear box from the current Mike and you could make it work. That sounds like what Nuremberg is going to do to Michael’s loco.
Personally, if my ever gives up the ghost…at least before I do…I would be tempted to put in a Pittman motor and brass gears…from Northwest Shortline or someone similar. Hey, if you are going to Oregon soon, you would be in the area of NWSL. Why not talk to them. Worst case there is you would get an “I don’t know” response. On the other hand you might actually get to speak to another human being with some intelligence on the matter.
Oh, you might also have a talk with Barry at Barry’s Big Trains too. He might have some suggestions.
Warren Mumpower said:
What can it hurt to call Sandy Eggo. The worst fate would be that they would say "no". On the other hand they may part with the latest motor/gear box from the current Mike and you could make it work. That sounds like what Nuremberg is going to do to Michael's loco.Personally, if my ever gives up the ghost…at least before I do…I would be tempted to put in a Pittman motor and brass gears…from Northwest Shortline or someone similar. Hey, if you are going to Oregon soon, you would be in the area of NWSL. Why not talk to them. Worst case there is you would get an “I don’t know” response. On the other hand you might actually get to speak to another human being with some intelligence on the matter.
Oh, you might also have a talk with Barry at Barry’s Big Trains too. He might have some suggestions.
Thanks, warren - all good advice there… I keep reminding folks that there ARE some clever people living in Spokane.
BTW, are Bing Crosby and the the Crosby Boys still there? ; )
Best wishes to the Mumpowers and the Kiigimagi family [just in case you bump into my old pal Pete]
tac
Terry, my young friend;
As per the Python gang; you must take another look......"It ISN'T DEAD; it's just resting.........!!!!!!!!"Fred Mills said:aaah. riiiiiight.
Terry, my young friend; As per the Python gang; you must take another look......"It ISN'T DEAD; it's just resting.........!!!!!!!!"
poke poke…
Nope, it’s dead alright.
tac
And Merry Christmas to you too Terry. And a safe trip over to visit Richard.
I have the feeling, that I have to explain a little bit more concerning the construction of the LGB/Aster-Loco.
This is, what the boss of the newly established service-crew of LGB/Märklin told me in Nuremberg:
“LGB did the construction of the motor/gearing-unit of this loco as they did before with other LGB/Aster-locos. The Aster-people modified this unit and this seems to be the mistake. That’s why it became weak. The motor-unit of the LGB (plastic) Mikado (latest edition) has been modified by the (old) LGB-people again and has become stronger.”
This unit will now be attached to my LGB/Aster White Pass #73, but the service-man told me, that I should not expect to get a really strong engine back. It will run and it will (hopefully) climb my mountains.
To all of you a Merry Christmas and a peacefull and happy New Year.
Best regards from Germany
Michael
Markus,
A mike is not made to climb mountains!
That is the job for the geared locomotives.
TAC
Drop it off at TOC’s for a complete rework. Then I’ll pick it up and use it until you come back next year.
Just like building a hot rod: New motor, gears, etc.
TOG