Large Scale Central

It's starting to happen!

Electronics Power and Sound
#1

What is?
Yesterday, I was running my LGB Uintah mallet, with the newly installed onboard Airwire and P5.
All was fine, and then she started faltering like an Aristo on dirty track! :slight_smile: :slight_smile:
I pulled it up and could smell it was running hot.

Maybe there wasn’t enough air circulation. She’s pretty closed up.
So I pop off the boiler and run her with all her guts right out in the open.
Same thing.
Nose test resulted in a “burn smell.”
I felt all over the wiring and the boards. They were cool.
Then I felt the motor block.
You guessed it! LGB motor shot in the rear block!
I pulled the front one and she was fine.

Now what?
I’m on a Bhueler motor hunt. With LGB TU and all that.
Those SOB’s left me with 3 mallets, 3 moguls, 1 Mike, 2 Forneys, 2 Davenports, 2 Porters, 2 Ge-III’s, 2 Croks, and various other things without a parts source.

I believe there is a consumer law on the books somewhere, that states manufacturer’s MUST stock at least 10 years of parts after they go TU.

Oh, I almost forgot.
MY LGB Jumbo went out right before I started converting to Batt/RC.
Sheeeesh…

jb

#2

I guess we all know who John can blame.

#3
TonyWalsham said:
I guess we all know who John can blame.
Wellllllllll it won't be RCS, right? ;)
#4
TonyWalsham said:
I guess we all know who John can blame.
Yep, Not blaming anyone. Just LGB! You'd a thunk a company, especially a German one that had been in business for a hunnert years would still be around, wouldn't you.

It shows that anything can happen at any time.
I will bet that if things keep going as they are now, GM, Ford, and Chrysler will close their gas guzzling SUV divisions and lay off thousands of workers. It’s coming!

The company I worked for was in business 95 years! Went TU a few years ago.

jb

#5

The only question you need ask to find out who to blame is; how come after 100 + years of operation a long respected LS manufacturer can go belly up?
No matter how much handwringing and bank blaming takes place there is only one answer.
The two young turks stuffed up.
BIG TIME.
It is now the consumer who is likely going to suffer whilst the cuplrits are yet to have to answer any “awkward” questions.

BTW.
RCS is not going to fail.
Period.
Unless of course my target market collapses completely.
Or: I retire.
Fail? NO!

In most depressions the upper middle class always still has disposable income. I refuse to get sucked in trying to compete for the bottom end of the market.
I stay alive in the face of low cost competition from China by making stuff that works and is reliable.
I do not rely upon, or even contemplate catering for, the “geek” market many of my competitors so energetically chase.

#6

edited

#7

Hmm. Always seemed to me those Unintah locos were pretty good.

#8
Tom Ruby said:
Hmm. Always seemed to me those Unintah locos were pretty good.
It was, since 1995, when I bought it. At the time, it was the biggest investment (1500.00) I had ever spent on a single loco. It has been run quite a bit, so I 'spose it was due.
#9

Yes.
…and taxes.

But I will not be closing down because of lack of business. Which is how I interpreted your initial statement.

Quote:
. No one is safe. (from closing up) Not even Tony Walsham. Or CVP.
#10

Oh, by the way, I was digging thru the back room at the same local dealer today and found 4 Bhueler motors!
Yah-hoo. I bought all four.
Not exactly the same ones as came out of the Uintah, but I made them fit!
I’m still going to keep on looking for the exact motors for this model.

jb

#11

John,
what better tech support than you have here? Tony is ‘on call’ 24 hours a day. He is not just a ‘local dealer’ or tech support, he manufactures the product. Bear in mind that a local dealer is going to support a product he gets the most financial return on and is Airwire backward compatable and do Airwire provide a repair service for even their most obsolescent first run items - Tony does!

  Also with Buhler motors I have yet to find out how to reposition the worm drive gear on the motor shaft.  Those things seem to be welded to the shaft.  I have tried an old technique of inserting the gear in a gas flame to expand it but no joy.
#12

Gentlemen.

Thank you for the kind words.

I guess what I was trying to say is, that the way I run my business I consider it pretty well recession proof.
Most of the customers I deal with Worldwide have a somewhat higher disposable income than many.
Unless there is a total financial meltdown of all societies what I lose on the swings I gain on the roundabouts.

I am a one man band with some (very) loyal dealers who have supported me since I started doing this stuff over 20 years ago when there were very few R/C controllers suitable for LS battery R/C.
In 1988 I introduced the first battery R/C controllers using regular 2 stick type R/C that were guaranteed “glitch free”. A boon that saved LGB gearboxes.
In 1992 I had the very first dedicated R/C system for model train use. Apart from a system Lionel came out with in the 40’s.
I have survived the arrival of AristoCraft, Locolinc and Airwire. All made either in Korea, China or Taiwan.
No big stocks of inventory for me.
Sure I get stuck with some mistakes, but fortunately they are only occasional.

I surely understand that having a local dealer on the ground is very beneficial to sales.
Helped of course by big spread advertising to grab interest. Adverstising I cannot afford.

I too was one for “improving” stuff at first. I made one or two changes early on to the way the RCS system worked. Boy did I get an earful from one expatriate Aussie (now American Citizen) for doing that. A successful businessman, he gave me some very sage advice that I listened to.
The advice, “don’t re-invent the wheel”. If works, leave it alone.
I don’t want to get too big. I want to stay in control. I realise what my limitations are at running an expanding business.

I offer my thanks for all those that have, and continue, to support RCS.
Hence all RCS stuff is backwardly compatible. Even the old TX’s can work any new controllers with a couple of small mods and a new label.

#13

I have bought RCS products since 1998. The product support is the reason I keep purchasing the same style products. The transmitters are easy to hold and use by all ages. I had my 3 year old granddaughter doing switching moves on Wednesday. When I convert another engine with sound and all the bells and whistles, it will be with RCS products. Tony, Dave and Don keep everyone happy and have answers to all my questions, even the ones about other products. Guys, Thank you.

#14

Me likey me RCS 2!

the Service is above Stellar!

many thanks 2 Dave & Tony…my local Tech support has a hotline # avail most anytime that I’m working on trains…4258233507

#15

First, a disclaimer. Both Tony, and TOC, are advertisers here.

I’ve had RCS systems since, oh, gawd, 1994? When did Don Sweet first start selling them? I bought my first couple from him, then I got some from Tony, and the latest one, and some service issues through TOC. The service has been great, I’ve had one controller fail on me, and the replacement was an uprated one no charge.

I like the small size of the handheld piece, and the fact that Tony IS a one man show, and that EVERY customer means a great deal to him.

My 2c. YMMV

#16
Tim Brien said:
John, what better tech support than you have here? Tony is 'on call' 24 hours a day. He is not just a 'local dealer' or tech support, he manufactures the product. Bear in mind that a local dealer is going to support a product he gets the most financial return on and is Airwire backward compatable and do Airwire provide a repair service for even their most obsolescent first run items - Tony does!
Tim, I agree with you! TOC has helped me tear down Bachmann's to install his competitor's equipment. Oops, Maybe Tony wasn't sposed to know about that. :) :)

I did not open this thread to get in a debate on the goods and bads of rc systems.
It has taken a turn.

My point was parts for LGB.
What are us LGB owners going to do for motors?

jb

#17

John,
my response was not intended as a criticism. In so far as replacement parts for LGB, then I suppose do what I am doing and that is buying complete locomotives (with similar drive components) simply as a source of spare parts. An expensive way to do it but at least I am able to solve some problems. I also purchase LGB parts as they become available on eBay. One never knows when that part will be needed.

#18

Mr Bouck.

I noticed from your posting you have edited out the reference to RCS, like any other business, not being immune to closure.

Why would you do that?

My original answer to your opening post was to allude to exactly who should get the blame for the shortage of LGB parts.
I was not having a go at you.
The two young turks stuffed up LGB.
No one else.

#19

I edited it out because as usual, it morphed completely off the subject.

j

#20

In that case why raise the subject in the first place?