I just ordered one of these, undecorated, to paint it like this
I’ve never ordered an engine from USA trains, much less this model. Anyone out there have any experience with this model? I’d like to put remote control in it as well, for track power
I think Tony Walsham of Remote Control Systems has done a pictorial post of a remote install. I’ll look around but he’ll be along shortly. For the most part, I think USA trains stuff is excellent running, including the 44 tonner.
I’ve looked all over and I guess it wasn’t Tony. Somewhere there’s pics. Maybe a GR article.
Rick Golding (I think) has one that he’s put RC into. Maybe he’ll post about it…
I did do an R/C + battery install in what started out as a 44 tonner and then kitbashed to a 7/8n2 critter.
Lok runs really well.
The axles were cracked and repaired with thread and super glue.
Ric is in Canada, doing the invasion…
He does have a 44-tonner that has remote installed in it, however, he didn’t install it himself… His is not track power tho, his is battery powered, with the batteries contained in the engine as well, along with the sound system…
I’ve run mine quite a bit on track power. It suffered from the cracked gear syndrome like many do. There are several easy fixes out therefor that problem, and USA will supply replacement axles if yours comes broken. The symptom of the cracked axle gear is surging on level track.
Once the gears were fixed it is a very good runner. It pushes my track cleaning car.
Well I just got home and found a message from St Aubins, where I had ordered it, saying they don’t actually have it in stock, even though their website says they do. Not the first time I’ve had this issue with them. I think I’ll pass on this, given that it has the cracked axle issue as well
mike omalley said:Moral of story: always call.
Well I just got home and found a message from St Aubins, where I had ordered it, saying they don't actually have it in stock, even though their website says they do. Not the first time I've had this issue with them. I think I'll pass on this, given that it has the cracked axle issue as well
Mike,
The cracked axle gear issue plagued many of USA’s diesels. They discovered the problem and fixed it in production a few years ago. Unless you are buying new old stock, you will probably get one with the updated gears and no problem. If you like the model I wouldn’t let this problem stop you from buying it.
If you order from Charles Ro Supply (USA Trains retail arm) and ask to have it checked out before shipping, you can be sure to get a good one.
Well I found one at wholesale trains and ordered it. It came today but it’s defective–right out of the box it won’t run evenly. It moves forward, then slows and stops, moves forward, then slows and stops. I turned it over and applied power directly to the shoes and it ran VERY unevenly, and the wheels wobbled badly on the axles. It runs like RRR rr RRR rr RRR rr. Something is very wrong
It’s going back tomorrow. I think I’ll abandon the project
Why do all large scale manufacturers seem to have such bad quality control?
Cracked axles for a start.
Get them replaced or repaired and it will run just fine.
Tony, thank you, but repaired by who–do I have to mail it back to USA trains? At my expense? Or back to Wholesale trains, who sold me a non-working product?
There’s no info on the USA Trains website about repairs, and I’ve never dealt with the company before. Are they any good?
Insist that Wholesale Trains supply you with a merchantable product.
After all the problem has been known about for at least 8 years and WT should have checked the loco before it was shipped.
Dave Goodson of NWRCS did the conversion for me. RCS with Sierra Sound. It is a great puller with all the weight of the battery and equipment over that short wheel base. I did add stacks, new doors and larger figures as I was trying to catch the flavor of the EBT’s M-7 in a 1:20 world. I’ll see if I can find a couple of pictures, that was quite awhile back. Not a great picture, but you can see it on a short tourist train on the old “Timesaver”
mike omalley said:They're very good. Try [email protected], but expect to wait a few days for a reply. Better yet, this specific customer service bloke was brilliant getting SD40 wheelsets out to Perth in April:
There's no info on the USA Trains website about repairs, and I've never dealt with the company before. Are they any good?
Mike Hurley 781-321-0090
If you bought the engine new, it’s under warranty and USA Trains (that’s Charles Ro) will fix it. Wholesale Trains is a small shop, and they’d most likely send a dysfunctional new unit to USA Trains to get fixed. Go straight to the manufacturer in this case.
If you have any questions about the business side of warranty repairs or anything else to do with USA Trains, ask Rita Mahoney ([email protected]). Rita is a full bottle on these kinds of things.
Thank you Dave!
I guess partly, besides being annoyed, I was/am confused about who to contact. WholesaleTrains is a little bit hard to contact, and according to the website I can’t call about a return until Monday. USA Trains says, in the manual that came with the engine, that I have to box it up and send it back, with insurance, and adds explicitly that I’m responsible for the cost of shipping.
It seem to me that the proper course of action would be Wholesale trains pays to ship it back, refunds my money, then ships it to USA Trains for repair or return
“USA Trains says, in the manual that came with the engine, that I have to box it up and send it back, with insurance, and adds explicitly that I’m responsible for the cost of shipping.”
Try the numbers Dave supplied you with. They may take care of it at no expense to you. If not, you can always return it to Wholesale Trains.
Ralph
Ralph Berg said:
"USA Trains says, in the manual that came with the engine, that I have to box it up and send it back, with insurance, and adds explicitly that I'm responsible for the cost of shipping."Try the numbers Dave supplied you with. They may take care of it at no expense to you. If not, you can always return it to Wholesale Trains.
Ralph
Ralph that’s part of my question–apparently i can’t return it to wholesaletrains. Their website suggest that they will only accept exchanges.
mike omalley said:Ralph Berg said:
"USA Trains says, in the manual that came with the engine, that I have to box it up and send it back, with insurance, and adds explicitly that I'm responsible for the cost of shipping."Try the numbers Dave supplied you with. They may take care of it at no expense to you. If not, you can always return it to Wholesale Trains.
Ralph
Ralph that’s part of my question–apparently i can’t return it to wholesaletrains. Their website suggest that they will only accept exchanges.
An exchange …hopefully they would send you a working unit. But they may very well be another new old stock unit. I would see what USA Trains can do for you first. At least if they exchange it with US Trains you should have an updated model, or a properly repaired loco.
Ralph