Large Scale Central

USA Trains 44 tonner

Modeling Rolling stock
#21

Ralph, thats what I thought–send it back to wholesale trains and they’ll just send me another defective engine. I just tried calling the number Dave provided and I got an actual human being, who told me to box it up and ship it to Malden, MA for repair

Great–I’m glad they will fix it. And in a few minutes I’ll go down to the post office and find out how much shipping and insurance will cost and mentally add that hidden cost to the actual price of the engine.

A responsible manufacturer, knowing there was such a glaring defect, would have repaired all the old stock engines. A responsible retailer would not have sent out a defective engine.

I’d like to be able to say that I won’t be doing business with either, but the reality of the large scale market is that there are few manufacturers and they ALL seem to have really poor quality control. We as the consumers are the ones who have to change that

#22
mike omalley said:
in a few minutes I'll go down to the post office and find out how much shipping and insurance will cost
Since it's a warranty fix, try getting in touch with Rita and asking for a credit on the shipping costs you incur.
#23

Mike,
The fact you were able to speak to someone on a Saturday tells me the customer service can’t be all that bad.
As for the retailer selling you old stock, it happens all the time, especially in this hobby. I’ve gone to hobby shops over a period of several years and seen some of the same merchandise time after time.
In some places this can work out to the customers benefit. I’ve run into rolling stock still priced from years ago.
Ralph

#24

Mike,
on the couple of 44-tonners that I had, I found that the tension on the screws that hold the lower case cover on each drive block, had a big effect on how smoothly the locomotives performed. Try loosening the screws slightly and try operation. Yes, they also had the split gear drive problem. I do not think a 44-tonner has been produced that was not affected by this malady.

#25

All USAT locos made up to but not including the GP-30, could have the split axle problem.

There are three ways you can take care of the problem.

  1. USAT were making good on replacing said cracked gera/axles under warranty. I don’t know if they still are.

  2. Remove the wheel assembly, bind the crack swith cotton thread and lots of super glue and then replace the wheel assemblies.

  3. Remove the wheel assemblies and then press suitably sized metal tubes over the cracked axle side holders and replace the wheel assemblies.

#26

I love this site. I took my 44 Tonner out of the box (been in storage) and it was very sluggish and I was thinking “what the hell” found this post, opened up the gearbox and the axles had split - very little use over the years and no abuse.

I have ordered replacement axles. Did USA Trains ever offer any sort of replacement parts etc since it was a defective design?

John

#27

When the problem was first discovered Ro would replace the axles for free, but they have probably stopped doing that at this point.

TOC developed a ‘free’ fix. Wind fishing line tightly around the gear, tie off and reinforce with CA glue.

Tony from RCS had some brass collars made up that would push over the gear and hold it together. These might still be available.

I repaired my 44 tonner and replaced axles in a GP-9.

#28

½" K & S brass tubing is a snug fit over the cracked axles.
All you need to do is carefully cut it off in the correct lengths. Don’t use a hacksaw without some sort of softish wooden dowel in the tube to support the tube whilst cutting it.
Better still use a NWSL roller cutter for a nice clean cut.
Be careful replacing the wheel axle combos as pressing them in too hard may break out the little plastic insulating membrane in the middle of the gear.

#29

Thanks for the tips! I love this site.

John

#30

I would call them up a tell them its broke and want to ship it back but your not paying. They should send a ups label to your house so you can ship it back without dishing out money. Most companies will do that at least the good ones. I have done this many times. I did it with hartland before and they had a label sent to my house…

#31
Shawn said:
I did it with hartland
Does your wife or Hartlands wife know this?