Getting my trains repaired at LHS

[PostwarMan07]

I brought a pretty big lot of postwar trains to be repaired in late July to a lionel dealer.  It has been quite a while and I was just wondering how long it usually takes to get a pretty big lot repaired.  I can't wait to get those old trains running.

[rogruth]

I have a friend who is a retired[semi] Lionel repairman.He takes his time and still has more to do than he actually wants.But when it's fixed,it is fixed.Availiability of parts could be a problem.It's only early September. Give your repairman a call.Some may be ready.

[rtraincollector]

The longest I've had trains in repair shop was about a month and a half and my repair guy I have to ship to and he has to ship to me also i have to send him a check befor I get them back once he fixes them but I know there fixed he works for a lionel dealer fixing trains part time besides his main job and also fixes trains on the side between taking care of his kids (scouting and all) so he keeps busy.

If you have a real good repair man he normally doesn't have that hard time getting most parts . I know I can get most parts with no problem there is some you can't but most you can if you know where to look.

[Roger Bielen]

It's not just the availibility of parts for post war items, at that sometimes even the new items.  Frequently the LHS is a one man operation, might have some part time help, where the owner is also the repair tech.  With tending the store and, with most, doing the train shows on weekends, that's where many make enough money to stay in business, there are a limited number of hours that he has available to spend at the repair bench.

Especially annoying are those that only pull out the train to put around the Christmas tree and find they don't run a week, or two, before Christmas and bring them in for repair expecting them the next day.

[Anonymous]

I brought a pretty big lot of postwar trains to be repaired in late July to a lionel dealer.  It has been quite a while and I was just wondering how long it usually takes to get a pretty big lot repaired.  I can't wait to get those old trains running.

Define 'pretty big lot'.  When I take stuff to my LHS for repair they always ask if I want to be notified when each piece is ready for pick-up or if I want to be notified when the entire job is complete.  Also, if they have a phone call them and ask for a status.

It has only been 1.5 months, so if you took a load of stuff in you could be waiting for 2 - 3 months.

You have a long way to go before you catch me... I took a Christmas Berk in for repair after X-Mas 2005 (Jan 06) and didn't get it back till August 06.  There was a problem with a board and Lionel didn't have any instock as they were using them all for new engines.

[PhilaKnight]

Brought in my 2020 Turbine in to a repair shop. It took about 2 months to fix. But it was propibly a bad time early in the summer. It's vacation time. But when I got it back the guy went over the whole thing and alot of work was done. She runs like new now. And it was at a good price too. If you have alot of stuff it might take awhile. They have to find out the problem then get the parts and then fix it. Hopefully he calls after each piece is done so you could run it and then when you get tired of that one a new piece will be fixed. Don't forget he might have other repairs in front of yours. When you get them back post some pictures I love the post war stuff.

[Dave Farquhar]

When I took a 2026 and 2037 in for repair, I think it took about two months. One of them was a pretty easy fix (clean, lube, replace a handful of parts) but the other required e-unit work. The holdup was probably on the e-unit work. E-unit parts are common but they're a pain to work on.

As others have said, usually the owner is the main repairman and it's easy to get swamped.

[jmkk]

I do Lionel repair mostly post war and MPC (new stuff with there circut boards and parts that are harder to find I stay away from ) for a few local hobby shops. Depending on the time of the year and if it's a basket case or not it could take a couple of weeks too a couple of months it's all depends on full my time work schedule and how many repairs I have at the time. I try to give a cost estimate and a time estimate. I would give your repairman a call just to find out what is going on . Every thing but one repair may be done. You wont know till you call. If they are not done ask for an estimated date of completion, that way you wont be wondering when they will be done.

 

Jason

[dwiemer]

If your LHS is actually "Local" (my closest hobby shop is better than 3 hours away), and if they do repairs "in house" I would suggest taking a trip to the shop.  Try not to do it during the busiest times, but go in and talk to the guy.  You may even get to sit and watch while he is working on yours and you can learn a thing or two.  A number of the older shops are closing down and the information is not being passed along.  While this forum is a great place for information, nothing beats being there and seeing it done.

dennis

[PhilaKnight]

If you can grab a copy of Greenberg's Repair and Operating Manual. It's very helpful and alot of reapirs you can do yourself. Saved me a ton in simple repairs. My copy is for Lionel Trains 1945-1969

[PostwarMan07]

thanks for the help everyone.  I hope im not coming off as pushy.  I dont mind waiting a while just to make sure the job is done right, I just have never dealt with a LHS before when it comes to a repair.  These guys were great guys and were honest with me when it came to the price and which items I shouldnt bother repairing ( the old scouts).  They even cleaned out the scout for me while I was there free of charge. ( runs like new!)

 I called 1 week and 3 weeks after I droped them off.  Havent called sinse because I dont want to keep bothering them.

I brought in 5 engines:  2 needed just to be cleaned and lubed (maybe some other work if needed), 2 needed some work and cleaning, and the last needed an overhaul.

Also brought 2 operating accessories that were barely running, a searchlight car that needed a new light and wiring, and a KW.

Should I exect to wait a long time?

[PostwarMan07]

As soon as I clicked the "post" button on my last post the phone rang!  There done....

[rtraincollector]

Thats the way it happens we moan about somethin then next thing we know there already done lol