Kit released from MTH for Proto 1 problems

[Deputy]

Just got my copy of OGR and they have an article about a kit that MTH has released to fix the low/dead battery problem for Proto 1 locos. This is VERY cool since it makes the Proto 1 locos a "best buy" for those who were worried about getting a dead batter or who already have one with a dead battery/stuck in neutral condition. The name of the kit is "Original Proto-Sound® Reset kit. Part number is 50-1023. Price is $24.95. OGR does recommend that you replace the original battery with one of the battery replacement devices like a BCR to eliminate any possible future problems. The repair kit can be used over and over again.

Dep
P.S. If this has already been talked about in another thread, I apologize. I did a search and didn't find anything.

[Anonymous]

Just got my copy of OGR and they have an article about a kit that MTH has released to fix the low/dead battery problem for Proto 1 locos. This is VERY cool since it makes the Proto 1 locos a "best buy" for those who were worried about getting a dead batter or who already have one with a dead battery/stuck in neutral condition. The name of the kit is "Original Proto-Sound® Reset kit. Part number is 50-1023. Price is $24.95. OGR does recommend that you replace the original battery with one of the battery replacement devices like a BCR to eliminate any possible future problems. The repair kit can be used over and over again.

Dep
P.S. If this has already been talked about in another thread, I apologize. I did a search and didn't find anything.

Dep,
Someone posted about this last week, don't remember if it was a seperate thread or not, but they were complaining (like that happens here) about it not being free.

I agree with you that this is a nice offering from MTH, it also makes sense because not everyone is willing to give up their engines for 5+ days while a LHS (if they even have one within comuting distance) to do the work for them.  I was wondering if the unit were reusable as well - thanks for the tip! - where did you find that?

BTW - I am the proud owner of a MTH Rugged Rails Chessie F3 A-B-A set (pretty cool), it has PS2 which is flatout awesome!  I am picking up my MTH C&O Streamlined Hudson in a few days - passenger cars and the MTH firehouse that I have on layaway (due to move, not funds) will still have to wait!  Something about the engine that I just can't leave it in the store any longer...

Brent

[Bob Keller]

I think that this was released by MTH several years back.

[Deputy]

Dep,
Someone posted about this last week, don't remember if it was a seperate thread or not, but they were complaining (like that happens here) about it not being free.

I agree with you that this is a nice offering from MTH, it also makes sense because not everyone is willing to give up their engines for 5+ days while a LHS (if they even have one within comuting distance) to do the work for them.  I was wondering if the unit were reusable as well - thanks for the tip! - where did you find that?

BTW - I am the proud owner of a MTH Rugged Rails Chessie F3 A-B-A set (pretty cool), it has PS2 which is flatout awesome!  I am picking up my MTH C&O Streamlined Hudson in a few days - passenger cars and the MTH firehouse that I have on layaway (due to move, not funds) will still have to wait!  Something about the engine that I just can't leave it in the store any longer...

Brent

Brent,

ROFL...yeah...not surprising they would want it for free  I'm just glad it's available. I have a really nice Jersey Central FM Trainmaster with Proto 1 and it works fine. But for $25 it's a nice insurance policy. And I have NO MTH repair places anywhere near me. So sending it out would be big $$$ for me   It also allows me to buy Proto 1 locos without having to worry about possible dead batteries. There are quite a few of them that I'd like to grab because they have road names I need. The story about the kit is in the April/May 2007 "O-Gauge Railroading" magazine on page 87.

Here is the MTH website that describes the kit:
http://www.mth-railking.com/detail.asp?item=50-1023

And Ogaugeoverlord is correct...it was released in early 2005. Kinda makes you wonder why more people didn't just buy the kit or refer people to the kit, rather than sending it to be reprogrammed. Maybe it didn't get much press.  

Glad to see you took the plunge with PS2. I really like it too.

Dep

[dwiemer]

Deputy wrote:"ROFL...yeah...not surprising they would want it for free " border="0" width="15" height="15" />  I'm just glad it's available."

deputy, not sure I understand your sense of humor.  I was the one who started the thread a few weeks back.  If you read the thread, the question was about charging this amount for what is considered to be a defect in the design and the repair of such.  It was a very congenial discussion without any stabs. 

Dennis

[Deputy]

Deputy wrote:"ROFL...yeah...not surprising they would want it for free " border="0" width="15" height="15" />  I'm just glad it's available."

deputy, not sure I understand your sense of humor.  I was the one who started the thread a few weeks back.  If you read the thread, the question was about charging this amount for what is considered to be a defect in the design and the repair of such.  It was a very congenial discussion without any stabs. 

Dennis

 

No offense intended. I'm just happy/grateful they HAVE a fix for the problem. As far as charging $25 (I can get it for $20) for the kit, I have no complaints about that either. I can do the job myself and I don't have to spend a LOT more $$$ sending it in to be reprogrammed. MTH DIDN'T have to come out with a user-repairable fix at all. They could have simply said "send it in" and the repair faciliy could have reamed you out for a LOT more cash. Or you could have taken a  BIG loss trying to sell it on E-Bay, or you could have a very pretty shelf ornament that doesn't work at all. Me...I'll take the $20 fix.

Dep 

      

[csxt30]

Deputy wrote:"ROFL...yeah...not surprising they would want it for free " border="0" width="15" height="15" />  I'm just glad it's available."

deputy, not sure I understand your sense of humor.  I was the one who started the thread a few weeks back.  If you read the thread, the question was about charging this amount for what is considered to be a defect in the design and the repair of such.  It was a very congenial discussion without any stabs. 

Dennis

Dennis !!  There is always....... never mind !!

Thanks, John 

[Deputy]

[ Dennis !!  There is always....... never mind !!

Thanks, John 

[Jumijo]

I think Dep has a very good point. $20 isn't a lot of money considering the other alternatives. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt, shall we boys? Dep, if you keep contributing to the forum in a positive manner, people will let bygones be bygones. I know that for a fact because these guys are truly nice people.

Jim 

[Anonymous]

Deputy wrote:"ROFL...yeah...not surprising they would want it for free " border="0" width="15" height="15" />  I'm just glad it's available."

deputy, not sure I understand your sense of humor.  I was the one who started the thread a few weeks back.  If you read the thread, the question was about charging this amount for what is considered to be a defect in the design and the repair of such.  It was a very congenial discussion without any stabs. 

Dennis

Dennis,
I don't think you should be upset with Dep, it was me who made the original comment, and no offense was intended.  PS1 has been around for quite a long time (2 or 3 years plus?), so to expect MTH to keep repairing engines, IMHO, isn't realistic.  Neither is expecting you to take the engine to a LHS where they charge $25+/hr plus parts for repairs.  This is a simple fix, after having read the instructions in OGR.  I'm surprised OGR has this article in print after the product has been available for at least a year, going on two, but why not remind people in print that something useful is available - that makes good sense to me.

Anyhoo...

Brent

[dwiemer]

Brent, The original thread had to mostly do with good customer service.  This repair is not hard to do, does not require a whole lot of intelligence, and could be done at any number of facilities.  In the end, I think MTH could have built some loyalty by telling folks to bring it to a local repair shop, and have MTH just pay for a BCR replacement and if need be, fix the chip.  Instead, we continue to talk about what otherwise is a black eye to MTH's past designs. 

I do like MTH's products, but for this one flaw (the whole battery thing), they do put out some nice products.

Dep, I will take you at your word and not be offended, but as mentioned, please keep things above board.

Regards

Dennis

[Anonymous]

Dennis,
I agree with you on those points, definitely.  However, not everyone has access to a local hobby shop or repair facility, some have stated that the closest place is hours away.  Therefore I think what MTH is doing here is a great jesture!  But yes, if you have access to a repair shop, then MTH should foot the bill for the repair.

Like I said, I am one of those people who hates to drop an engine off at a repair shop.  They are like my children (that I do not have), I would hate for them to be out of my site for too long (anything longer than 1 hour).  The fact that I have an engine on layaway is just driving me nuts!  As soon as the home inspection is over on Thursday I'm stopping by the LHS and picking it up!  LOL!

But hey, if we don't talk about design flaws, then we would all see eye-to-eye and we wouldn't have much to talk about... well there is always a certain someone from NC who likes to prance around in green tights, but that is another matter altogether...

Brent