Bob Keller
Let me say it with pictures ! My new MTH engine is still defective! They say a picture is worth a THOUSAND WORDS !
pictures !!!
Bob,
I will have to agree with you that it is cheaper to replace an appliance than to repair one. However the thing with model trains is that you get attached to the item after a period of time, so getting rid of a model train is much harder than getting rid of an appliance. At least that is how I see it.
Back to trains, why does it seem that Lionel's new switches for O gauge tubular track have quality issues? At $50.00 or more a piece it would seem like a waist of good money to throw these switches away. Ever since the switch #6-23010 series I have had trouble with Lionel O gauge switches, it is almost like you name the problem and it has happened with the Lionel switch, loss of electric power(power at terminal screws-checked by multimeter) to throw the switch, the light in the switch kept blinking on & off, derailments at switching point with any Williams locomotive(Lionel loco's no problem), not tried an MTH loco.
Please note that I am not picking on Lionel but mentioning a problem with a switch that Lionel totally ignores and says they never heard of. Maybe it is because they are translating English instructions into Chinese and the translation gets mingled or lost.
Lee F.
njalb1 wrote: Let me say it with pictures ! My new MTH engine is still defective! They say a picture is worth a THOUSAND WORDS !pictures !!!
I know it's true that you are having problems with an MTH but i get a laugh out of the photos. Wasting good money for something that is trash! That is how I feel about another companies products.
My solution now is to buy used from choo choo auctions!
Well, When you talk to some of us old farts that have been around trains for half a century, you may find that our old pre-war and post-war locomotives outnumber our new ones about Two to One..
On the MTH locomotives, allot of the parts are sold as "exchange only" parts,,,,meaning, your defective part must be sent in to receive a replacement.....If these replacement parts were available outright, or through an aftermarket source, I would be more inclined to purchase more newer equipment....
The HO people share in the frustrations also.... new passenger car sets that have junk couplers, and locomotives that take off down the track without warning..
Our first line of defense when it comes to making a train purchase is our own knowledge of the product... Knowing the weaknesses of a product, and having experienced the procedures and expenses required to keep them running.....And we learn something new every day (( quite often the hard >expensive< way...)))
BDT
Along with what BDT in Minnesota mentioned you have hobby shop people who are biased to one company or another because they sell the brand of product by that company and make money selling that product so you can not get an unbiased opion at times from hobby shop owners. What you need to do if inexperianced is to ask somebody that has been in the hobby for a while.
From what you are saying about the Proto Sounds by MTH it might be cheaper to take out the older PS-1 and replace it with PS-2 system.
With Williams I don't have to worry much about electronics breaking down as only the forward nuetral reverse board might go bad but that can be replaced easy enough, I used a bridge rectifier to bypass the direction circuit board, not too caring about losing reverse. The other great feature about a Williams is NO plastic gears!!
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