Perhaps the most telling sign with this set...
At YORK yesterday, I must have seen over twenty Rio Grande General set break-ups, and only spotted one actual 4-4-0 for sale. The good news, I easily purchased the bobbing horse car for $25.
LIONEL did have the set running on one of its displays. Still looked nice.
Reading various issues with Lionel's Legacy locomotives on the other forum I would say that Lionel's big buck locos have as many issues as their RTR set locos.
It seems like the issues escalated when they transfered production from the Sandi Kan / Kander Industries manufacturing facilities.
Bill T.
POTRZBEI wonder if the final inspection process at the factory is less rigorous for the RTR sets than the big ticket locos.
This is truly disheartening to read, gents. While my general has about 2 hours on the track with no mishaps, I should point out it was missing the chains for the snowplow. (I took the plow off since I did not want it anyway). Also, one of the 2 passenger cars had a loose wire which I re soldered to stop the flickering. I wonder if the final inspection process at the factory is less rigorous for the RTR sets than the big ticket locos.
I buy from all manufacturers but 80% of what I have is LIONEL. Since 1948. The only way these folks will get the message is to send the warranteed product back until they make it right. None of this stuff is cheap and it should work as expected right out of the box.
For boomerang repairs, you should be able to get Lionel to pickup the shipping both ways, I'd ask. I've gotten that for several items that had to go back more than once.
David, sorry to hear about the latest round of issues with the Lionel General.
I have the LCCA Great Locomotive Chase Generals on order and I sure hope they are not similar to these Generals. I have heard nothing but problems with the current production of Lionel Generals.
How depressing I really want one of these but with my luck I will have all of the same problems.
Darn. . Too bad Lionel charges like a Cadillac but produces like a Yugo.
. Too bad Lionel charges like a Cadillac but produces like a Yugo.
Kev
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
Well, the saga continues.
I had decided to live with the dead Trainsounds, since the locomotive actually ran well. Today that changed. It began to slow down, and very quickly ground almost to a halt. A iot of grinding noise. Same in reverse. Uncoupled the train and tried it by itself. Same story. I came back to it about half an hour later, and the headlight works, but no movement, no grinding, nothing.
I've e-mailed Lionel for another RA. We'll see what happens this time.
David
10 volts for start up but I have a lot of lights and accessories wired to the track and a vat car on the train so 16 to run it at a nice clip.
The full set is running at about 16 volts on my PW KW transformer.
16 volts seems high for a can motor, how many volts does it need to begin movement ?
I just got this set and was apprehensive after reading all the negativity about it. However after a 15 minute break in time, all seems well. I oiled and greased the loco before running. The full set is running at about 16 volts on my PW KW transformer. Sounds are fine, smoke is fine. The 2011 RTR catalog said it comes with a Powermax, the 2012 RTR catalog said CW 80. It came with a CW 80.
David, send the tender back and have Lionel fix it. No need to accept defective product. It does seem like Lionel's quality has really gone down hill since leaving Kader Industries as their manufacture.
I'm thinking maybe lubrication here and maybe the CW80 is not powerful enough for this loco with all the lighted cars and animation cars. The reason it may take several minutes for this to happen is heat build up in the motor. This along with extra power to pull the cars through the curves. Is the loco properly lubed? As maybe it just needs to be run, I'm not sure if it needs (break in) time. Also, does the transformer appear to over heat when this happens?
Can motors, especially cheap PRC units, can be a real problem. In 2-rail 0, at shows, I'd be asked to bring down my 1940 issue ScaleCraft Hudson and 14 heavyweights, as it would run flawlessly 10 hours a day for 3 days, while the imports with can motors would run an hour, slow down, and have to set off main for over an hour to cool down.
Oil is seemingly more critical on PRC cans, one needs to make sure the shaft bearings are lubricated often.
Just experience from the repair bench.
Dave
Well, here's the latest in this ongoing saga.
Over the weekend, the TrainsSounds stopped working. Lionel say I just have to return the tender this time, but I'm not sure if I'm going to. The sounds are so low in volume you can't really hear them over the sound of the train.
They've already sent over a RA number, but I'm going to have to think about this.
If I do pull the trigger, I'll probably go with my LHS (M.B.Klein), and test run it right there in the store.
David, glad big L took care of you.
The replacement arrived yesterday evening. So far so good. This one doesn't bind, seems to run well, can pull several cars and smokes up a storm. Knock wood. The TrainSounds aren't very loud, but that's fine with me.
It took Lionel less than a week to send out the replacement.
The only issue I had with the replacement was the gold valve stems were missing, and Lionel's parts website only shows them on older Generals, and not available at that.
After a quick call to Lionel, and an e-mail of a picture from an eBay seller to confirm that we were talking about the same parts, Lionel found some and the missing parts are on their way to me.
So, it's unfortunate that we had this problem, but Lionel was great about replacing it.
fifedog Bump. I really want to pick up the RioGrande General Set (mainly for the handsome looks of the engine and the black bobbing horse car), and am getting a little disheartened by the thread. Any more "reviews" out there, positive or negative, concerning the little engine that couldn't...?
Bump.
I really want to pick up the RioGrande General Set (mainly for the handsome looks of the engine and the black bobbing horse car), and am getting a little disheartened by the thread.
Any more "reviews" out there, positive or negative, concerning the little engine that couldn't...?
David,
I am with Fife on this I too want one for the same reasons. Let us know the outcome i see you can get the whole set for around $225.00 I would like to know more on what they did for your problems.
Buy the MTH General and buy the Lionel cars separately is your best bet. My confidence in the Lionel General is lower than dirt after owning one. I was so dissapointed I gave mine away.
Kevin
Can't stop working on the railroad!
PW Generals and early MPC had the open frame AC motor in them, find one of those and you have a good runner. My only disappointment is poor smoke output.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
I love Lionel but they skimped on the quality when it comes to the General locomotives. They are great looking engines to be sure but they are better off to dispay than run.
Thanks for all the suggestions. Lionel decided it needed to come in for a visit, so off it goes for warranty service. Hopefully all will work out.
I've had a life-long obsession with the Lionel General, finally getting my first one three years ago when I turned 50. Usually they seem like great engines.
The Lionel General has always been plastic, even PW.
The other forum did report some problems with the Lone Ranger set, most from the same guy but there were a couple others. Can't depend too much on what you read there though as a few love trashing Lionel.
You have been reading my mind fife.
Not too happy with the dockside I got at this point. may go back to all post-war.
I just hate everything as Lionel Lines
I don't know what your box says but mine said it was a die cast locomotive when in reality it is plastic. This actually a lone was enough for me to get rid of it. I would have Lionel fix it or replace it, the locomotive is not worth your frustration and time. If your box like mine says diecast boiler ask them for a replacement as yours is plastic. If you can afford it get the MTH version as it is all diecast metal and if you have patience can be picked up relatively cheap on EBay.
There were similar complaints on another forum regarding The General loco in the coca cola 125th anniversary set. At the time Amazon had that set for way cheap and free shipping, so I ordered one with the thought that Lionel would fix it in warranty should that be necessary. Only problem was... I had no problem! And still don't after 10-12 hours run time. Nice running loco. My 18 month old grand daughter loves it!
Pete
"You can’t study the darkness by flooding it with light." - Edward Abbey -
These locos are just lemons sorry to say. I had the same one and it never ran very well. I was so dissapointed with it I gave it away.
Talked with Lionel and they agreed that I needed to add a jumper set to the farthest point, which is where the RG General was slowing down. Tried that and it made no difference.
However, I tried turning smoke unit off. Runs much better now. Still slows down at that spot occasionally, but not all the time.
I'm going to try this for a few days and see if it's consistent. Then I'll have to decide whether to send it in for warranty repair.
Thanks again for your suggestions.
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