K-Line S2 parts?

[trainbrain]

I need a cluster gear and pal nuts for an S2. Western Depot and Olsen's can't help. Anyone know who would have these parts?

Thanks,

Brian

[Roger Bielen]

Someplace I've read that Davis Electronics, not Davis Trains, is doing the warranty work for Lionel on the last batch of KCC engines that Lionel made good for and that Lionel passed on spare parts to Davis.  If you could find how to contact them its worth a try.

Let us know if your successful since there are a lot of K-Line engines out here.

[brianel027]

Hang in there Brian. I don't need these parts, but I'm looking for them just to have them on hand.  I have some MP-15 gears, but the ones for the S-2 are different. I have some solid leads for these parts and will let you know.

My understanding is that the K-Line parts that were sent to Davis are already in transit back to Lionel. Since Lionel is producing the K-Line products (and the S-2 has also been annouced to be one of the Ringling/Barnum circus items planned for production) it may be that Lionel will make these parts available direct, or will find someone else to handle them.

I can tell you for a fact since I saw for myself, that K-Line MDK had plenty of parts on hand for the older K-Line products, so parts for the S-2, Alco FA and MP-15 are absolutely out there. I can't say the same for the later produced scale K-Line products.

I'll let you know Brian when I know.

[trainbrain]

That'll be great! Thanks very much.  I'm sure a lot of people will be happy.

Brian

[brianel027]

By the way, Davis Trains and Davis Electronics are from what I can tell, the same thing. They both have the same address and same phone number. Now, I've never been there and maybe they were in differing parts of the same building. And maybe they had differing names for tax purposes, or maybe it was Davis Electronics first and then as the train line expanded, a separate name came about.

Either way, they're both going to be history and from what I read, the hobby will be losing an excellent and well-reputed repair center.

[paulcap]

I WONDER IF RUNNING GEAR PARTS FROM A RMT BUDD WOULD WORK? THE PICTURE OF THE BOTTOM OF RMT BUDD IN MAY '06. ISSUE OF CTT PAGE #87 SURE LOOKS ABOUT THE SAME. GOOD LUCK.

[dougdagrump]

Paul,

 You mite try this place, I'm not sure about S-2's but the last time I looked they quite a bit of K-Line parts.

          www.trainexchange.com 

[brianel027]

Guys, the idea of using the RMT motored truck has popped into my mind too. I think the entire truck assembly would work... I'm sure of it.

Just for some background thinking, I've heard rumor (though never been confirmed) that Maury Klein (owner of MDK K-Line) has had some behind the scenes involvement at RMT. I know that K-Line had more dies and tooling to products that hadn't been produced. It stands to reason that possibly there were dies and tooling that did not go to China when K-Line stopped production at Chapel Hill. It also stands to reason that there were duplicate molds made. K-Line did make modifications to the S-2 shell during the production run. Whether the original die was changed or maybe a new dupicate was made, I don't know.

I say this because, depending on how RMT has modified things, I suspect that the motor truck from the BUDDY could work. But I don't know if the gear arrangement was changed between what was the K-Line Budd Car and the RMT Buddy. I suppose I could ask Walter about this, if he'd respond to that pointed question. Plus we have RMT coming out with their own updated version of the K-Line S-2.

Of course, Lionel is also currently making the S-2. I would hope that at some point Lionel will have a vendor for the existing K-Line parts inventory (which does exist and is failry large, so I've been told), or will have them on hand direct. I would also hope that since Lionel is remaking these K-Line products, they would have the decency and common sense to make some parts available. I know from actually standing in the K-Line service department that there were plenty of parts for these early K-Line products on hand.

So at any rate, I'm optimistic we will find parts, either sooner or later. I have emails out to several parts dealers and am waiting to hear from them. I got a reply from one and he said he's been away and will check on my request as soon as he can.