Buddly L - G scale - Santa Fe

[Anonymous]

I have a buddy L, Santa Fe, G scale train.  I have had nothing but trouble with it.  Used by only 1 adult.  The engine does not smoke.  The light doesn't always work.  Tender car does not sound.  Tracks do not stay together.  And this was just out of the box.  Power source is also poor.  I am told that no parts are available and have called hobby shops and no one wants to touch it because they say they can't get parts.  Anybody else having same problems???  All cars are nice and engine is beautiful.

[vsmith]

Hi There, unfortunatly your not the only one who has had issues with this engine, I had one, it needed perfectly level track to run on, and couldnt run on my grades so I sold mine off, otherwise I didnt have any other problems with mine, but I read that others like you have.

These can be modified into rather relaible engines, but it requires getting your hand dirty a little.

Maybe someone here can help also, but there are several topics regarding fixing this little beasty over on the Mylargescale.com website, but you have to search the archives of the old forum to find them, look under the Model Making, Product Reviews, and Public Forums for postings about how to modify this engine.

[SNOWSHOE]

I know the feeling.  Buddly L was my first G scale.  I got it in the mail set the tracks up and turned the train on.  It went a few feet and died.  Couldnt get it to run after that.  I liked the look of the engineand and the roling stock but the inside of the engine was garbage.  I sent it back and orderd aBachmann big hauler.  What a difference.  I have had no problems with the Bach.  Your best bet is to send it back and get something better. 

[mgilger]

I had a Buddly 'L' box car that I converted into a tool shed.

That's about all it was worth.

 

[tangerine-jack]

I like the Buddy L cars, they are a great basis for repaints and bashes and for the price they can't be beat.  The engines look nice, but need extensive reworking to run properly and probably not worth the effort unless you are snowed in with nothing better to do.  The track is only good for use on a display shelf, and the power packs are good for nothing I can think of at the moment.

Good luck.

[Capt Bob Johnson]

What??? Something electrical that's worse than the system on your bike??? I can't believe that statement came from TJ!

[tangerine-jack]

Bob, please refrain from besmirching the good name of Lucas electric on this forum.  They are known world wide for having invented the short circuit and the three position electrical switch (off, smoulder and ignite).  Really, if Lucas made weapons wars wouldn't start.

[kimbrit]

come on TJ, you know full well that the first position on the switch is 'could be off'

[tangerine-jack]

Yes Kim you are quite right.  I checked on the bike and you are correct about the switch (which incidently is on the self-dimming headlamp- another Lucas invention)

I am very angry that Capt Bob would say such a thing.  In fact I've had a Lucas pacemaker for years and I've never had a prob^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[vsmith]

Lucas - the Prince of Darkness

Well earned name given at night your headlights could go out at any moment, sure made driving fun!

[Anonymous]

Sell the buddy-l and get you a starter set from one of the "known" companies.

Toad

[kimbrit]

JACK, hit the emergency button on the pacemaker, it starts the clockwork backup!!As long as you wound it up that is

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone for the info.  Not sure what I want to do yet.  I like the looks but what good is it if I am going to have problems with it.