Had a couple of hours running yesterday and more changes to the mike. As the loco entered curves, all 8' on my RR, the front truck was bouncing, ran it through slow and found that the wheels actually catch on the cylinders. Onto the workbench it went and sure enough, two rub marks off the wheels. Easily fixed of course, a bit of judicious filing and fine, just need a stronger spring to keep the wheels down on the track. I think it should say '10' minimum curve required'
Cheers,
Kim
I am getting a Mallet for Christmas for sure, I can't wait for that.
Lionel collector, stuck in an N scaler's modelling space.
You can't have enough of a good loco, they all have their own little quirks, from the electrical problems discussed here to fitting the fidly bits on USA diesels to mechanical problems with LGB. In fact, thinking about it, the only ones that have been fine from the box are my Bachmann loco's, now who would have thought that!
PS I'm looking at Pacifics now, that'll lead to heavyweights, that'll lead to Gail going out with credit card....................
Eric Cooper wrote: Some of the retailers are still selling early Mikes on closeout specials. I'll bet you got one of theirs. Sorry Kim. I've been active on the Aristo site for some time and can tell you that Tate and his minions are incredibly responsive to consumer problems. On another note, I really hate the tariff/duty impositions you Brits have to endure when you buy American goods. You guys end up paying almost double. Sheesh!
Some of the retailers are still selling early Mikes on closeout specials. I'll bet you got one of theirs. Sorry Kim. I've been active on the Aristo site for some time and can tell you that Tate and his minions are incredibly responsive to consumer problems.
On another note, I really hate the tariff/duty impositions you Brits have to endure when you buy American goods. You guys end up paying almost double. Sheesh!
I bought two when they first came out, and I bought the other, a couple weeks ago. I am thinkin of asking for yet another (electric) one for Christmas this time in SP.
Such is life guys. I guessed it was an early version when I saw the price on e-bay and checked the mag for close out deals, $240ish seemed the average. The cost of our hobby in the UK usually equates to a 1 for 1 on the dollar/pound + a liitle bit more for VAT etc, hence the uk price for the mike of almost £500. To be honest the loco ran fine when it was only picking up through the rear bogie, now everything is set right I'm expecting great things and, hopefully, trouble free running. I take my hat off to Tate, that's how to treat customers. On the next nice day I'll post some shots of my big loco's doing what they do best - hauling freight.
Amen to that Vic, my home builds always run good. Anyway, I never thought I'd be bashing a brand new mike about, here's what I've done with a pair of cutters, insulation tape and a test meter. The printed circuit board in the tender is part of the problem, it doesn't allow continuity, so out it came, if I ever fit sound I'll look at re-using it but I doubt I'll need it. The battery wires to the rear of the tender have gone as have the link to the loco. I cut off the male plug and replaced the female on the loop from the tender wheels, so I now only have one jumper cable between loco and tender. A quick polarity check and drivers and tender bogie function as one. The second loco loop folds neatly into the cab and the front one folds neatly under the smokebox. Couldn't track test because of the weather, never mind!!! I'll post a pic when the weather allows.
Forgot to add that the backhead switch is now in the correct position as well.
Have fun with your trains
Hey Kim,
I'm glad you got that all sorted out. It's nice to know that they do still care about the blunder. I would have done the same..considering I hate sending stuff back. All that ever means is ....wait. I, like you would rather get to the bottom of things if I can. Don't have any big locos like yours. Maybe one day...my line has a couple of pieces of two foot radius track here and there. My worry would be of derailing the beast. All the best. Later eh...Brian.
Yes. The track/battery switch is marked backwards in the manual. Also on my Pacific. I made a note in the manual.
TATE-on-the-spot.
How's this for service from Aristo, not even 8a.m. on that side of the pond.
Here's some unusual findings on my new Mike, has any other owner noticed this?
Took delivery yesterday and after cleaning track had the loco running, I set the switches in the cab thus:
Motor - on
Supply - track
Light - on
Smoke - on
I thought it strange that it wouldn't run without the tender but was ok when the tender was connected, my C16 is the same. Re-read the instruction book again and there it was - the loco picks up through all drivers and one tender bogie. So, time for a resistance test. With the first two switches set as above and light and smoke off there was no reading from the loco drivers but there was from the first tender bogie. With the power set to battery there was a reading from the loco drivers but not from the tender bogie. I then switched the motor switch off and tested for continuity between the loco drivers and the tender bogie, nothing, no matter what the supply switch was set to. I then found that the loco bogies are connected to the female socket on the engine and the tender bogie is connected to the female socket on the tender!!??? Methinks the factory has made a complete and utter mess of wiring this one up, time for more tests and some wire cutters. I will keep you informed on this one but will probably just run from the driving wheel supply, eight pickup points there after all.
I would appreciate feed back from you Mike owners.
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