My old PCM Y6-b is dead and it seems after years it has cracked a gear. BLI sent me a new set of gears, but will not touch the engine with a 10 foot pole. They no longer have parts if they break something.
I am not afraid to tear open a diesel or even a steam engine as far as that goes! But pulling side rods and quatering wheels, no thanks!
So where would you send a steam engine for repairs? This hs been the best engine I have ever bought and I miss it.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
Hi Ken
Is there a hobby shop or a model railroad club somewhere in your part of the country? They might be able to recommend someone who knows what they are doing. Otherwise, check out the classified ads in the back of MR, maybe something there. The only one I knew was Maine Modelworks in Yarmouth, ME, but he sold the business a couple years ago, and I do not know about the new owner.
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
If all else fails, Gulf Coast Model Railroading in Sarasota, Florioda does repair work.
.
I have never used this sevice, so I cannot give a customer testimonial.
I have been in the shop when people have dropped off or picked up repairs.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
NWSL makes a quartering jig, and as for getting all the rods back on in the right position, if the diagrams are lacking in the loco manual, take a picture after removing every single piece, one at a time and maybe stick a bit of tape with a number on each rod so you know what order they go in. If you've ever rebuilt a carb on one of your cars, you can do this.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Thanks for the answers folks.
Kevin I will keep Gulf Coast Model Railroading in mind.
Randy My eyes are slowly going away, there is no way I want to tear into the side rods. I will check to see if it has a cracked tower gear but after that?
Far as LHS K-10 Model Trains. First place I tried, no luck there.
Thanks for the answer, Ken
I have maybe 50% vision in my right eye. Luckily the left is OK. I've had one surgery oon the left, two on the right, to try and keep it from getting worse. Definitely messes with my ability to work with electronics and fine detail, but with lots of light and a good magnifier, I can make do - most of the time it's actually better for me to hold the work inches from my face than use the magnifier though. Lots of fun with a soldering iron - haven't burned my nose yet though.
Depends:
Do you want it done right so the engine runs as smooth as silk? So you never have any worries again?
Do you want it done by a former 20+ year veteran employee of Northwest Short Line, who can regear anything, who can paint anything? Light anything? Who can even weather if you need that done, to your specs?
David Long at Kelly Creek Backshop in Bozeman, MT.
He charges by the hour and will give you an estimate, and he's not cheap, but he is the best I've ever known and is still actively working at this. I think he's about $50 an hour now.
He retouched an expensive brass steamer for me last year that had a paint flaw. When he was done, only he and I would ever be able to tell that anything was done to it.
His steam articulated regearing work is flawless.
He does not advertise; he does not need to. All his work is by word of mouth.
[Phone number removed by moderator. Contact by PM, if interested]
John Mock
PRR8259 Depends: Do you want it done right so the engine runs as smooth as silk? So you never have any worries again? Do you want it done by a former 20+ year veteran employee of Northwest Short Line, who can regear anything, who can paint anything? Light anything? Who can even weather if you need that done, to your specs? David Long at Kelly Creek Backshop in Bozeman, MT. He charges by the hour and will give you an estimate, and he's not cheap, but he is the best I've ever known and is still actively working at this. I think he's about $50 an hour now. He retouched an expensive brass steamer for me last year that had a paint flaw. When he was done, only he and I would ever be able to tell that anything was done to it. His steam articulated regearing work is flawless. He does not advertise; he does not need to. All his work is by word of mouth. [Phone number removed by moderator. Contact by PM, if interested] John Mock
And for what this repair might cost, one might as well just buy another copy of this loco that has no issues........
Sheldon
Can the driver/axle/gear assembly be removed from the bottom of the engine group (front or rear)? If so, it's an easy job. Just unscrew the rods from the wheel set (only). Only remove the rods from the wheel set in question. Do tou have the correct nut driver? If you can, send the wheel set and gear to me, and I can swap gears. No charge. Some of the early Korean PCM/Broadway-Limited models have to have the axle pressed out of the engine frame to be removed. This is a "job", but can be done. Remove the bottom axle cover, and tell us how it's made.
Mike C.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL And for what this repair might cost, one might as well just buy another copy of this loco that has no issues........ Sheldon
Hardly. Have you seen the prices of these things now? All I know is that Mr. Long gets an awful lot of work done in one of his billable hours, and the quality of his regearing is first rate. Sure, maybe to replace one cracked gear, there might be generous folks on here willing to help out a fellow hobbyist--and my hat's off to them for helping a guy out--but for serious repairs when somebody wants their prized baby repaired by the best, well that is David Long. On LinkedIn it now says he's also a machinist...I don't know any steam fans better than him who are still actively working with models. Bob Hunter, the expert painter who also worked on the real Southern 4501, is not with us anymore.
PRR8259 ATLANTIC CENTRAL And for what this repair might cost, one might as well just buy another copy of this loco that has no issues........ Sheldon Hardly. Have you seen the prices of these things now? All I know is that Mr. Long gets an awful lot of work done in one of his billable hours, and the quality of his regearing is first rate. Sure, maybe to replace one cracked gear, there might be generous folks on here willing to help out a fellow hobbyist--and my hat's off to them for helping a guy out--but for serious repairs when somebody wants their prized baby repaired by the best, well that is David Long. On LinkedIn it now says he's also a machinist...I don't know any steam fans better than him who are still actively working with models. Bob Hunter, the expert painter who also worked on the real Southern 4501, is not with us anymore.
Well, if that guy can fix that loco in 3-4 hours, my hat goes off to him.
But first you have to ship it to him, then he has to fix it, them ship it back.
Sounds like $300 minimum any what you look at it.
For a loco with a $600 list price and a $480 street price, the only issue might be finding one...........the joys of "limited production".
I would contact Derrell Poole in Hamilton, MT. He owns 7th Street Shops and also works with Northwest Shortline. He is a custom painter and also has tons of experience with model engine repowering and mechanism repair. He is reasonable and does an excellent job by my own experience with him. - Mike Johnson, Seabeck, WA
Mike Thanks for the offer! But the side gear is what has me worried! BLI would quater the the wheels for $10.00
Far as cost, will I rather pay $100.00 to have it fix then $300.00. But it would be worth the $300.00. BLI does not have any Y-6b's and this engine is a beast! It has pulled 89 cars up a 1.5% grade.
Thanks for all the answers folks and I will keep ever idea in mind!
Ken
Look I'm not trying to start any arguments. There are likely some good repair techs out there, but finding them can be a challenge. Perhaps the less expensive fellow mentioned above that works with NWS would be well worth contacting?
Alas, I had two of the factory refurbished ones that I played with a little bit and then sold (N&W isn't really "my" railroad), and I think I only got about $450 or $425 for each of them a couple years ago, when they seemed plentiful.
Maybe BLI doesn't have them, but I bet there are dealers who still would have them in stock. (I just found Genesis DDA40X models that were made back in 2010, still in multiple dealer inventories in the US, and BLI made more runs of Y-6B's than Athearn did of that diesel.) Some dealers, if they have the Y-6B, would be willing to deal at this date.
Before I would plunk down much cash for a repair, I do think that I would go to a good train show, as BLI cranked out so many of these in different runs that I would think it likely there would be some available? It can't hurt to look around.
The worst thing is you might end up with two to doublehead?
I won't get to my favorite shop for about a week, but I'll see if they have one. They usually have about one of everything big steam in stock, most of the time. I know they have an N&W engine that I saw a week ago, but it might be the A class instead.
Happy hunting-
John
cudakenBLI does not have any Y-6b's and this engine is a beast! It has pulled 89 cars up a 1.5% grade.
Did this engine come with traction tires?
Maxman No traction tires needed. Best engine I ever bought!
PRR I think there was only 1 run of the PCM Y-6b. Shortly after I got the PCM BLI did some Y-6b's Blueline and I think a Pargon verson as well.
I may ask Darth Santa Fe if he might tackel the job.
Thanks again for the answers.
Train Service Depot is the authorized BLI repair shop. Unfortunately I just learned that they do only electrical work and Paradon 3 upgrades. I mention them here only for future reference.
http://www.trainservicedepot.com/
Robert
The Tularosa Basin RR operating in the High Desert of Southern New Mexico
The Tularosa Basin: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Tularosa-Basin-NM-USGS-map_opaque.gif
Try Enginehouse Services in Green Bay WI (they advertise in MR and the NMRA Magazine.
https://www.enginehouseservices.com/t-services.aspx#painting
They are best known for their decoder installs and are a very reputable dealer. Their website says they do loco repairs.
Dave Nelson
John, could you PM me Dave Longs phone number?
Hum, a PRR fan I am guessing. Do you my chance know what company made the Lake Merritt Heavy Pullman Coach? I bought from a estate sale. What was the Lake Merritt coach anyway?
Thanks Again, Ken
Pullman cars had names. Lake Merritt was a plan 3585 10-1-2 sleeper. Branchline made a kit for one, and they had some built up versions as well. I'm sure others made 10-1-2 sleepers over the years.
John I sent you a PM for the phone number.