Can anyone out there help me...... PLEEEEEEEEEEEASE???????

[dinwitty]

let walthers know you want to replace them all, especially because of your location.
the possibility of the others cracking may be pretty good, so replace them all.

The only other alternative other than Athearn is to hit Northwest Shortline.
gears, parts galore.

[Ballantrae Road]

I also had P2K axle problems. Sent Walthers 2 e-mails. No response. I heard Athearn axles were the same. I bought some. They fit and work fine. When Walthers answers me, I'll requast spares for my other P2k's.

[ntypeman]

OK all... listen up....!!!!!

I've just had a reply from Walthers (a copy of which is below). Dingoix was in fact CORRECT with his statement that they (Walthers) won't have any replacement axles until April and I salute you for the prior warning!!!

Copy of email follows......

Eric,
The earlier production GP had a problem with the geared axles splitting due
to the type of polymer used. This has been corrected in the latter
editions. We can provide all service and parts for the Life Like products.
Unfortunately, we currently are out of geared axles; we expect a new supply
to be available in April. Because of the demand for the geared axles we
decided that the best approach is have the customers contact us in April.
If you would contact me then I will provide you with replacement axles for
those that are split. No need to send money as the axles will be provided
on a warranty basis; be sure to include your mailing address.
Sincerely,
Larry T
Wm K Walthers/Parts Dept


I get the impression that Walthers will replace the 2 failed axles but I'm thinking to try and play them to replace all 4 at the same time. If 2 have already failed then surely it's only a matter of time before the other 2 fail.... Who knows???? I'll give it a try, nothing ventured - nothing gained!!! so the saying goes....

Eric

[Trainnut484]

QUOTE: Originally posted by davekelly

The horizon site is kinda difficult to navigate. I took several searches to get the thing to work. Here are the part numbers that were posted on a way earlier thread:

Part #60024 is the correct # for the gear only.
Part #40019 is the complete wheel assembly.

Use the part number as the search term on horizonhobby.com and it should come right up.

I ordered a bunch of each, but have yet to install them. My plan is to replace the gears/axles as I instill decoders. My thought is that I might as well replace the things now while I have the engine disassembled for decoder installation.

Are these parts for all P2K's or certain ones? I have a couple of GP7's and a GP9 that have the cracked gear problem. Also, I would like to order extra gears and wheel assemblies.

Russell

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Yes some of the older GP7's and 9's had gear issues, the newer stuff doesn't

My bad. i didn't mean all P2K's. I just meant GP7's and 9's.

[davekelly]

Just go to the Horizon site (horizonhobby.com) and order directly. Yeah the product to shipping ratio is a bit high, but I'm sure you can find someother stuff on the site to improve the ratio.

[ntypeman]

I've contacted Walthers AND Athearn and am awaiting replies from them. I tell you its a nightmare trying to find spares for US stuff in the UK.... looks like I'm gonna have to import the stuff from the US!!!!

One other thing I've noticed is that most places charge more for shipping than the goods cost!!!!

Eric

[davekelly]

The horizon site is kinda difficult to navigate. I took several searches to get the thing to work. Here are the part numbers that were posted on a way earlier thread:

Part #60024 is the correct # for the gear only.
Part #40019 is the complete wheel assembly.

Use the part number as the search term on horizonhobby.com and it should come right up.

I ordered a bunch of each, but have yet to install them. My plan is to replace the gears/axles as I instill decoders. My thought is that I might as well replace the things now while I have the engine disassembled for decoder installation.

[Anonymous]

If you decide to go with Athearn the part no. is 60024.
Jim

[jrbernier]

Athearn axle/wheel sets for the older BB series engines(like the SD40-2) should work. But first contact Walthers - they are still digging out on all of the P2K stuff and just may have a set for you. Anyway, you can always 'escalate' and force them to strip out a set from some returned stock. Do not yell, just inform them that you are not satisied and want to escalate to a manager - Amazing what can be done!

Jim

[AntonioFP45]

Dingoix is on the mark.

There are Athearn axles available on the market. Always buy extra! From what my LHS manager explained to me: Many P2K and Athearn units sit on store shelves for several years. Some stores and warehouse distributors store their model locomotives and cars in hot or humid areas of their facility. So, even sealed up in boxes the plastic axles still dry rot so they crack once exposed to stress.

[Anonymous]

most P2K's have the cracked gears (or so it seems). i heard walthers won't have the new ones until april. don't waste your time w/ walthers. Buy Athearn wheels.

[andrechapelon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ntypeman

Thanks for the helpful advice so far.....

if I get/got replacement Athearn axles do I need to be concerned about sizes / gear ratios or are they all a standard part???? ( What I mean is, is the axle on a GP30 the SAME as on a SD60M / GP38 etc...)

Gary... will try and keep you informed....

Dave Kelly... If you see this... Who are Horizon and where can I find them???

boy.... I bet you think that we "over the pond" are dumb,.......

Have you tried model shops on your side of the pond? There are places that specialize in US and Continental items. Here's a link to a site that will help you find something close to you. http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/counties/model_shop_directory.html

Andre

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ntypeman


Gary... will try and keep you informed....

Dave Kelly... If you see this... Who are Horizon and where can I find them???

boy.... I bet you think that we "over the pond" are dumb,.......

Yes, please let us know if you can't resolve this problem. We love to help.

Horizon is a hobby distributor. http://www.horizonhobby.com/ They own Athearn

Don't worry. Nothing dumb about getting a bum loco. Besides, you guys can't be any dumber than our president. You just use funny words for stuff, that's all

[HoosierDaddy]

Not dumb at all. I had a P2K loco that was doing the same thing. The problem was diagnosed by members of this forum, and they pointed me in the right direction for solving the problem. I'm just returning the favor to another forum member. Maybe some day you will be the one who helps out someone with a similar problem.

HD

[ntypeman]

Thanks for the helpful advice so far.....

if I get/got replacement Athearn axles do I need to be concerned about sizes / gear ratios or are they all a standard part???? ( What I mean is, is the axle on a GP30 the SAME as on a SD60M / GP38 etc...)

Gary... will try and keep you informed....

Dave Kelly... If you see this... Who are Horizon and where can I find them???

boy.... I bet you think that we "over the pond" are dumb,.......

[ntypeman]

HD....

thanks. Have just emailed Walthers and await their reply.....

Eric

[Anonymous]

Pleeeeeeeeeeeease keep us updated.

[davekelly]

I forget the part numbers, but someone here posted the part numbers for both the Athearn gears and axle/gear sets that will fit the proto (try a search of this forum). I ordered the parts from Horizon and received them within a week. Yeah I know I should probably get them for free from Life Like/Walthers, but the Athearn parts are time tested and I know they will not give me any problems.

[emdgp92]

Ah, the infamous cracked gear problem. Call up Walthers and explain the problem. Some of their P2K engines have this problem.

Edit: I too have heard that the Athearn parts will work. Some of the guys on the Penn Central list I belong to are having this problem as well.

[HoosierDaddy]

Here is the customer service page for Walthers, who recently bought Life Like, the producer of the Proto 2000 loco.

http://www.walthers.com/exec/mailcustserv

Call them up and have them send you new gears. I did this last year, before they were purchased by Walthers, and they sent them out no charge. If that doesn't work, then you could purchase replacements from Athearn, which I've been told are drop ins for the p2ks.

HD

[ntypeman]

Hi everyone,

I've tried,tried and tried on the internet to find out about spare parts for a Proto 2000 locomotive, but keep running into a brick wall..... let me explain......

I live in the UK and have recently bought several p2k Burlington Northern locos as a job lot. All run brilliantly except 1... a GP30. When I test ran it, it appeared ok at speed but when it came to running at slow speeds I noticed that it would sometimes "lurch" forward as if something was not running as it (obviously) should.

Again, occasionally when starting it from a dead stand it initially wouldn't move. I then increased the power on my controller to the point where I could hear the motor start to buzz and then the loco suddenly with a "dull click" type of noise, lurch forward..... I replicated this problem several times and upon looking at the front bogie (sorry... power truck) it appeared to lift slightly off the track before lurching forward.

Even more intrigued, I gingerly stripped down the GP30 (and have since discovered the easier way is to prise off the "keeper plate" off the bottom of the power truck rather than stripping down the WHOLE loco!!! [:o)]) and to my dismay found that the 2 front geared axles had split along their length!!! Now I'm no expert in p2k stuff but I'm guessing that these need to be replaced.....

So... if you cut all my babbling I'll get to the point..... does anyone out there know where I can obtain replacement axles for my GP30? As I mentioned previously, I live in the UK so getting spares isn't that easy and I can't find anything on the internet..... Somebody out there MUST be able to point me in the right direction.... Any help would be much appreciated!!!![V]

Eric