What is the deal with Rivarossi locos?

[countershot]

What is the deal with Rivarossi locos? every time i turn around somebody is telling me that Rivarossi is not a good brand.
what is the DEAL?

[Anonymous]

The older ones are crap. But their newer releases, such as their UP FEF-3, their latest Big Boy, the Allegheny and the Hiesler are awesome. But the older models, such as the Challengers and the Hudsons aren't that great......

[selector]

Could you elaborate, Jonathon? Why have you found that the earlier ones are sub-par?

[Anonymous]

Well, I guess they're really not that bad. But compared with todays models, they are subpar. I've seen them and, IMO, not being offesnsive to anyone who owns one, the detail is pathetic. Standard Bachmann is better. Most of the older models also have deep flanges and have bad motors. All the experiences I've had with the older Rivarossi's have been negative.

Just my opinion,

Jonathon

[selector]

Okee-doke, and thanks for responding. [:)]

[Anonymous]

Glad I could be of service, Crandell.[:)]

[AggroJones]

Most of the Rivarossis I encounter have flaws. Most of them dance down the rails. Such as the most recent version AC-12. Fine at low speed (a little noisy though) but over 20 mph, the boiler rocked side to side and it got even worse at higher speeds. And their fat steam locos were always light for their size, as Rivarossi relied on tires for pull. Thats a no-no.
The NYC Hudson, older FEF-3, Y6b, and UP Challenger had elecrical pick up issues. Not enough contacts, and the few there were didn't stay touching the wheels. And these were the "improved" versions. [V]

The old-school, 3 pole motored, razor flanged AMH steamers are basically garbage. IMHO

The newest FEF-3 and H-8 rock! I hope they update the AC-12 to this level.

[Anonymous]

Rivarossi declared bankruptcy not too long ago, and were bought up by another firm - Hornby in England? Word on the Net is their molds went to China to be produced there in the future. Any existing Rivarossi would be from the folded firm.

I recently bought one of their Heislers, a newer one. It appears to be a great model, much improved over the original with better detailing, wheels, etc.

Bob Boudreau

[Anonymous]

One of my buddies bought a Rivarossi E-8 Pennsy set last year that was a lemon... It made a few laps around his layout, then died!. It turned out to be bad worm gears at both ends.
He's taken it to several hobby shops but no one's been able to repair it. He finally traded shells with an old Life Like E-8 that he had so he could use it.

trainluver1

[Virginian]

Rivarossi was the cream of the crop in the '70's, but it aint the '70s anymore, and those locos are still around. The newer ones are not bad in my opinion. The last Y6bs were a big improvement over the earlier ones, and the 2-6-6-6 was another couple of steps up the ladder, albeit at a huge price difference.
I will be glad when they are back.

[dinwitty]

Rivarrossi will have to look at the current market and say...uh, guys, we better rework again...

I doubt I would buy the Y6B now given the Y3a out now but I want the Y6b.
I have pretty much decided to hang onto my RR Y6b's and just improve their drive train like I have, maybe RR will do something better, but I may buy a Y3 anyways.
One of my regeared Y6b's runs at a fantastic crawl. Which is what I need to haul coal over mountains.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy

The older ones are crap.

Jonathon was too kind.
As a prior owner of the 2-8-8-2, 4-6-6-4 and the 4-8-4 all of which lacked electrical integrity,
prone to stalling do to insufficient electrical pick-ups , unreliable spring pin pick-ups, short circuits
and electrical failure.

As a current owner of the Mighty Allegheny and the newer FEF-3's both of which are reliable
and sweet runners out of the box.
The FEF-3, a 26 1/4 ounce model, 12 wheel electrical pick-up, non-sound with a DCC socket
is a good bargin for $130.00 and carries an Walthers verbal over ride one year exchange only
warranty.

[Fergmiester]

Chuck is right!

I have old, not so old and new. The old, back in the seventies, was actually considered the cream of the crop. When new they ran quite well, however as they got used the electrical continuity degraded to a point they became garbage and hard to service. The motor brushes being one of the main culprits.

I have an old Big Boy and Berkshire, which will attest to this. The latest FEF-3 and Allegheny are both great engines and a far cry better from the original. Hopefully they will stay that way.

If you see a an old Rivarossi think twice before buying, unless you'll be using it as a museum piece!

Fergie

[Virginian]

Way back when, I bought a bag of Riv motor brushes and springs so I am covered there, and I periodically clean the contacts and wheels when I run one so I don't have any problems there. My OLD Y6b still ran fine the last time I ran it. That is NOT to say it is in the same league as the P2K 2-8-8-2, however.

[Fergmiester]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Virginian

Way back when, I bought a bag of Riv motor brushes and springs so I am covered there, and I periodically clean the contacts and wheels when I run one so I don't have any problems there. My OLD Y6b still ran fine the last time I ran it. That is NOT to say it is in the same league as the P2K 2-8-8-2, however.

Consider yourself lucky! I too got spare brushes, which worked well for the first few run then..... I don't know the exact problem but it's either the brushes or commutators that creates the dirt and fouls the continuity. The pick ups also loose their tension and this too leads to poor continuity

Fergie

[Virginian]

Never had a pickup lose tension, so I must have been lucky there. I came up with an old burned out motor once and I had it rewound. You haven't lived until you have seen a Y6b at a scale 250 miles per hour!
I carefully sanded the commutator once and that greatly extended the motor brush life and improved the cleanliness. I don't know what machining steps they used, but it produced miniscule raised lips on the cuts in the commutator, which ain't good.

[countershot]

ok that would explain why my 0-8-0 is falling apart one of the side rod bolts sheard of how weird is that, i am going to go get it fixed soon other wise it is a very nice loco.
thank for your input