Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

my brand new kato sd40-2 broke on the 1st day what do i do?

8528 views
107 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Tuesday, March 9, 2021 7:10 AM

John-NYBW

 

 
MisterBeasley

Sometimes, you just have to admit that this engine is yours, and you're a Model Railroader.  And a Model Railroader can fix it.

What are you going to do in two years when something breaks?  I bought a GG-1, and it didn't make it around the layout on Day 1.  I realized the couplers were garbage, so I swapped them for Kadees.  Probably voided the warranty.  But I got good couplers.

Believe in yourself.

Believe in yourself.

 

 

 

Why should it be the job of a model railroader to fix defective merchandise? If you bought a toaster and it didn't work, would you try to fix it or take it back to the store you bought it from? I've never understood why we in this hobby are willing to put up with poor quality merchandise. If it's defective it should go back to the store where you bought it for replacement or refund. They can return it to where they got it from and get credit for it. Let the manufacture with the poor quality control eat the cost of fixing it. 

 

Well, if he did take it apart and paint it, I think it is his.....

Now a good dealer or manufacturer might help him out, but at that point is is not just a defective toaster. 

If I buy a brand new car, and start messing around with adding or changing things, the more I do the more I limit the responsibility of the manufacturer.

But this is becoming a hobby of "model collectors" not model builders........

This is why modeles should get some test run time before they get painted, kit bashed or whatever.

If it is still out of the box "pristine" take it back and stops working in one day, take it back.

Sheldon 

    

  • Member since
    June 2007
  • 8,892 posts
Posted by riogrande5761 on Tuesday, March 9, 2021 6:30 AM

John-NYBW
ohn-NYBW wrote the following post 2 minutes ago: MisterBeasley Sometimes, you just have to admit that this engine is yours, and you're a Model Railroader.  And a Model Railroader can fix it. 

 

Why should it be the job of a model railroader to fix defective merchandise?

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 2,572 posts
Posted by John-NYBW on Tuesday, March 9, 2021 6:25 AM

MisterBeasley

Sometimes, you just have to admit that this engine is yours, and you're a Model Railroader.  And a Model Railroader can fix it.

What are you going to do in two years when something breaks?  I bought a GG-1, and it didn't make it around the layout on Day 1.  I realized the couplers were garbage, so I swapped them for Kadees.  Probably voided the warranty.  But I got good couplers.

Believe in yourself.

Believe in yourself.

 

Why should it be the job of a model railroader to fix defective merchandise? If you bought a toaster and it didn't work, would you try to fix it or take it back to the store you bought it from? I've never understood why we in this hobby are willing to put up with poor quality merchandise. If it's defective it should go back to the store where you bought it for replacement or refund. They can return it to where they got it from and get credit for it. Let the manufacture with the poor quality control eat the cost of fixing it. 

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Monday, March 8, 2021 9:19 PM

Sometimes, you just have to admit that this engine is yours, and you're a Model Railroader.  And a Model Railroader can fix it.

What are you going to do in two years when something breaks?  I bought a GG-1, and it didn't make it around the layout on Day 1.  I realized the couplers were garbage, so I swapped them for Kadees.  Probably voided the warranty.  But I got good couplers.

Believe in yourself.

Believe in yourself.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    July 2016
  • 2,631 posts
Posted by Backshop on Monday, March 8, 2021 4:05 PM

In another post, the OP said that he painted the loco first so I don't know if it would be returnable.

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 2,572 posts
Posted by John-NYBW on Monday, March 8, 2021 3:36 PM

GN24

i was runing the locomotive when it just stoped and wont move a single bit and it was not a burn out because it smelled fine so what could it be?

 

If I bought something brand new and it broke the first day, it would go right back to whomever I bought it from. I wouldn't even attempt to fix it. I wouldn't do that with anything else I bought. Why should I be expected to do that with a model railroading item?

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,557 posts
Posted by York1 on Monday, March 8, 2021 3:27 PM

GN24
i have tested it and it is the locomotive that is having issues and i dont think i should try to fix it i am just having my local hobby store do it

 

Good idea.

Don't start messing around inside a brand new locomotive when you have the store nearby.  If they can't get it running, you'll probably get a new locomotive.  If you mess around with it, they may claim you did the damage.

York1 John       

  • Member since
    October 2020
  • 96 posts
Posted by GN24 on Monday, March 8, 2021 3:09 PM

i have tested it and it is the locomotive that is having issues and i dont think i should try to fix it i am just having my local hobby store do it

  • Member since
    May 2014
  • From: Pennsylvania
  • 1,154 posts
Posted by Trainman440 on Monday, March 8, 2021 2:25 PM

No I meant make sure your layout isnt shorted when the engine is placed on the track. Aka, put another engine on the track along with the kato engine and see if it runs. If its not responding either, then your kato engine is creating a short.

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO

Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@trainman440

Instagram (where I share projects!): https://www.instagram.com/trainman440

  • Member since
    October 2020
  • 96 posts
Posted by GN24 on Monday, March 8, 2021 2:05 PM

I have tested the track it works fine and the loco is ho scale i think i am just gonna have my local hobby shop fix it

  • Member since
    May 2014
  • From: Pennsylvania
  • 1,154 posts
Posted by Trainman440 on Monday, March 8, 2021 1:59 PM

Make sure your layout isnt shorted. 

If its not, then try to take off the shell and put power leads onto the motor, and see if it runs. 

Charles

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO

Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@trainman440

Instagram (where I share projects!): https://www.instagram.com/trainman440

  • Member since
    October 2011
  • 276 posts
Posted by MARTIN STATION on Monday, March 8, 2021 1:39 PM

Is this HO or N scale? I have had both and never had this happen, but there was some time back that Kato had some electrical pick up issues with some HO SD40-2 locomotives that had to be hard wired to get to operate well, but this has been a while and Kato fixed the problem of future runs. Could this be new old stock or is it a recent run?

Ralph

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,557 posts
Posted by York1 on Monday, March 8, 2021 1:29 PM

I agree that if you bought it at a store, take it back and let them test it.  Don't even try to do it yourself.

If you bought it online, then you can check wires, connections, etc., before you lose several weeks of shipping and trying to communcate long distance.

Good luck.  Let us know what happens.

York1 John       

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Monday, March 8, 2021 1:02 PM

Brand new, as in bought from Kato? or a dealer/hobby shop?  

Make sure your track has power.

If your not familiar with trouble shooting a locomotive, and all that's involved, and, it is brand new from a Kato, or a hobby shop,  take it back, as most hobby shops have test track set up, let them try it.

If you are familiar with Kato locomotives, check where the wires connect to the pick-up strip, that is on the inside of the trucks.

The wire is held in place with little black push-on caps.  One of those might have come off.

Mike.

  • Member since
    October 2020
  • 96 posts
my brand new kato sd40-2 broke on the 1st day what do i do?
Posted by GN24 on Monday, March 8, 2021 12:51 PM

i was runing the locomotive when it just stoped and wont move a single bit and it was not a burn out because it smelled fine so what could it be?

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!