Does anyone know how they handle things when you send in a loco that needs too much love? I got a Northern about ten years ago. stored it. And as soon as I went to use it the drivers fell off! I called today and asked if I sent it in if I could get something different, or if they will just repair it and send it back. ( By the way. Its in pieces. Just had too look and marvel!) :tb-hissyfit:
I had one that the drivers where 'stripped' on. After sending it back.. Bachmann contacted me and told me to send 25.00 for repairs or replacement. I told them I would save the 25.00 and buy something that ran better from another manufacturer. They sent a new 4-8-4 within 2 weeks...no charge. Just sayin. ''** BTW...the NEW 4-8-4 doesnt run worth a crap (pickup problems) !! I wish they had had a good day and sent a 2-8-0 as a repalcement ;-)
I had an older Spectrum 2-6-6-2 that stopped running last year. Sent it back for repair and was told they didn't have the parts for the old so they sent a new one. Bachmann seems pretty good about replacing / repairing locomotives.
I have an old Bachmann TGV that needs some work. I wonder if they would repair or replace it for me? :tb-biggrin:
Bachmann is more then likely to offer you a resonable resolution to a locomotive repair. You shouldn't have any problems but do stick to your guns.
If you have your original reciept or can prove you are the original purchaser, they will replace it under warranty with the new version which contrary to the comment above runs very well. I just finished replacing the tender and installing a decoder in one for another forum member. If you don't have proof of original purchase, send it in with a check of the proper amount according to the policy listed on their website and they will replace it. I have never had any issues with Bachmann service. I'm getting ready to box up a batch of loco's for the shop and send them back to Bachmann. It's amazing what people can do to a loco in just a couple weeks after Christmas. We swap them for the customer, confident that Bachman will replace them for us.
Having covered at some length in earlier posts about the Bmann faulty gear issue in thier early steam I'll touch it again here briefly. The plastic gears in some of the locos have a cast axle shaft that is part of the gear. Over time the plastic deteriorates and the gear axle shaft splits allowing the wheel to work loose. As said in the earlier posts if this was bought new it should be under a warranty to replace or repair. Since the mechanism has changed, although the shell remains the same, they probably don't have parts for the older versions any longer to be able to effect a repair. The newer version is a better runner and that said there are probably going to be a few with glitches from time to time. The biggest issue is that they still have not gone to tender pick-up with the newer version and that would help this loco immensely. There is one big problem I have a rant about. That is some of the retailers, especially those on the big auction site, are selling the older version of this loco as new in box at what I consider exorbitant $$ when it is most likely sitting in the box with split gear shafts. On average when you open up the older mechanism you find 2 and maybe 3 of the 4 driver axle shafts split. In reality the older versions are only worth a few $$ as a parts source. You have to buy at least two to have enough good gears to get one running unless one does the re-sleeving of the axle shafts as I did recently. One identifier of the bad gears is the color. If they are white they are the bad ones. Bmann had this same issue a few years back with a run of the F-7s until they started using a different plastic for the gears, and Lifelike also went through a bout with the same plastic in some earlier locos.
thanks for all the help and info. i suppose i should put the thing back together and send it in with the 15 bucks. guess i did not loose so bad. only paid 18 bucks for it off of a consignment table in the hobby shop. wish me luck.
