I am new to n scale rr and haave just received a diesel EMD 7 (Atlas) with a broken rear truck from ebay. Should I try and repair it or send it back? Is there anywhere to go to look up repair specs etc? It appears to be bent. I called a LHS and they quoted over the phone approx. $25-50 to repair. Thanks Charlie
That is an OLD engine. Repair parts are hard to get. I'd get hold of the seller and explain the problem. Plan on asking for a return option. Since you are new to the hobby, you might want to support your Local Hobby Store. They can direct you into a better engine for your money. Just remember, You get what you pay for Spend a little and get a better engine. You won't be sorry. Not many hobby shops are into repairs now a days. Especially when you bought it off of eBay. Welcome to TRAINBOARD and the Model Railroading Hobby.
I would have to agree with everyone else, contact and send it back to the seller. One thing you don't want to do is cheap out on an engine because that is the easiest way to get put off by the hobby. I remember starting off with a Bachmann SD40-2 and thought it was good, picked up a Bachmann Spectrum at a hobby show and was impressed, then from a local shop picked up an Atlas/Kato GP35 and never touched the Bachmann stuff again and finally bought my first Kato and knew what quality and excellent running engines were really about. Now this is going back 15 years in my n-scale life and all these discoveries happened within a 6 month period so I learned a lot really fast when it came to n-scale. But I've been happy since and haven't looked back.
Hmm...Okay,I saw it,but before you send it back,the trucks on those E7's have a cover on them,perhaps it just needs to be snapped back on?
Being new to the hobby, you have already gotten a bad taste in your mouth. Between bidding, shipping and reshipping and redelivery, you will be better off just returning it or chalking it up to experience and purchasing a brand new one from a reputable on line dealer.
There is a good shop in Dallas called: Discount Model Trains 4641 Ratliff Ln Addison, TX 75001 Phone: (972) 931-8135 Go there. They are good folks and have a large selection. Best of both worlds, you support a local shop and you get a discount.
You could try the Atlas Repair dept if they have some old parts around to help you. If your EMD is a first gen product, you may end up at a swap meet to find another donor loco for parts. That my be why the LHS quoted a $25-50 price to repair. A new truck is a lot cheaper. Atlas does not have a warranty policy for old locos like Bachmann.
