Stevelewis Posted April 28, 2017 Share Posted April 28, 2017 (edited) I am just in the process of packing and returning to suppliers 2 Minitrains Locos which are faulty: A 2-6-2 Baldwin purchased a few days ago, run briefly on a developing layout, but motor failed (powered by a power unit well within the recommended Minitrains parameters) An 0-8-0 Brigadelok delivered to me today and found to have valve gear on one side detached and flapping around AND front headlight detached just hanging on by its cables! So this one did not even get a test run! Any comments? Edited April 28, 2017 by Stevelewis Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Nile Posted April 29, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 29, 2017 I think you've been very unlucky there. The valve gear problem is a known issue with the first batch of Brigadeloks, it should have been fixed by now. I've not had any motor problems with any of my Minitrains locos, but a few others have, much like any other make. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevelewis Posted April 29, 2017 Author Share Posted April 29, 2017 I think you've been very unlucky there. The valve gear problem is a known issue with the first batch of Brigadeloks, it should have been fixed by now. I've not had any motor problems with any of my Minitrains locos, but a few others have, much like any other make. Since writing my OP I have done a quick check with 2 others I know who have purchased Minitrains locos, their total purchases between them are 7 of which 3 still function OK the rest either returned to retailer or used as free running locos! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PaulRhB Posted April 29, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 29, 2017 I've got 4 and all fine, not heard of motor problems before but as said there was an issue with the brigadelok rods. I'd count them as very high quality and much more reliable than my recent Tillig locos. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimF51 Posted May 28, 2017 Share Posted May 28, 2017 Perhaps it's those 2 particular models that are having issues? There seems to be just about zero issues with the HOn30 models. If there were, I seriously think they would have been, or be, discussed on the Yahoo HOn30 group, or the HOn30, 009, HOe facebook page. I have of the Forney's, and one of the small F&C tender locos. It has only been test run, and is now waiting for a Toma conversion kit. The Forney's, however, have been run quite a bit, on my test oval. Jim F Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevelewis Posted May 28, 2017 Author Share Posted May 28, 2017 I have not looked at this thread for a while, but can report that the retailers from whom bought the 2 locos from refunded my purchase price and return shipping costs without question, both agreeing tat the locos were faulty. Approx 2 weeks ago one of my friends returned one of his 0-8-0s with valve gear failure this was also like mine a very recent new purchase Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Hilton Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 The majority of my 009 models (which number almost 50) are powered by Minitrains mechanisms with no mechanical problems what so ever... Good to hear of the customer service from your model shop. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
coline33 Posted March 29, 2020 Share Posted March 29, 2020 Help, please? Just had my Minitrains Baldwin, with which I have no problem for years, decide to fail on me! Power collection OK as headlamp lights, buzz from motor so power there. Found driving wheels 'hard' ie. no slight movement with each wheelset. Valve gear does not appear jammed or out of order. Therefore is it down to a gear wheel out of sync in the drive train? Has any one had similar experience to guide me out of this, please? Colin. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Nile Posted March 29, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 29, 2020 Possibly something has got jammed inside the geartrain in the chassis. There are a lot of small gears in there. Removing the keeper plate is only for the brave, getting those gears back in correctly is a nightmare. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardTPM Posted March 29, 2020 Share Posted March 29, 2020 If it were a Farish chassis I'd be looking for a cracked gear. I don't know if those early Minitrains ones particularly suffer from that malady though. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
coline33 Posted March 30, 2020 Share Posted March 30, 2020 Thanks Nile and Bernard. My gut feeling is that the one of the drive train cogs has got out of position (maybe cracked or tooth/teeth damaged) causing the valve gear to be out of sync. I am not brave enough to take the keeper plate off!!! To keep the service on "East Quay" going (Rye Works - Camber Sands West - Camber East Quay), Derails speedily got a Bachmann Baldwin to me so once named it took over the Minitrains turns and runs a treat. Fortunately the setting is second half 20th century so present restrictions do not apply to its traffic! I will leave the Minitrains at the back of Rye Works until I pick courage to work on it further!!! Keep safe, Colin. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyChappy Posted March 31, 2020 Share Posted March 31, 2020 My Minitrains chassis' are the most reliable I own but then I don't have a Baldwin so can't comment specifically. As mentioned above It certainly sounds like a jammed gear if there is no play whatsoever in the drivetrain. When I dismantle a tricky chassis I find it helps to photograph every single step so you can feel confident that you can retrace the dismantling process and refer back to each stage when re-assembling. Make sure you dismantle in a shoe-box or similar to contain all those tiny bits which may spring off to be consumed by the carpet monster! Good luck. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Nile Posted April 1, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 1, 2020 Some extra hands would help as well, two just doesn't seem enough. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talbotjohn Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 Hi Coline 33 Been there and done that with my old Minitrains Baldwin. Same symptoms. I found that the acetal? gear on the leading axle had split along its length down in the gap between the teeth. This causes the gear to slip under power and the quartering to go out of sync and so jam up the motion. You need to remove the keeper plate to confirm this. I tried to fix it with a small drop of superglue carefully applied between gear and axle but it didn't work. I was fortunate to get a replacement set of wheels axles gears and motion through the 009 Society that solved the problem for me. It is a bit fiddly to fit the wheels and motion as you need to insert the piston rods in the cylinders, drop the axles in place whilst ensuring the pick up wipers go behind the wheels! You can do it if you are determined. There were rumours that a small supplier could supply brass replacement gears but these would require pulling wheels off axles, etc.I tried to follow up on this source but the trail ran dry...... Hope this helps you understand the issue but sadly doesn't offer you a way forward. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobby Posted April 14, 2020 Share Posted April 14, 2020 Or as Nile says it could just be something simple like a piece of ballast wedged in the gears, most times when I've had that symptom that's what it's been... Only one way to find out, take that keeper plate off! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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