Free At Last Posted May 18, 2020 Share Posted May 18, 2020 2 hours ago, Clark Railworks said: Hello! Just wondered if it would be possible for anyone to send us a copy of the Heljan Beyer Garratt paperwork? Thank you in advance! Amey Clark Railworks P.M. sent. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
yelrow Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 Hi, has anyone had the crank pins come out, on their beyer. If so did they repair themselves, or can they suggest a repaier. At 77, my eyes are not up to playing with these tiny pins. thanks. john Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cctransuk Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 When this model was announced, I ordered one straight away. It's release was accompanied by horror stories of burned-out motors; (which I suspected at the time were the result of distorted valve gear, due to heavy handling). Nonetheless, I purchased a couple of the spare motors which were mentioned here - just in case! Now that my 'magnum opus' roundy-roundy is operational, I can finally assess the capabilities of this model. Suffice to say that it didn't even blink at a load of eighteen Mk.1 coaches - it was clearly capable of far greater things! No slipping; no escaping 'magic smoke'; just a steady pull away and acceleration to a very creditable running speed, that would have taxed the prototype. My conclusion is that the Heljan Garratt, given careful handling, is a superb model which ill-deserves its past dubious reputation. .... and its box still contains the two unused spare motors - just in case! John Isherwood. 2 2 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
amdaley Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 49 minutes ago, cctransuk said: When this model was announced, I ordered one straight away. It's release was accompanied by horror stories of burned-out motors; (which I suspected at the time were the result of distorted valve gear, due to heavy handling). Nonetheless, I purchased a couple of the spare motors which were mentioned here - just in case! Now that my 'magnum opus' roundy-roundy is operational, I can finally assess the capabilities of this model. Suffice to say that it didn't even blink at a load of eighteen Mk.1 coaches - it was clearly capable of far greater things! No slipping; no escaping 'magic smoke'; just a steady pull away and acceleration to a very creditable running speed, that would have taxed the prototype. My conclusion is that the Heljan Garratt, given careful handling, is a superb model which ill-deserves its past dubious reputation. .... and its box still contains the two unused spare motors - just in case! John Isherwood. The first issue of the Garratts were a disaster with multiple problems. I had three myself, all of which had to be returned. Some had a far bigger number of them. The second issue was a much improved model. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free At Last Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 (edited) I have the odd derailment with mine and think it is due to the pony lifting the drivers as the trucks have no upward play on them, the buffer beam rests on the coupling pockets. Edited July 1, 2022 by Free At Last Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ikks Posted December 16, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 16, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, cctransuk said: When this model was announced, I ordered one straight away. It's release was accompanied by horror stories of burned-out motors; (which I suspected at the time were the result of distorted valve gear, due to heavy handling). Nonetheless, I purchased a couple of the spare motors which were mentioned here - just in case! Now that my 'magnum opus' roundy-roundy is operational, I can finally assess the capabilities of this model. Suffice to say that it didn't even blink at a load of eighteen Mk.1 coaches - it was clearly capable of far greater things! No slipping; no escaping 'magic smoke'; just a steady pull away and acceleration to a very creditable running speed, that would have taxed the prototype. My conclusion is that the Heljan Garratt, given careful handling, is a superb model which ill-deserves its past dubious reputation. .... and its box still contains the two unused spare motors - just in case! John Isherwood. Did you have to adjust the valve gear yourself John or did you get a good one, reason I ask is that I have one (never run) which I'd to get going but haven't been game to I have two spare Mashimas just in case, also need a decent layout!! Rgds.......Mike Edited December 16, 2021 by ikks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cctransuk Posted December 16, 2021 Share Posted December 16, 2021 10 hours ago, amdaley said: The first issue of the Garratts were a disaster with multiple problems. I had three myself, all of which had to be returned. Some had a far bigger number of them. The second issue was a much improved model. Mine is a first issue - certainly not a disaster. John Isherwood. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cctransuk Posted December 16, 2021 Share Posted December 16, 2021 9 hours ago, ikks said: Did you have to adjust the valve gear yourself John or did you get a good one, reason I ask is that I have one (never run) which I'd to get going but haven't been game to I have two spare Mashimas just in case, also need a decent layout!! Rgds.......Mike No adjustment necessary - I just make sure that I handle it without touching / distorting the valvegear; it is rather delicate. John Isherwood. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Colin_McLeod Posted December 16, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 16, 2021 @cctransuk your post is encouraging. I have not yet got my layout ready for my, first version, Beyer Garratt so it's good to know that it might actually be OK. Like yourself I purchases a pair of spare motors just in case. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
amdaley Posted December 16, 2021 Share Posted December 16, 2021 41 minutes ago, cctransuk said: Mine is a first issue - certainly not a disaster. John Isherwood. That's great John. You were one of the lucky ones. The problems were written about extensively. Tony. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Tomlinson Posted December 16, 2021 Share Posted December 16, 2021 58 minutes ago, amdaley said: That's great John. You were one of the lucky ones. The problems were written about extensively. Tony. I'm in the same position as John, the one I bought was pre-owned but had never run, just sat on a dusty shelf! I did have a look inside to check lubrication and free movement before putting it on the track, and was extremely careful in handling around the valve gear. It was then run in gently, and later put on a coal train which it handled quite happily for a while, before being swapped on the coal for something else. Undoubtedly these motors aren't the most durable, but I think can be OK provided not overtaxed. Care in handling is vital, and any jamming of the valve gear feeds straight back to a strain on the motor and burn out. John. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianwales Posted December 17, 2021 Share Posted December 17, 2021 Just about to put my LMS one up for sale on Ebay, what sort of price is reasonable to expect? Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free At Last Posted July 1, 2022 Share Posted July 1, 2022 (edited) Just wondering how people are getting on with their Garratts, are they still performing well, any other problems manifested, are the newer ones any different? The only problem I have with mine is it occasionally derails on curves and I think it is due to the buffer beam resting on the coupling pocket. There is no upward play on the pony truck so it can lift the chassis and the driving wheels only having small flanges on them sometimes derail. Has anyone else found this? Edited July 18, 2023 by Free At Last 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free At Last Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 I have hopefully just cured the problem of my derailing Garratt. As I previously mentioned, the end of the chassis rests on the coupling pockets on the pony trucks and I discovered the bottom of buffer beam was not flush causing a slight interference on the pony swinging side to side. Filing this flush seems to have cured it. 3 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Francis deWeck Posted November 20, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 20, 2023 Unfortunately, I passed on my original run models, can anybody advise of second run model's details? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
atom3624 Posted November 20, 2023 Share Posted November 20, 2023 On 17/12/2021 at 12:33, ianwales said: Just about to put my LMS one up for sale on Ebay, what sort of price is reasonable to expect? Ian I'd be careful to avoid silly replies, but I'd just look at Clarks, Hattons and others, plus of course Ebay itself to see what they're going for in similar condition to your own. Al. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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