Hornby 75005

[RonnieS]

Hi All

 

My Hornby 4mt has shed a rod! I think this loco is the best model on the market for looks but I was always a bit suspicious of the mechanical side of things! To drive on the rear axle is not the best idea. Then (unusualy for Hornby) the loco is front heavy, out of balance by 70g. Not a good combination. Has anyone else had problems? And if so is there an easy fix?

 

[Brit70053]

Hi Ronnie S,

 

                   I'm not familiar with this model, but if its standard assembly, then I'd assume that the very small screw or hex bolt used to keep the rods in place has unscrewed itself from the crank pin and will be lying somewhere on your layout. Unless the screw or bolt head has sheared off rather than just gone missing (the only thing which isn't clear from your excellent photo), it should be straightforward to repair, by simply screwing back into the crankpin, ensuring that the return crank is correctly aligned. If you can't find the original, or are missing any spacing collars from the assembly, I'd think these will be available as general spares.

 

Good luck,

 

                 Regards,

 

                               John

[RonnieS]

Hi Ronnie S,

 

                   I'm not familiar with this model, but if its standard assembly, then I'd assume that the very small screw or hex bolt used to keep the rods in place has unscrewed itself from the crank pin and will be lying somewhere on your layout. Unless the screw or bolt head has sheared off rather than just gone missing (the only thing which isn't clear from your excellent photo), it should be straightforward to repair, by simply screwing back into the crankpin, ensuring that the return crank is correctly aligned. If you can't find the original, or are missing any spacing collars from the assembly, I'd think these will be available as general spares.

 

Good luck,

 

                 Regards,

 

                               John

Thanks  Moray Firth

 

You are right. I did find the crankpin but not the tiny spacer/packer that fits on it! It is an unusual problem so I was trying to find out if it is a rare bit of bad luck or a common problem on the Standard 4. Only once before on a S/H Black 5 have I had a similar fault. That led to new valve gear! Lets hope I can get just the spacer! I emailed Hornby last night so fingers crossed.

 

regards

Ron

[Ian Abel]

Peters Spares are my go-to place for these items - good luck trying to get something like this out of Hornby, especially as it's not a NEW purchase...

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hornby-X9766-Standard-4MT-2-6-4T-Coupling-Rods-Screws-Set-/321286881413?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item4ace30c085#ht_1715wt_1040 - these are for a 4MT Tank, but they probably carry the tender loco parts too. The spaces are pretty similar on ALL Hornby locos far as I've been able to tell so far...

 

For the ease of ordering and getting items shipped pretty much immediately, rather than waiting for Hornby to follow up I'd just fork over the fiver You'll have a few extra spare parts for the parts drawer too...

[bob hughes60]

I would suggest you contact East Kent spares.

Very knowledgeable, very helpful and usually much cheaper than the above.

They list:-

X9003 Valve gear spacer, thick (10) £3.00
X9004 Valve gear spacer, thin (10)  £3.00

 

and also coupling rods, screws etc for your Standard 4.

07854 094640 10-1600 closed Mon, Fri 10-13.00.

Cheers

Bob Hughes

[Retro_man]

Hi All

 

My Hornby 4mt has shed a rod! I think this loco is the best model on the market for looks but I was always a bit suspicious of the mechanical side of things! To drive on the rear axle is not the best idea. Then (unusualy for Hornby) the loco is front heavy, out of balance by 70g. Not a good combination. Has anyone else had problems? And if so is there an easy fix?

 

Crank pins coming unscrewed and getting lost is one of the most common problems customers report to us. Unfortunately these days, Hornby does not seem to have a 'standard' crank pin screw size so best to get a set from one of the spares sellers. I always use East Kent Models as their service and prices are excellent.

 

Steve

 

Canada

[RonnieS]

Crank pins coming unscrewed and getting lost is one of the most common problems customers report to us. Unfortunately these days, Hornby does not seem to have a 'standard' crank pin screw size so best to get a set from one of the spares sellers. I always use East Kent Models as their service and prices are excellent.

 

Steve

 

Canada

Oh, that's good, feedback. I must admit crankpins have not been a problem over the last 50 years "playing trains". However things change and the newer stuff looks better but is a bit less robust. I did wonder about loctite studlock on the new bits?

[Bill Radford]

I've found loose crankpins is a very common Hornby problem on Merchant Navy and Black 5s - I check all locos at least once a month.

 

Bill

[Forester]

I like the Hornby 4MT also, Ronnie, but that bright shiny brass and copper is off-putting to my eyes, especially on a black loco.

 

 

I've found loose crankpins is a very common Hornby problem on Merchant Navy and Black 5s - I check all locos at least once a month.

 

Bill

 

I agree with Bill. I go round mine regularly.

 

I even had one unscrew itself completely while locked away in a display cabinet. Now that is really clever!

[smokebox]

 I did wonder about loctite studlock on the new bits?

You could try a bit of nail varnish.  Works well on those tiny screws that always come loose on specs.

[RonnieS]

I like the Hornby 4MT also, Ronnie, but that bright shiny brass and copper is off-putting to my eyes, especially on a black loco.

Yes; due for a bit of dirt and a renumbering as soon as it's run in.

 

I agree with Bill. I go round mine regularly.

 

I even had one unscrew itself completely while locked away in a display cabinet. Now that is really clever!

Now that is similar to this one! I purchased it S/H "Never been out of the box/unwanted gift etc" but great price so a few bob on spares will not hurt. I think it was just a Friday afternoon one! I took it out of the box, removed the spikes from underneath, ran it half a circuit light engine and............................................

[RonnieS]

You could try a bit of nail varnish.  Works well on those tiny screws that always come loose on specs.

Great tip but I won't go for Pink!

[Bob O]

Hi All

 

My Hornby 4mt has shed a rod! I think this loco is the best model on the market for looks but I was always a bit suspicious of the mechanical side of things! To drive on the rear axle is not the best idea. Then (unusualy for Hornby) the loco is front heavy, out of balance by 70g. Not a good combination. Has anyone else had problems? And if so is there an easy fix?

That 70g front heavy is the cause. The axle loading is 170/100/30 That rear driver wants to slip but the front one does not!

 

should be 100/100/100

 

Put some weight in the cab. I got 50g in my Bachmann one

 

then its going to be 150/110//90

[RonnieS]

That 70g front heavy is the cause. The axle loading is 170/100/30 That rear driver wants to slip but the front one does not!

 

should be 100/100/100

 

Put some weight in the cab. I got 50g in my Bachmann one

 

then its going to be 150/110//90

I may do that Bob, and saw a bit off the front of the weight too.

[RonnieS]

 - good luck trying to get something like this out of Hornby, especially as it's not a NEW purchase...

 

 

I had good luck I emailed Hornby and got 4 spacers FOC.

 

Hornby are much maligned and this proves unfairly.

Well done Hornby

[Brit70053]

Good result Ronnie S, happy running.

 

Regards,

 

             John    

[RonnieS]

So! Six weeks on I got around to it. Adding weight to the rear end. I kept coming back to Bob’s comment of the rear driver wanting to slip but the weight on the front driver stopping it! I spent some time debating this as it seemed to perform OK. However it has a huge motor, the same dia as the Portescap in my DJH 76xxx yet 10mm longer! Defiantly up to it. The 75xxxs could be seen on 12 coach trains and seemed to be allowed the same load on a fitted freight as the big stuff.  

Having several locos with a lump of lead in the cab roof and the shutter glued shut I decided to leave this one open. It is exquisitely made, revealing a beautifully detailed cab interior. I still got 26g in by a double thickness of lead on the cab floor and a couple of lumps against the cab doors. These will be hidden by the cast pewter crew. I shall also have on board a loco inspector. That should add another 9g.

The other way of getting weight at the rear is to line the firebox sides and top with 2mm lead sheet. (I got 52g into a Bach Patriot by this method) The clearances here are much less. I used Eileen’s Emporium lead tape on the top and Eileen’s Emporium 1.3 thick lead sheet on the sides.

The wiring on the rear ballast weight was glued in using very messy black gunk. I cleaned this off and tidied it up using the lead tape, adding 6g in the process.

 

 

Now all that remains is to detail, renumber (75009) and weather the beast. And beast it is out hauling my 355g Bach Standard 5mts by a coach at 13 Comets.