ChicagoSammo

I spoke with Mohan again today. A small number of the Pendolino sets have the same judder issue as the model moves from zero to slow speed but is fine from 3/4 to full speed as mine does. The issue would seem to be somewhere in the DCC/Sound decoder. Rapido are working with ESU to try and find a resolution. In the meantime I am going to get my cars back and work with my DCC expert to swap to v5 decoders to see if that makes any difference. Sound files would need to be tweaked to change from v4 compatible to v5 but it shouldn't be impossible . . . just time consuming. There is potentially an option with one of the remaining sets that are going to Warley if the above doesn't resolve the issue - I'm still talking to Mohan about that.

My Pendolino drive cars have been with Mohan at Rapido for repair since March. I have a call scheduled with him tomorrow to discuss status but I fear the worst. I sent them back for repair as they were very juddery at low speeds and one of the drive cars went faster than the other and to top it all one of the decoders failed (track voltage was 13v, before anyone asks). Mohan hasn't been able to resolve the issues and I think tomorrow's call will be to tell me that there is nothing more that they can try. Rapido don't have any other Pendo drive cars knocking around to replace them with either. I'm pretty bummed out about the situation as it looks like i'll end up with 11 sparkling coaches and nothing at either end. If I do end up getting cars back is there anything that I can do to resolve it all myself? Anybody had the slow speed judder? What did you do to resolve it? I could have the decoder changed although I won't have the sound files unless anyone can put me in touch with Legomanbiffo? If all else fails can I fit the body shell onto a similar chassis? I can't help feeling that I shouldn't have to be thinking of solutions like this when i'd spent $660 on a model that failed within a year of very little use.