finding an authorized repair person/place - how???

Walt,

 

If you call MTH tech support, they can point you to an authorized service station.

I was thinking of people like gunrunnerjohn: how would people around him know that he could repair their MTH stuff - there has to be or should be a way for us to know who/what is close by.

 

I'll give MTH a shot at helping find me a closer place, if there even is one.  thanks Barry.

 

walt

	SARVER TRUE VALUE HARDWARE	Sarver	PA	16055
	LENS TRAIN SHOP	IRWIN	PA	15642
	HOBBY EXPRESS	CRANBERRY TWP	PA	16066
	BRADYS TOY & TRAIN OUTLET	GREENSBURG	PA	15601
	AMERICAN HOBBY CENTER	ALIQUIPPA	PA	15001

Thanks Mark.

 

I don't think Hobby Express is one though.  I asked about a repair recently and they said no.

 

Sarver uses J&J Trains in Natrona Hts. so I'll deal directly with J&J.  Interesting that you mentioned in the tin-plate forum that MTH lists Sarver instead of J&J, given that Sarver doesn't do the work.

 

- walt

Walt-

GunrunnerJohn currently has two of my engines. One was a quick simple fix, the other one he has gone out of his way to help me with. The 2nd was a PS2 engine with the 3volt board, which took a dump. Considering a replacement is more then a replacement engine on ebay, he is hooking me up with something else just to prevent the engine from being a shelf sitter. He got it back together & discovered the motor was no good, so he went through almost 2 dozen email chains on this forum looking for a replacement motor. He has also chatted with me extensively off the forum helping me to understand LED conversions. I recommend John.

I do repairs and work through Henning's Trains.  I'm sure there are folks near your location as well, we're in Eastern PA.

Walt,

Why don't you call Robert Barth 724-736-0488. He is located in Perryopolis just south of Pittsburgh. He's a authorized MTH repair person.

If you want to send me the PS-2 3V boards I can do component level repairs.  I am about 100% on power supply board repairs as long as you haven't burned a hole in it:-) Processor board can have faults none repairable, but I can go beyond audio amps and FETs on those also.  G

Walt which model number is this?  Shipping is less unless this is the standard gauge.  What is broken?  G

I will point out that I can also do component level repairs on the 3V boards.

 

How come you didn't fix them?  The Power Supply at least is repairable.  Then your just looking at the cost of a processor if that is not repairable.   G

How come I didn't fix what?  I don't have any broken ones right now, but I've fixed several in the past two weeks.

 I agree with Jim Sutter.  Robert Barth 724-736-0488. He is located in Perryopolis just south of Pittsburgh. He's a authorized MTH repair person.

Have several friend that have had trains fixed there.  I have 2 I need to take to him.

I responded to Rogerpete who said he had a PS-2 3V non repairable that you worked on.  Did you read the post?  Who's on first....

G

T&K Hobby in Bridgeport, OH

We are about an hour from Pittsburgh.

It seems you know more than..., well more than you know.  That was a 5V board, and the diodes in the center stack went up in smoke.  There is no way to reach them, even if they were the only failure.

 

Please try not to criticize until you know the facts.

John, I did not criticize you.  I was responding to Roger Pete who stated it was a 3V board.  AGAIN, you jump in on my post and of course don't fully read what is going on.  I offered a shot at fixing it.  Why do you default to insults and frown faces?  You could have just stated it was a 5V not a 3V board.  G

I have used Bob Barth as my go to guy for repairs for 10 years at least.  I did talk with him about this broken pickup assembly and he knew instantly what it takes to repair it.

 

I only learned last night, thanks to Jim Sutter, that I might be using an expensive 'version' of UPS.  I've been going to what Jim calls a 'store' and they are independent UPS sites and charge extra.  I will be following up on that to see if there is a UPS collection point near me.  Jim thought I could save 50% or more.

 

I stopped in Hobby Express this morning and while there asked if they just recently became an authorized repair shop and they said "yes, Gwen just came back from training".

 

As I have already said, beside the cost I just don't like the idea of sending my engines thru the mail - heck, they break with normal handling let alone being tossed around in the mail.

 

- walt

Walt,

 

Why not just setup a UPS account online?

 

There's no cost and no minimum, and you get a price that's as low as just dropping off at UPS, and lower than using a UPS Store. Then, you could print labels online, affix them to your package and drop them off at a UPS store without incurring any additional charges.

Walt, If you post a picture, you could potentially fix this yourself.  I no longer pull those fiber boards out via stretching frame.  I use a PW or PRE War roller.  Unfortunately MTH did not mimic the rivet size so you have to open one end with a drill.  How ever if you did break the spring metal bracket, then you need to replace it.  I have one in stock if your game to do the repair/replacement.  G

That's an interesting idea Barry since it doesn't cost anything to do that.

 

GGG: I did post a picture somewhere, I believe it was on the tin-plate forum.  But here it is again:  and NO I ain't going to try to fix it myself - it's a warranty repair so I'm going to let somewhere adept at repairs fix it!

 

- walt

 

 

Walt,  Since you want this done under warranty you probably need to go back to where purchased or MTH.

 

Yes that is a bear to repair, since the fiber board has to come out.  I don't think you will find some repair tech that wants to do that without pay or at warranty compensation, especially if they did not sell it to you.  G