Just out of curiosity: Are the Flyonel Mikdados any good (i.e. dependable, problem free, good runners, etc.) and what would you say is a good price for one (on the Bay for example)?
Mark
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I think they are good runners. $500 from Trainworld.
I have several of the Flyonel Mikes (and their Pacific's) and all run very well. The only issue I had was with the B&O version (the very first released) with the micro switch that controls the chuff being defective. That was fixed when the locomotive was under warranty.
If the Mikado's were able to be easily converted to scale (S Scale Locomotive and Supply looked into it) I'd have at least one of them converted. They look that good.
Rusty
It depends on your expectations. Compared to other American Flyer steamers they run pretty well. If you are comparing to O, HO, or even N you may be disappointed with the Mikado. The problem is that the mechanics seem to be a little tight compared to the Pacific which runs a lot better. The TMCC electronics don't do a great job of slow speed operation. Also you only get 2 chuffs per revolution unless you do the mod that Carl Tuveson shows on his website. If you gut it and run it on DCC or DC it has much better slow speed operation. It all depends on what you are looking for. For many people they are perfectly fine out of the box. I gutted mine and installed DCC 
Originally Posted by jonnyspeed:
If you gut it and run it on DCC or DC it has much better slow speed operation. It all depends on what you are looking for. For many people they are perfectly fine out of the box. I gutted mine and installed DCC
I, too, gutted mine, but to run on DC. I would say it performs equal to or better than AM steamers and a match for the SHS 2-8-0. It is a very good looking engine and a star on a Hi-rail railroad. Putting a Kadee on the tender is very easy, however the pilot is another matter. I am still hacking, filing and JB Welding my way through the pilot installation.
If you are planning on running it on DC be aware you should disconnect (or maybe place a resistor in line with) the smoke generator. Otherwise it will burnout – so I found out…
Tom Stoltz
in Maine
Carl T has my UP mikado right know putting cruse lite and the 4 chuff cam in it! It's a service that he and Ed Golden are offering. I am excited to get it back!
Ben
Ben
Originally Posted by NotInWI:
Carl T has my UP mikado right know putting cruse lite and the 4 chuff cam in it! It's a service that he and Ed Golden are offering. I am excited to get it back!
Ben
Ben
That's great Ben! I've written Carl a few emails but he has never responded to me. Too bad as I think he has done a fantastic job on his Mikados and Pacifics. Are you getting the fan driven smoke unit too?
I never spoke with Carl about it until the work was arranged by Ed. Here is Ed's website
http://www.goldinhands.com
The services that he offers (both TMCC conversions and the big boy, mikado and pacific upgrades through Carl) are all on the site. I got the impression that this is a newer service that both have partnered up on.
Anyone in S gauge with the Internet has seen (or should!) Carl's work with upgrades and modifications to Lionel, AM and SHS.
I feel fortunate to have Carl working on my Mike. The TMCC slow speed steps SUCK on my Mike. I'm sure it will be worlds better.
Ben
http://www.goldinhands.com
The services that he offers (both TMCC conversions and the big boy, mikado and pacific upgrades through Carl) are all on the site. I got the impression that this is a newer service that both have partnered up on.
Anyone in S gauge with the Internet has seen (or should!) Carl's work with upgrades and modifications to Lionel, AM and SHS.
I feel fortunate to have Carl working on my Mike. The TMCC slow speed steps SUCK on my Mike. I'm sure it will be worlds better.
Ben
I bought the first issue NYC Mikado when they came out. As has been said previously, the mechanism when new is very tight. I ran mine about ten minutes the first time and found the motor to be very hot to the point I wondered if I had 'smoked it".
Once it cooled, I began a disassembly and lube of everything involved in the mechanism. Once re-assembled, I ran it and it seemed to loosen up more and the motor was not nearly as hot. I have had zero issue with it and it runs typically "TMCC" - not real good at very low speeds, but once on TMCC step 4 and above smoothes out to a typical Mikado "gate" down the track. It is a good puller.
Overall, I like my Mikado and it would be a great candidate for a Legacy electronics package some day.
I've had similar start up problems with both the Pacific and Mikado. Some lubrication and a few hours of running have smoothed things out some but the slow running is still a problem for both locomotives. The suggestion on Carl T's web site about putting the ERR Cruise Lite system in these locos has me thinking this will be my next project. Carl recommended putting the Cruise Commander in a 1992 AF PA that wasn't running very well and the results were quite impressive. I'm sure the Mikado and Pacific will benefit as well. I'm also intrigued by the '4 chuf cam. Just got to figure out how to make them with my relatively crude tools.
