LionChief Plus and Lionel's recent Quality Control Issues

Brian K posted:

Folks- I purchased a new 6-84472 Brass Hybrid Mikado from the Lionel Store some time ago. Since my layout is in my vacation home, I did not run it immediately after receiving it. When I finally put it on the tracks, it would not respond to the "set" command on my Cab2. I called tech support and they walked me through the usual suspects and none worked. I was sent a return authorization number and sent the piece back. After many weeks, it was returned to me and was supposedly repaired. I put it on the tracks, exactly as i have done to the hundred or so Lionel Legacy engines I own, and again it would not respond to the set command. I powered it up and tried about 30 times before it responded with a whistle. I set the run/program switch to run, and tried some of the menu buttons, which worked. I programmed the name and engine number and went back to the menu and it would not come up. The engine had also reverted back to the sound it makes prior to being programmed. I could not get the menu back up again. I tried it on every track, and in different locations on my layout, but nothing.

I called the Lionel Service Station this morning and let them know I was not happy. They offered (again!) to bring it back in for another round of so called, repairs. I told them that I either wanted a new engine or a full refund, because there is obviously a fatal flaw with this engine. I was told that Lionel had no inventory on the Mikado and if I wanted a refund, I would not receive a check until June or July!!! Apparently, Lionel only makes out checks quarterly. So, in a long winded way, I wanted to let all O Gauge hobbyists know that the experiment of selling trains by cutting out our local, and loyal dealers is a complete failure!! I was really conflicted in the beginning about purchasing the Mikado, because it cut out the dealers that have kept Lionel in business for so many years. I ended up buying it, and after a long wait, this is what happens. If I had purchased a bad engine from my local dealer he would have just ordered me a new one, or given me an immediate refund. It is also interesting to note that when I first called Lionel about the initial problem, I was told to bring it to my local service center (my local dealer) for him to repair. I would never have added insult to injury to ask him to repair an engine that he did not sell me or even have an opportunity to profit from.

I was wondering if anyone else has had these issues or experienced the same problems. As I said, I have many Lionel locomotives, both steam and diesel, including all of the Vision Line items, and have not had this kind of issue. The main reason is that I purchased most of what I have from my dealer and he would always make good on any problems. Lionel better get their act together.

So how are you handling it?

LC+ SF GP7 is beginning to make a grinding sound on rear truck. Has been running great otherwise. I believe this is first year LC+.

LC+ A5 0-4-0 had no smoke from the start. Sent back to Lionel they replaced board no charge. Runs great now.

LC+ Southern NW2 smooth runner and smokes great. One of my favorite locomotives. It feels like it was built on a good day.

breezinup posted:

pennsy484 posted:

.... is it correct to imply that there are "a bunch of problems with Legacy locomotives"? I don't mean any type of tone in my statement, honestly asking.  

Agree. From the OP's comments, his statement about "a bunch of problems" seems to be based largely on the experiences of a single individual, whoever Ravenhawk is. That's hardly a large enough sample upon which to draw any conclusions.

Ravenhawk6910. He's a Youtuber, and he has an account here. I was honestly curious whether or not the LionChief line was affected to the degree that the Legacy engines had(Because Ravenhawk had a bad wrap with his Legacy 587 to which he swore not to buy another Lionel Legacy steam engine until the quality control issues were fixed.) But everything is fine with my engine now. It runs great, and is amazing.

I have 3  LC+.  PRR RS-3,  LL Pacific,  LL Berkshire 762.  All are working great so far-  and I run them pretty often.  I AM concerned though about the longevity of the plastic gears.  If Lionel offered a kit, I would buy it as a preventive measure.

I tend to run the LC+ when I am showing guests, since the remotes make running 2 or 3 at once practical.  When I am on my own, I run the layout mixing in postwar, and a CC 773- all running using my ZW-L transformer.  

I have half a dozen. LC+ locos and only one had a problem. A GN Alco FA set would not run in Conventional mode out of the box. Charles Ro took  care of it for me with a replacement and covered shipping costs back. 

I like the LC+ line very much. 

I just last night ran my PRR RS-3 LC+, pulling 18 cars and a caboose.  Again, it ran great, smoking like crazy, and looking good in the process.  I have three LC+- and love them all.

My only issue is that one of them, when you try and uncouple, the whistle blows and no uncoupling.  Some day I'll get into it and see if I can find something simple to fix.

I wish that Lionel would introduce some new road numbers (and the different remotes) for the same engines, so I could have two!  AND, some new PRR engines in LC+.

I recently purchased a Berkshire Flyerchief Loco for S gauge.  It has the same controls as the Lioncheif.  After a few hours of runiing at our display at the mall, it stopped with a burning smell.  It will go back to Lionel.

I have also purched two Lionchief Plus Locos before bluetooth.  They both had problems, the diesel with rear coupler not working, the Mikado with sound going in and out.  Lionel fixed them on the second try.  Then the gears failed on the front motor on the diesel, falling out on the track.

This experience convinces me that Lionel does have quality problems.  I probably will not buy more Lionel products, except for the Polar Express which they have a monoply on for O and S gauge. We have mainly O Gauge layouts (4) and one S Gauge, which we operate on Tuesday evenings, 7 to 9 Pm, and Saturday 1 to 5 PM.