Lionel Heavyweight Truck Warning

Zinc pest is more common than once in a blue moon and it isn't limited to Lionel products.. Many have had the issue. I have had products by Williams and MTH with zinc pest. The worst part is that trucks, Heavyweight in particular, are expensive to replace if they are even available.

Getting ready to work.

Ron H posted:

Getting ready to work...............

 

Was there zinc pest somewhere in that video (if so I missed it, sorry), or was this accidentally posted to the wrong thread?

As to the original topic, while it was not heavyweights, I seem to recall seeing something that looked like the sort of "clean" break like can be seen above (i.e., no obvious evidence of all the cracking under the paint, just a broken detail piece) on the SP "Shasta" cars from maybe 7 or 8 years ago now (I forget the exact date at the moment, but they were the ones marketed with the PA/PB-1 units). 

One of the cars showed this on one truck with a single broken piece right out of the box (so no significant time from manufacture date), but it was only one car, and I chalked it up to probably taking some abuse (like all the trucks thrown in a big drum before assembly, or some other impact at the factory).  I exchanged the car set that had this problem and since I was able to get a non-broken one, I considered myself a happy camper at the time.  I think I'm going to have to drag those cars out to take a look at them and see if they are still ok in the near future.

If I saw such a thing on any item I was attempting to take delivery on today, I think I'd just  bail on the purchase altogether rather than seek an exchange.  This 80+ year old problem re-invented in the modern production is not acceptable.

-Dave

This is a known problem on the 2nd run of NYC 20th Century heavyweights. The set done around 2007 seems to be OK. Buyer beware when considering 25713 and the associated add on cars. Not sure if other heavyweights made that time are  also affected.

MTH NYC cars made around the 2005 had the same problem. Mine failed about 6 years ago and MTH would replace them if you returned the broken trucks. You could try contacting Lionel but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Pete

Also a common problem on Lionel's 2nd set (6-25655) of 18" Blue Comet heavyweights. Most of the sets that show up on ebay have this problem, made worse since replacement trucks aren't available. I suspect many Lionel heavyweight cars of that vintage (2013) have or will have issues.

Lionel seems to have the black 6 wheel trucks for those who need to replace these...for $32.00 each. Yet, for some reason, they don't have just the $9.00-a-pop truck side frames (pretty much the only parts you need to replace) available?

What?...

For 32 bucks you could find older MTH cars with a pair of trucks. The real early ones from cars with silhouettes or interiors and no figures have only simulated springs but are bullet proof. Same applies to early Lionel trucks.

Pete

Hay fellow "O" Gaugers,

 Wanted to pass along a little tip on seeing if you have or suspect zinc pest on your rolling stock. Some of you may have experianced this already, but it helps to see the zinc pest even better by taking your phone's camera and snapping a pic ( with flash on ) of whatever your concern is because it will really stand out in your pic. This is good for us "mature fellows" with our eyesight not being what it used to be. Ben Fiorello of NJ Hi Railers put a couple of my photos on OGR about 2 weeks ago about a similiartopic, and you can really see the horror! They were Atlas' 55 ton hoppers which he and myself have. I have other stock that needs to be checked also. 

    Steam Forever

           John

OMG.  Now I have to remember in which box in which attic they're in so I can check them.

There is a fun component to not remembering where your trains are.  When you find one that's been long forgotten it's like getting it a second time around.

Alan

ajzend posted:

OMG.  Now I have to remember in which box in which attic they're in so I can check them.

There is a fun component to not remembering where your trains are.  When you find one that's been long forgotten it's like getting it a second time around.

Alan

So true as I unpack from the move to our new house I am finding stuff I bought 15 years ago that I forgot I had. Christmas Morning all over again and again each time I find something I forgot I had.