Is there a window where they keep parts available? 3 years, 5 years?
Thanks.
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I don't know are far back but try these places by doing a search;
http://www.lionel.com/Customer...ce/ReplacementParts/
Originally Posted by Jeff T:
Is there a window where they keep parts available? 3 years, 5 years?
Thanks.
In some cases it's 0 years (part not made available, such as some very specific parts on a detailed engine - think things like engine signage or an odd piece of detail work).
While Mike R has made some definite improvements since he started heading up CS, it's too early to make any analysis of how long in years parts hang around.
That said, in general, if a part is common to lots of items, you may have a better chance. (such as some post war style parts that are still using the same design today)
-Dave
I don't know what Lionel's policy is, but I can say This. I am a retired Ford parts
manager, and the "10 year question" always came up. This was pure nonsense. It was
based on dealer demand for ANY part, regardless of what it fit or how old it was. When
this demand dwindled to a specific point where it was no longer profitable, Ford would
announce it would not make another production run, and existing inventory would sell
until depleted. This might take a long time! I remember ordering new A-9510 Model
A carbs in the 1980s! This was because there was a market for them in South America!
Model A owners here just loved it. Anyway, just something to ponder. Keep fixing old
trains and maybe Lionel will provide. Mike
According to my parts guru, Jeff Kane (The Train Tender), Lionel sends their excess parts to North Lima Engine Works, in Ohio. I'm not sure what age must parts reach before they're "out-sourced," but it isn't very long.
Originally Posted by Jeff T:
Is there a window where they keep parts available? 3 years, 5 years?
Thanks.
Mike ,not to steer the subject from trains too much,but I worked at a GM parts dealer 20 + years ago, and when a car was removed from GM's lineup ,they would keep t parts available for up to 10 years from GM.
Might be Ford has a different policy ?
A co-worker bought an Oldsmobile the last year that they made one and got an invitation from the local dealer for an informative meeting at the dealership,and at the meeting they were told this same fact that GM would make parts available for up to 10 years . Maybe they have changed that by now ?
I wish this held true in model trains,or anything made over a certain dollar amount.
A law for availability of parts for 5 or 10 years would be nice.
Lionel has "most parts" for locomotives from 2000 on, some even earlier like the allegheny from 1999, http://www.lionel.com/Customer...7f-b00a-5f6cdde2c897
Mike Reagan recognizes the need for spare parts and has expressed his effort to do what he can as far as availability is concerned. He has worked as hard on the parts dept as he has on the service end.
Thanks for the responses. I need a gasket for my Rock Island GP7 28565. When I look on the Lionel site for the engine I don't find much.
http://www.lionel.com/Customer...955e511f516553e2c794
Making my own gaskets I guess...
