New Lionscale Trucks Look Corroded

@Toadpilot posted:

Hello, I just received a six pack of new Lionscale cars. This is my first time buying new Lionel cars; I have been collecting MTH Premier cars for over 20 years. That said, the trucks on all the cars look corroded. They have a white dust/powder on them. Is this normal or something to be concerned about? I have never seen this on any of my MTH cars.

Call Lionel send them back for new set. Also mark a spot only where you can see them each truck.

Could be zinc pest.

I have a few pieces of rolling stock like this. None have ever degraded beyond this state.

@rplst8 posted:

Could be zinc pest.

I have a few pieces of rolling stock like this. None have ever degraded beyond this state.

I really don't think that's zinc pest. Zinc pest doesn't normally grow from the outside, and the finish looks fine except the little cracks start to form, then the whole part crumbles.

A few years ago, the Chinese factory was using some lubricant that actually was corroding the trucks, it looks more like that kind of issue.  I had to send my F40PH locomotive back because the trucks were all corroded, and that happened in a couple of months, not the years that zinc pest takes to do it's work.

Agree with John, ….I’ve seen some of these look like this out of the box too,…..I believe whatever mold release agent that particular factory uses, is causing this “corroded” look,…..could be the agent isn’t even completely dried or evaporated off, and the fuzzies grow in the box on their way over here,……my son has a boat load of these cars, and I used a cheap bristle brush just ever so slightly dampened with penetrating oil to clean the trucks up nicely,…..I’d imagine in a severe circumstance like John’s diesel side frames, they look like crap in short order……zinc rot, or zinc separation, would be defined by cracks all throughout the casting,……

Pat

All, great information. I will contact Lionel support this week.

Would cleaning and coating with penetrating oil fix the issue, or is this a long term problem that cannot be easily fixed?

I read up on zinc pest, and I have figured out there isn't anything I can do to fix the problem. If this is the bad lubrication or fungicide, hopefully lightly brushing off the dust and applying a penetrating oil will be an appropriate remedy.

I am going to contact Lionel, and hopefully they will replace/fix the issue. We pay too much for these items to receive subpar items. I guess I have been lucky in this is my first experience with zinc pest/pot metal corrosion/bad lubricant/misapplied fungicide in the 20 years I have been collecting.

Item number of 6 pack available?

Item number for the package of 6 affected is: 3-18070, Tenneco 3 bay covered hopper. I also ordered another package of 6 3 bay covered hoppers, 3-18050, and none of them showed any corrosion on the trucks.

@Toadpilot posted:

Item number for the package of 6 affected is: 3-18070, Tenneco 3 bay covered hopper. I also ordered another package of 6 3 bay hoppers, 3-18050, and none of them showed any corrosion on the trucks.

Those were produced in 2018. I doubt that you’ll get much in the way of support from Lionel on six year old items.
TENNECO ACF 3-BAY COVERED HOPPER 6-PACK

An ebay seller has one item from the same set as your stock number, and his pictures show the same whiteish appearance. If I understand Lionel’s current warranty terms, they will not cover items more than 3 years post production date.

Gryzbowski should do the right thing, unless their/your receipt contains specific exculpatory language denying responsibility for the products they sell outside the period covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.

@Mark V. Spadaro posted:

Gryzbowski should do the right thing, unless their/your receipt contains specific exculpatory language denying responsibility for the products they sell outside the period covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.

I double checked my receipt and order details, and no noted exculpatory language for warranty coverage. That said, i personally think it is an issue that Lionel should address. Doesn't really matter what I "think;" if there is a blurb in the warranty terms for items not being covered 3 years after manufacturing, even if sold new from a registered Lionel dealer, then it is my mistake for not knowing that. Buyer beware. That said, it is also my option to not buy Lionel from here on out. I have ordered my first 3rd Rail train, so I guess I will just save longer and buy better quality.

Even though you can't get satisfaction from Lionel for a product over three years from production, you can get satisfaction from the dealer for an item represented as new that has defects.

Well, it seems your course of action is pretty simple. Before spending any more time on this, suggest just calling Gryzbowski and asking them about it. If there's not an avenue for replacement, the brush and oil solution given by harmonyards sounds like the way to go.

Personally I don't think there's anything wrong with Lionel's warranty period. It's actuall better than other manufacturers (see below).  As far as the 3 year limitation on warranty, realistically, given that items can sometimes sit around for years before being purchased, or used, it makes sense to start the warranty timing from the time these items were made. No telling what can happen during the time they're sitting around four or more years from date of manufacture - effects from storage temperature and humidity conditions, handling issues, any number of things that can degrade their condition. Manufacturers can't afford to warrant for years and years. Parts availablity for years after manufacture is also an issue.

You mention 3rd Rail Trains.  Their warranty period is only 1 year. Beyond that, their website refers you to independent repair centers. And the MTH site says: "M.T.H. products purchased within one year from the date of manufacture are warrantied against defects in material or workmanship...." They time from date of manufacture. Lionel's site says "....Lionel product, including all mechanical and electrical components, moving parts, motors and structural components, with the exception of TRACTION TIRES are warranted to the original owner-purchaser for a period of one year from the original date of purchase against original defects in materials or workmanship when purchased through a Lionel Authorized Retailer." So it appears Lionel's warranty is actually more generous than that of MTH, given that it covers one year from date of purchase, not from date of manufacture.

I agree...contact the dealer.  The mods already had to delete the inevitable MTH vs. Lionel posts that really have nothing to do with your problem.