JUST PUBLISHED! OGR BACKSHOP DIGITAL BOOK!

Rich, FYI in your business planning, Dave is not the only person who has that policy.  Like Dave apparently does, all bills come to me, and after reviewing nature, amount, and date due, I go on-line and direct my bank to make a payment of $X to ABC on a specific date.  No one is ever authorized to bill my bank directly.  I never want to be in the position of contesting a payment already made.

Rich,

I haven't looked at the book yet, but that is a great feature to add to the Digital Subscription.  Thanks!!

For the THIRD TIME...

 

WE DO NOT TOUCH YOUR BANK ACCOUNT! I don't know how I can say this any more plainly! It is a simple CREDIT CARD TRANSACTION, nothing more.

 

The process is what it is. It's not going to change.

Guys,

 

As a digital subscriber myself, I can assure you that as Rich has said several times, they DO NOT and CAN NOT access your bank account. I would not let anyone have access to my bank account either, not even paypal. I have paypal linked only to my credit card with NO bank account link at all.

 

You have the same safety and protection provided by your credit card company that you have with any other credit card transaction. The digital subscription charges are no different than ordering train items online and using your credit card to pay for them, could possibly be even safer. 

As anyone can see, I have been a digital subscribers for some time.  I am really impressed that Rich and the gang have provided this opportunity!  Thanks, Rich.

 

I do have one question since this has been brought up.  What happens in the case when one uses the checking account bank card that can be used as debit or credit?  Is the transaction considered a debit or a credit?

If it is a card that debits a checking account, it would be a debit card. I am not aware of any credit card can be BOTH a debit and credit card. 

To add to my post above, I became a digital subscriber when the offering first became available a couple of years ago (or whenever that was?) and I have never had a problem with anything caused by my subscription being charged to my credit card.

 

 

Same here, I have NEVER had a problem.  As Rich said it is no different than swiping your credit card or debit card for any other purchase you would make utilizing the same payment method.

Here are the "Terms of Service"  applicable for the digital subscriptions including "Payment Methods" and "Renewals/Recurring Billing."  Those two are very brief and to the point.  Use credit or debit card.  A nice feature is if OGR raises the subscription price the automatic renewal is void; manual renewal is required to retain premium membership.  That's a strong disincentive for a price increase. 

 

As a premium member already, I couldn't, or don't know how to, access whatever it was that caused Dave to think he was being asked for his bank account information.  Nothing in the Terms of Service make any reference to bank account information.

 

Perhaps Dave will chime in on how he drew the conclusion he did.

 

Oh, when I tried to go to the digital subscription from the home page, it recognized me as a digital subscriber and offered me two choices:  I could click "Cancel Automatic Renewal," or "Update Credit Card Information." 

 

 

 

Yes, I have never had a problem as said, nor have I when I have used the card with other online organizations.  I do have LifeLock for identity protection in general, and they did immediately catch someone trying to use my number at a department store far from here.  However, we have no idea where they got my number.  Could have been a clerk at a checkout line in a store.

 

I believe what OGR is doing here is a safe or safer than anywhere else.

Rich, I owe you and OGR an apology.  After reading the post that included reference to charging a bank account, a practice which is common, I assumed that the author had read the terms and conditions.  One should never assue.  In reading your reply, I overlooked your statement that it is a credit card transaction.

Oh I completely understand...I have been a victim of that myself a couple times.  Thankfully I was notified as well but you do wonder as to how/where they got it.

Rich,

   It is not my intent to adversely effect your business practices, I probably should have ask you the billing question in a personal e-mail.  As you are an expert at your train engineering, I am an expert at personal security, in this area my background is

very experienced.   Each business must take certain risks in doing there business, the people providing the sub-contract billing security, do not have the ability to actually fully provide that actual security, especially when it comes to a private individuals bank account.  This actually has to due with the individual banks them selves, not a business like OGR.   Rich if you would like to know more, I will talk to you privately, drop me some private e-mail, if you are interested.  I seldom if ever apologize, however Rich I made a mistake asking you about an additional billing method for your business, on your OGR forum.  I do wish you had an alternate method of billing however.

PCRR/Dave 

I just skimmed the articles and can see that there is a lot of useful and worthwhile information. It is not often that "extras" are added to memberships, subscriptions, etc. without strings attached. I am pleasantly surprised and impressed. Thank you. 

Dave, no harm no foul. You asked a legitimate billing question and we had a good discussion about it here. That's fine.

 

I'm sorry you don't feel comfortable with the billing system in place for our Digital Subscriptions. We don't have any plans to change the process because it works so well and is very secure. We'll miss you! 

Can this be purchased in a print edition?

No, it is only available to Digital Subscribers in a digital format.

Rich,

I just wanted to let you know that I signed up because of this article.

I'm a sucker for repair manuals!

Keep them coming!

Well thanks!

 

And welcome aboard!

Very nice article that I believe will help quite a few operators maintain their trains. As a repair shop, we spend a lot of time explaining to customers, potential and otherwise, how to do some of their own repairs. This particular article, it its entirety is nicely done, but there are some errors, especially when it comes to the bearings in the motor used in the Rock Island. I don't think the error is necessarily Jim's as much as it is Lionel's as well as those that created the reprints year after year after Lionel closed.

 

If you approach a knowledgeable parts dealer and tell him you want the large version of the 2020M-17, more than likely you'll have him scratching his head trying to figure out what you are looking for.

 

A little background might be helpful. When Lionel first produced this type of fractional horsepower motor, the front bearing (the one closest to the end of the armature shaft) it was part number 2020M-17 and remained under that part number until the end of production. The rearing bearing, however, went through a few changes. The rear bearing was originally part number 2020M-16 and was used in the horizontally mounted version of this type of motor (2020M-1). When Lionel eliminated its use of a worm shaft, and created a canted style motor (671M-1) with a worm cut into the end of the armature shaft to engage a single worm wheel affixed to the rear most axle, it needed to control thrust caused by changes in direction. This thrust put pressure on the Oilite bearings then in use by Lionel. Oilite bearings are made primarily of a powdered composite of copper, iron, tin and graphite formed under pressure to their exact dimensions. Mineral oil is then forced into the pores of the new bearing material to give it its lubricity. The thrust issue was important in that it impacts the bearing every time the motor changes direction. To counter this, Lionel created a rear bearing with a counterbore into which they inserted a thrust washer (671M-19), ten 671M-21 .0625 bearing balls and a larger thrust washer, part number 671M-23.

 

At the front of the motor, given the diameter of the 2020M-17, Lionel couldn't insert a counterbore, so they move the bearing further into the motor housing and added the counterbore to the motor housing. The same thrust washer (671M-19), ten 671M-21 .0625 bearing balls and a larger thrust washer, part number 671M-23 were then added. With the redesign of the 671M-1 motor, Lionel also changed how the bearings were installed. Although you need original Lionel service station manuals to find it, the 671M-1 motor became the 681-100 motor. The 671M-20 rear bearing became a 681-120 rear bearing. The counterbore of the rear bearing was eliminated, and the loose ball bearings and their thrust washer were replaced by a 681-121 bearing assembly and two 671M-23 thrust washer, one top and bottom.

 

So, in the end, Lionel only switched the part numbers in their illustration. If you need to order both bearings, make sure that you order the correct part numbers and make sure they are made of Oilite and not turned brass. In a pinch, you can use a 671M-20 rear bearing by merely turning the bearing over so that the counterbore is upside down. If the bearings your supplier sends to are of turned brass, they will eventually begin to squeal for lack of lubricant.

 

While on the subject of bearings and bushings, there is no such part number as 600-0671-24B, but there is a part number 600-671-248. Having said that though, Lionel's current drawing for this locomotive is incorrect. The axle bushing used is part number 681-11. Using the correct axle bushing will eliminate the fix Lionel used of adding thrust washers to the axles to prevent side to side movement of the wheels much as they had during the end of the postwar production of the 736.

As others have already posted this handy book makes the Digital subscription more than worthwhile.  Jim Barrett's repair and maintenance articles are the best I have ever read.  They are clear, to the point and do not leave any room for guesswork.  All of these great articles in one volume is a real bonus.