Has anyone thought of a way to reinforce the pilots on the K-Line EP-5 engine before they break (while in operation.)
I have one new in the box and I would like to find a way to avoid this problem while running it.
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It has a design flaw, so to speak, not much metal there. No real way to fix. Maybe scrape the paint off the underside and make a fillet of JB Weld. It might increase the strength somewhat.
I just bumped my engine and I shattered a pilot, a side truck bolster and the antenna. I just think, beside the design flaw, it is bad metal.
It was indeed bad metal, apparently. There has been quite a bit of discussion in the past about the problems with Chinese casting processes that were occurring at this time, with improper ingredients used, etc. Other manufacturers had issues as well with this. This diecast ended up too brittle and shatters easily. I've had two EP-5s break their pilots.
The joint design is also bad, as mentioned, creating several serious weak spots, which together with the brittle metal, made a real problem. Chuck's idea of laying on a layer of JB Weld or equivalent is probably the only thing that can be done, which is like putting a brace on it.
I think the SD70s are a different story - made later and without the brittle diecast issues. Most of the newer scale engines have some delicate parts. Atlas O certainly uses a lot of delicate add-ons; Lionel's are more robust. The K-Line EP-5 is indeed a very nice engine. Just have to be careful and not hit the pilot. I may put small metal splints on the underside of those weak spots and epoxy them in place.
I called Mike Reagan to see if Lionel has a replacement.
no luck.
Scrappy
