Good info FLYERMIKE! Thanks.
logcruiser posted:I just spoke with Ro about the return of my UP. I was told they are opening, inspecting, and running the engines before shipping any more.
Does anyone have a good running UP? I may need to see if I can get a Santa Fe instead.
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When my UP came it was in a big box. The loco was wrapped separately and was not in its own box. My assumption was that someone at Ro had tested it. So far, mine is running without issues.
I received my replacement UP GP7 and today I tested it. All features were good until I tested the front coupler. It would not open on command. Looking through the front pilot I could see one wire broken off. Under the hood, you can see there was not enough slack left in the coupler wires for following curves. Too short. One wire does not reach and one is barely hanging onto the solenoid. See the photo. This does not look like an easy fix as I think the attachment point is under shrink wrap tape. Anyone else have this problem? Also it does not like S-Trax, derailing in a few track joints where the inside surface of the rails are not perfectly aligned. Gauging or maybe rail is not tall enough (possible issues). So it was fun to run and the bluetooth app is very nice! But no working front coupler! DARN. Anyone fixed a coil coupler and have advice...or send it back yet again?
Guys,
Many of you have known me for all the problems I have had with Lionel Flyer items. I told myself (an others) that I would NEVER buy another. Well, (as they say) never say never. I was taken by the UP Geep paint job, and the fact that I always wanted a Gilbert one, but couldn't find one for a decent price. So when the new ones were announced with their better looking trucks, and for such a great price, I bit the bullet. Well, the bullet bit back.
My Geep came in, and I tested it for loose trucks, screws, faulty paint and then put it on the track. Powering up the remote (with new batteries) all seemed well! I gave it a lube and it was a bit hesitant, but in a few laps, it smoothed out nicely. Quieter too. I fired up the Blue Tooth app, and it gave me more features! Great! The loco wouldn't pull more than 8 cars without spinning the wheels, but that's all I wanted to pull anyway. I was even going to paint the pilot steps to match, and mixed up a batch of paint to do that when I ran the train around to a convenient spot to take the locomotive off the track. The front headlight wasn't working. Now, if it were the ElectroCouplers, I'd not even bat an eye since I don't plan on doing any switching with the thing anyway. But a HEADLIGHT? I suspect a cut or shorted out wire. Am I going to attempt the repair? No way. The board is probably fried from an LED shorting out. Someone else reported a cut wire due to the flywheel cutting into it. It's going back! Lionel strikes again!
On mine I also had to push the LED leads up against the top of the shell as flywheel was cutting into the wires.
Jerry, it seems like you always have bad luck. Too bad!!
I have run my UP for hours now and have not had an issue. I am still very pleased with it.
Oh, I forgot. My UP will pull 21 Gilbert freight cars, which is a max as more and the weight pulls them off at the corners of my Gilbert track. It will do 16 cars on my main line with Gilbert trestles that includes a turn at the top. This is as good an any of my Legacy diesels with two motors.
I found mine will pull a lot of cars on level track. But try going up an incline and it would only pull 4 Gilbert cars before slipping to the point of stalling. There is really no weight over the power truck to hold it down on the track
Roundhouse Bill posted:Jerry, it seems like you always have bad luck. Too bad!!
I have run my UP for hours now and have not had an issue. I am still very pleased with it.
Bill, it seems you always have good luck. Good for you!
I have run Lionel Flyer things for minutes and always have issues. I am sick of their junk.
If the dealer won't make good on this thing (and it shouldn't be up to the dealers to correct the defects in design/assembly) I'm sending it back anyway for spare parts. That's all it's good for. If any good parts can be found. Keep the money. Lesson learned. I also purchased the add-on PE car. I haven't even taken it out of the box yet. It probably has broken wires, a cracked shell, wrong frame, broken side frames, broken coupler, or any combination of the above. I guarantee it WILL have poorly gauged wheels. As a consist for the UP Geep, I have a series (8) of previously issued Lionel Flyer UP freight cars. All NIB. EVERY ONE of them had a problem from poorly gauged wheels to side frames that crumbled upon removal from the box.
I'll probably be moderated for this post, but I don't care any more.
Jerry, I bought the new Polar Express car and the wiring was completely redesigned with wire Longer, thicker, and soldered. You should have no problem with it.
I have the L-AF NKP GP7 and at this time its been on the layout for about 12 days. The GP7 is being used to pull a consist of 8 cars made up of all of those NKP freight rolling stock that Lionel made in the mid-90s. I've been operating on good ol' Gilbert track and switches. No issues. Not Legacy, but well-suited for its mission in life.
Bob
Only the rear coil coupler on mine works, but it does not open far enough to release the rolling stock. I have tried this with newer Flyer bocxcars, 1950's boxcars, and S-Helper cars. They do not disconnect. Perhaps with a heavier string of cars?
Sgauger
Sgauger posted:Only the rear coil coupler on mine works, but it does not open far enough to release the rolling stock. I have tried this with newer Flyer bocxcars, 1950's boxcars, and S-Helper cars. They do not disconnect. Perhaps with a heavier string of cars?
Sgauger
The electrocouplers on my NKP GP7 sample uncouple and couple dependably with the newest version of the L-AF knuckle coupler (e.g., the coupler fitted to the new cylindrical hoppers). My trials utilized a three car consist. However, on various other "Gilbert compatible couplers", your mileage may vary, as Sgauger is indicating. The length of the knuckle fitted on a coupler in question may have an effect (shorter = better). Dave and the guys at the Circle L Ranch were likely using the newest version of the L-AF knuckle coupler in their product development; hence what I am observing.
Bob
I sent an email to Charles Ro customer service on the 11th with the details on my inop front coupler but no response. Guess I will call and be the squeaky wheel.
I also emailed my dealer with no response. A phone call is in order. I've been assured by another S guy who I respect greatly that the dealer will make good. Now to find the time to call, and become the squeaky wheel.
I got lucky and did not order any! I am done taking chances on Lionel Quality.
Gunny
banjoflyer posted:
I was able to push the shim between the washer and the chassis with a tweezers. The wobble was then gone. I know it's Rube Goldberg fix but it beats maybe ruining something else.
Mark
If it works, don't knock it! Ingenious fix. I haven't taken mine out of the box yet. In keeping my expectations low, I'm rarely disappointed.
Well, I am packing up what I want to run at the big train show in Plano TX this weekend. I selected the Flyonel UP streamlined passenger set with all the extra pieces, A-B-A and 9 cars. I tested the PA and lubed the rest then let the train run.
Then I took off the powered PA and put my new GP7 on the front. That little engine with only one motor pulled it almost as well as the 2 motored PA. Just a little strain at first and it was off.
I don't understand how some of you are having trouble with it pulling more that 8 freight cars. There must be a minor problem with the weak engines. I hope someone here can give a weak one another look and find a solution.
I "Priority Mailed" my UP GP-7 back to Ro for the second time. They were very polite on the phone and vowed to fix the broken wire front coupler rather than try another replacement. No idea on turn-around time. Will report back on this.
Just got a FEDEX tracking email today...that my second time returned UP is inbound already. I shipped it last Friday. They can't have had it long enough for a repair. Replacement perhaps? Anyway that was really fast.
