Timko still in business?

Good question !!   I would like to know as well !!

FREDSTRAINS

I know a guy that just bought his wheel puller a couple weeks ago, so he was there pretty recently.  He web site is indeed down.  Did you try email?  That's how I usually do business with him.

I ordered a new pin screw for my wheel puller a few weeks back.   I dealt with him through email.  It took some time for him to get back to me but he did and mailed my items.

John, I don't have an e-mail address for him. If you have one and will share, that would be appreciated.

Mike D and Fredstrains, check your e-mail. 

I bought a wheel puller a few weeks ago and he was pretty quick with email and mailed it quickly too.  I wish everyone was like that! 

@Bob posted:

Mike D and Fredstrains, check your e-mail. 

Please send it to me as well.  I bought a puller from him a few years ago, but his website seems to have disappeared.  Email is in my profile.  Thanks.

Frank is old fashioned, He recently remotored my pullmor F3 trucks to can motors, there was a supply issue for the motors, so he had them just over 18 months, once he got the parts, he mailed me everything with the invoice in the box. He often plays phone tag, so email is definitely the best way to contact him. Be PATIENT and he will answer when he checks his email.

Other than a website that doesn't work, and communication that might work, is there a way for a person to see exactly what kind of services the gentleman provides? If he's in business to repower locomotives, I might have some work for him. 

If someone can provide the URL of his OOS website, maybe we can take a look via The Wayback Machine.

Yes, Frank is still in business, I just spoke to him, his telephone number is 937-429-1461. I told Frank that there is a current inquiry about him on the O Gauge Forum. I tried his web page TimkosRepairDepot.com I was connected to a tire or automotive repair service. Then I called Frank and told him what was going on, his mailing address that I have is Timko's Repair Depot, 349 Grange Hill Road,Beavercreek,OH.,45430. I have purchased can motors, helical gears for Williams driven trucks and spoke to Frank many times in the past, very straight forward and honest person hope this clarifies this issue about contacting him.

I get nothing with that web address, I suspect there's a web provider issue.   Curious how you got a tire repair place.

@John Ochab posted:

Yes, Frank is still in business, I just spoke to him, his telephone number is 937-429-1461. I told Frank that there is a current inquiry about him on the O Gauge Forum. I tried his web page TimkosRepairDepot.com I was connected to a tire or automotive repair service. Then I called Frank and told him what was going on, his mailing address that I have is Timko's Repair Depot, 349 Grange Hill Road,Beavercreek,OH.,45430. I have purchased can motors, helical gears for Williams driven trucks and spoke to Frank many times in the past, very straight forward and honest person hope this clarifies this issue about contacting him.

I tried calling three times in the last few days, left a voice mail twice and heard nothing back from him. I just sent him an e-mail. It would appear that he is great at repairing trains, but communication is not his forte.

Thanks to all for your input and to Bob for providing an e-mail.

I’ve always communicated with Timko via email. I don’t think he really has a doable website.

The website works for me there must have been something wrong and he got it fixed
https://timkorepairdepot.com/Home.html

I am typically not a complainer. I have had a few engines repaired by the field and when one isn't done to my expectations, I talk with the repairing party and depending on his response, either send it back to him or look elsewhere. A number of years ago, my local tarin shop sold me a Williams brass pacific. I think it was a first generation engine for Williams. It did not have a flywheel in it and the train shop owner suggested I talk/send it to Frank Timko . He agreed to take it and then I didn't here anything for a few months. I finally reached him by phone and he told me to go by a real engine. He never sent that one back and I have never had any further contact with him again. The facts are what they are.   Bill Park

@Shawn_Chronister posted:

The website works for me there must have been something wrong and he got it fixed
https://timkorepairdepot.com/Home.html

I contacted him yesterday and informed him about the website and he said he was going to look into it.  Obviously, he got it corrected.

In todays instant gratification need, it seems everyone wants an answer immediately. Frank is not a spring chicken, does outstanding work and is not of the generation of computers. He has a website, and an email.

I always get an answer via email, when I phone it is almost always phone tag. He has been providing regearing of the clubs Williams engines for 9 years that I have been a member, is our supply for can motors, mounts, screws and traction tires.

My personal repairs mainly are converting pullmor trucks to can motors with a thin flywheel to fit the conventional Lionel F3, as well as powering Williams trucks to make a dummy a powered unit.

Frank is not fast but does great work. Patience is needed when dealing with him. He offers a service that is invaluable to the hobby at a very reasonable price point.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I contacted him yesterday and informed him about the website and he said he was going to look into it.  Obviously, he got it corrected.

Still a lot of questions appear to remain. 

What, me worry?

@Ron_S posted:

In todays instant gratification need, it seems everyone wants an answer immediately. Frank is not a spring chicken, does outstanding work and is not of the generation of computers. He has a website, and an email.

It isn't my desire for instant gratification that has me on here. It is the fact that his web-site is/was down and I didn't have any contact info for him that was working out. He is of the phone generation and that isn't his thing either. So no need for you to defend him or make me look entitled or impatient because I inquired.

He did finally return an e-mail.

@Mike D If you took this personally, you should read your comments. You stated above "I tried calling three times in the last few days, left a voice mail twice and heard nothing back from him. I just sent him an e-mail. It would appear that he is great at repairing trains, but communication is not his forte."

If you had read the responses I have given here, phone tag happens every time I try to contact him by phone, yet email he does respond. I did NOT put a time frame in my response but it might be 2 weeks before he emailed me, I took it as he was BUSY doing work on peoples trains, had a life besides trains or he was Ill. In the 9 years I have dealt with Frank, it was excellent work, He mails his product and your items with a bill in the box. HOW many vendors/repair shops do you know that do this?

Frank can answer for himself, MY answers were what he HAS done for  the club and Me.

As for Instant gratification, THAT comment was aimed at anyone on this forum who expects front of the line service, and there are plenty who voice those opinions on here.

@Ron_S posted:

@Mike D If you took this personally, you should read your comments. You stated above "I tried calling three times in the last few days, left a voice mail twice and heard nothing back from him. I just sent him an e-mail. It would appear that he is great at repairing trains, but communication is not his forte."

If you had read the responses I have given here, phone tag happens every time I try to contact him by phone, yet email he does respond. I did NOT put a time frame in my response but it might be 2 weeks before he emailed me, I took it as he was BUSY doing work on peoples trains, had a life besides trains or he was Ill. In the 9 years I have dealt with Frank, it was excellent work, He mails his product and your items with a bill in the box. HOW many vendors/repair shops do you know that do this?

Frank can answer for himself, MY answers were what he HAS done for  the club and Me.

As for Instant gratification, THAT comment was aimed at anyone on this forum who expects front of the line service, and there are plenty who voice those opinions on here.

I don't need to read my comments. I know what I said. You are butt hurt about something that I just don't understand. My comments are based on my experiences with him so far. Just because he does good work and you all are happy with him doesn't mean I have to accept his way of doing things or give him a pass.

I will stand by my previous comments, he is not good in the communication department. I don't know anything about Frank, his life or his business. Regardless of what he has going on, if you run a business, the people that patronize your business expect prompt responses. That is not unreasonable. I am just a customer with reasonable expectations, whether you like it or not.

All I want is a loco repaired and my initial inquiry was an effort to find out if he was still in business because his web-site was down and he isn't taking calls or returning them. That's it, nothing more, nothing less.

He can defend himself if he feels that someone is beating him up, which I am most certainly not. He nor anyone else needs you or anyone else to come on here and start bashing folks because you are a fan boy. You obviously have taken this whole thread personally and started with the negative crap. I don't want it or need it and no one else does either.

I got the info I needed and Frank and I are in communication with each other about my repair/repowering needs.

You actually contributed nothing positive or helpful in any way to this discussion. No further input is desired from you on this subject or this thread.