Is there anything I can do to prevent this from happening any further? It is a shame since this model is very nice. It is happening both on the tender trucks on certain parts of detailing as well as on both of the front steam cylinders.
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For the detail on the truck I am showing that is cracked, I had to reglue it, it was in 3 pieces when I found it and is warped.
@JJScholten posted:Is there anything I can do to prevent this from happening any further? It is a shame since this model is very nice. It is happening both on the tender trucks on certain parts of detailing as well as on both of the front steam cylinders.
their is nothing that can be done to stop the deterioration of zinc.
@JJScholten posted:For the detail on the truck I am showing that is cracked, I had to reglue it, it was in 3 pieces when I found it and is warped.
Looks like the parts are still available at Lionel, so all is not lost.
John is correct, ….I’ve fixed one with the exact same rot issues. Thankfully, the replacement parts do not suffer from zinc rot. Everything on your engine that is rotten is nut & bolt replacement.
Pat
This is so sad and should not happen on these beautiful models. I think that the manufacturers should warranty their products against this. It should be preventable with proper oversight on the production process. All that should be needed to prove the zinc degradation is photographs like those shown by JJ. If the parts are still available they should be provided at no cost.
Marty
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Looks like the parts are still available at Lionel, so all is not lost.
I don't see many parts that are going to help him out:
@H1000 posted:I don't see many parts that are going to help him out:
you click the engine or the tender link and you get a lot more!
@Engineer-Joe posted:you click the engine or the tender link and you get a lot more!
I knew there had to be more to it, THANKS!
Looks like these will help:
@gunrunnerjohn posted:You're kidding, right?
Yep, John totally kidding. But as you hopefully read in the earlier post, it was just an oversight. But thanks for piling on! 👍
I have ordered the part for the cracking on the steam cylinders (No. 142 on the Engine's part list page)
C&O Allegheny #1650 Locomotive Only - 6308081001 (lionelsupport.com) (The link Bob put for engine parts appears to be for the older TMCC Allegheny, not the JLC Allegheny)
Sadly though, the parts for the tender truck detailing that are rotting are not available right now (Part 7 on the Tender part list page)
This is a real shame.
Lionel needs to step up their game when it comes to issues of Zinc Rot. People have spent a bundle of money on a model only to see it literally fall apart in front of their eyes.
Then the company wonders why folks are hesitant purchasing high end items.
@JJ my heart goes out to you and others experiencing these issues. I know I would be very disappointed to see a great model like this Allegheny disintegrate in my hands. This is one of the major reasons I try to purchase brass engines to avoid these types of issues.
Brass may have some other disadvantages - but you'll never have to worry about Zinc Rot.
All of us in this hobby have had to deal with Zinc Rot at one time or another. It is almost impossible to avoid, especially items made in China and old pre war trains. I've had my fair share and don't wish this issue upon anyone in this hobby.
@martind comments were spot on. Especially since this issue is preventable with proper oversight on the production process.
@JJ Good luck with the rebuild of your model. I hope you are able to acquire all of the necessary parts to make it whole again w/o having to spend a lot of $$ doing so.
@JJScholten posted:I have ordered the part for the cracking on the steam cylinders (No. 142 on the Engine's part list page)
C&O Allegheny #1650 Locomotive Only - 6308081001 (lionelsupport.com) (The link Bob put for engine parts appears to be for the older TMCC Allegheny, not the JLC Allegheny)
Sadly though, the parts for the tender truck detailing that are rotting are not available right now (Part 7 on the Tender part list page)
You could go an buy a truck assembly off a newer C&O Allegheny, for instance this: https://www.lionelsupport.com/...NDER-ONLY-6982768T01
Might not be a 100% match, but at least it will be a new part that isn't rotting
I took no joy in predicting that this would happen, I was told why would you say this……..well. Every large diecast steamer is a worry. I feel for people this happens to, I worry about all of my subway cars and any car with diecast trucks.
this is a fear none of us should worry about in this day of modern production. Just another nail in the coffin for our hobby we love.
@Allegheny posted:Lionel needs to step up their game when it comes to issues of Zinc Rot. People have spent a bundle of money on a model only to see it literally fall apart in front of their eyes.
The problem with curing zinc pest is the manner in which the Chinese makers subcontract the manufacture of the zinc castings. They have zillions of little garage shops that do casting, and they farm out individual parts, presumably on a lowest price bid contract. The quality control is pretty much non-existent, and the garage-shop sub-contractor is long out of the picture before the zinc pest shows up in the product. Add to that there is no long term commitment to the product, and you have the situation you see now.
I have that same JLC Allegheny, but no sign of any zinc rot yet. We live in a fairly dry climate area which some say might make a difference? 
Rod
@Rod Stewart posted:I have that same JLC Allegheny, but no sign of any zinc rot yet. We live in a fairly dry climate area which some say might make a difference?
Rod
I wouldn't think so. After all, zinc rot is really a disease of the metal and, as we all know, a disease and occur in any climate...
Mark in Oregon
Is there a list of engines affected with zinc pest that anyone has compiled?
Does anyone know if every JLC Allegheny engine are a casualty of zinc rot?
According to something I found zinc reacts with water vapor to form zinc hydroxide and hydrogen gas like this:
Zn + 2(H2O) >>> Zn2(OH) + H2 So the white crud you see is likely the zinc hydroxide. And it seems obvious that a higher humidity ambient would promote this reaction more so than a dry arid ambient, contrary to what was stated a couple of posts up. 
Rod
@ironman1 posted:Does anyone know if every JLC Allegheny engine are a casualty of zinc rot?
Hard to say, but from reports in the field, it’s only certain components that are affected, and as of last check, parts were available. Now, whether or not those parts have zinc rot, I can’t say, ….i haven’t had one come across the plate…..
Pat
The humidity thing is interesting. I had a Lionel pre-war Pennsy Torpedo that I had stored in a cardboard box, in a section of my basement that I never ran a dehumidifier. I can say this area was more affected by humidity for sure. This engine clearly had zinc rot & had started to crumble under the cab. I sold it at a garage sale. It seems Rods theory may be valid.
Well, I just checked and ran my JLC Allegheny & it seems to be okay, but will it remain that way? Didn’t the Legacy PRR Turbine suffer from zinc rot?
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