08 Shunter repair
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08 Shunter repair
Just had a e-mail from Hornby, to ask if I would like them to return my 08 shunter. The parts will not be in until 2021.
I would only have to return it, and postage is not cheap. So I told them to keep it, until parts are available.
Why can't this country make anything now? The economy is already busted, and I expect China is doing better, in spite of covid19.
I would only have to return it, and postage is not cheap. So I told them to keep it, until parts are available.
Why can't this country make anything now? The economy is already busted, and I expect China is doing better, in spite of covid19.
Re: 08 Shunter repair
This country can very well make everything required to build such a model. But you wouldn't like the price, because it would be at the rates for our high costs in facilities and labour. Take a look at Ultrascale's prices: the only way they can function as a viable business is to supply customers that want significantly superior components to those supplied on Chinese RTR, who are prepared to both pay the consequent high price, and to tolerate the long lead time before order fulfillment.
https://www.ultrascale.uk/
https://www.ultrascale.uk/
- Bufferstop
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Re: 08 Shunter repair
The manufacturing process in Japan, China and most "far eastern" countries is based around the "production run" Very few components are made that don't end up in the finished article. So the existence of spare parts is initially very rare. The computer industry has run this way for the last twenty to thirty years. Most spares coming from the disassembly of faulty or damaged items. In rare cases a company commissioning a design will order a supply of spares or additional units to cover DOA and early failures. Bought in components used in the manufacture can usually be sourced on Ebay, often at much lower prices than would be charged by the UK "manufacturer" The motors used by Bachmann and Hornby being a good example.
This makes a nonsense of the manufacturers warranty, and poses a problem for retailers who are legally responsible for the "fitness for purpose" of the items they sell, exchange or refund being the only options, unless they have the services of a repairer who can obtain the parts from the supply chain and have the skill and tools to effect a repair. This is why many modellers who have the skill simply ignore the document enclosed in the box. Which would you choose, being without the item for many months, or ordering and fitting the part yourself for a fraction of the models value?
This makes a nonsense of the manufacturers warranty, and poses a problem for retailers who are legally responsible for the "fitness for purpose" of the items they sell, exchange or refund being the only options, unless they have the services of a repairer who can obtain the parts from the supply chain and have the skill and tools to effect a repair. This is why many modellers who have the skill simply ignore the document enclosed in the box. Which would you choose, being without the item for many months, or ordering and fitting the part yourself for a fraction of the models value?
Growing old, can't avoid it. Growing up, forget it!
My Layout, My Workbench Blog and My Opinions
My Layout, My Workbench Blog and My Opinions
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Re: 08 Shunter repair
Thanks for the replies.
I managed to get one end of the con rod to stick with superglue, but the other end refused to play ball.
I didn't look for the part as a spare, as I think it is a push fit on the axle. With my not too steady hands, it may not have been a success.
I managed to get one end of the con rod to stick with superglue, but the other end refused to play ball.
I didn't look for the part as a spare, as I think it is a push fit on the axle. With my not too steady hands, it may not have been a success.
Re: 08 Shunter repair
I sent a Hornby 08 shunter (with TTS sound) to Hornby for repair with what I thought was a pick up problem (started to move then cut out completely). This was September 2020 - they asked me to hold sending it in whilst they cleared the backlog from lockdown. It came back in two weeks with a new motor for the princely sum of £25 including postage. Excellent service I thought.
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Re: 08 Shunter repair
Hi Monday.
That is very good service. I wish mine would suddenly appear, but still no news, so they have not cleared all the backlog.
That is very good service. I wish mine would suddenly appear, but still no news, so they have not cleared all the backlog.
Re: 08 Shunter repair
That'll almost certainly be 'part not available' causing the hold up unfortunately.JohnDisdle wrote:...I wish mine would suddenly appear, but still no news, so they have not cleared all the backlog.
What to do to as an individual? I run my new acquisitions as soon as I have them for something like 10-12 hours over a couple of days, to quickly flush out any 'infant mortality'. Any failures can then be exchanged while there is new stock. And for a few classes which are essential for my modelling, I buy a cheap 'breaker' when available. Of course when you have a 'breaker' you practically never need it...
These types of generic components at least can be readily procured on the traditional 'spares' basis, and it has been noticeable that motor failures on RTR OO typically have been dealt with reasonably efficiently by the various manufacturer's service teams. Thus 'Monday's' good experience.Bufferstop wrote:...Bought in components used in the manufacture can usually be sourced on Ebay, often at much lower prices than would be charged by the UK "manufacturer" The motors used by Bachmann and Hornby being a good example...
Some ramblings from my own experience in manufacturing process.
I do not believe it would be different had the manufacturing of this class of product stayed in the West. By the mid 1970s, the combination of 'Just in Time' production management and defined volume configuration version 'blocks' of a manufactured product was well underway in the UK; and it quickly became apparent that better control of reclaim of components was required, to ensure that repairs by replacement with reclaimed components could be maintained.Bufferstop wrote:The manufacturing process in Japan, China and most "far eastern" countries is based around the "production run" Very few components are made that don't end up in the finished article ... So the existence of spare parts is initially very rare.
Then as design and build quality improved there was the paradox of the difficulty in maintaining a very reliable design. Just not enough failures to generate sufficient spares required to remedy accidental damage! (It gets doubly awkward when the product has gone 'all over the world', much of it not quickly or economically retrievable for reclaim.) A 'quarantined' reserve of output from the production run then had to be held as 'breakers' (and practically defended by armed guards in a secret location against voracious sales management and others!).Bufferstop wrote:...Most spares coming from the disassembly of faulty or damaged items. In rare cases a company commissioning a design will order a supply of spares or additional units to cover DOA and early failures...
Re: 08 Shunter repair
That is excellent service! About two or three years ago I was browzing a very popular spares provider and spare motors for those class 08's were priced up as £75 each. I thought I was seeing things! Though when others had found very similar motors direct from China for a fraction of the price the spares provider wanted, they have reduced their prices significently.Monday wrote:I sent a Hornby 08 shunter (with TTS sound) to Hornby for repair with what I thought was a pick up problem (started to move then cut out completely). This was September 2020 - they asked me to hold sending it in whilst they cleared the backlog from lockdown. It came back in two weeks with a new motor for the princely sum of £25 including postage. Excellent service I thought.
But to replace the motor for you for that price with fitting it as well it is good. They have looked after you. Well done Hornby.
It can't be easy for Hornby to cope with the demand for repairs or trying to keep on top of supplying parts, so understandably there are and will be delays, especially with this lockdown which no one can help. All they can do is keep going and ploughing through in what can seem a never ending task... But think of the delight when customers get their engines back and they are running again! It HAS to be worth it!
Modelling On A Budget ---》 https://www.newrailwaymodellers.co.uk/F ... 22&t=52212
Re: 08 Shunter repair
Lets hope yours will be back on its rails soon.JohnDisdle wrote:Hi Monday.
That is very good service. I wish mine would suddenly appear, but still no news, so they have not cleared all the backlog.
Modelling On A Budget ---》 https://www.newrailwaymodellers.co.uk/F ... 22&t=52212
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Re: 08 Shunter repair
I e-mailed Hornby a few days ago, to find out when my 08 shunter will return.
Sadly their reply was that they were still waiting for spares. I think this is getting totally beyond belief now, it has been out of action for almost a year.
I am looking at DCC locos on e-Bay, but don't really trust them to be working, after reading of a purchase that didn't work.
Sadly their reply was that they were still waiting for spares. I think this is getting totally beyond belief now, it has been out of action for almost a year.
I am looking at DCC locos on e-Bay, but don't really trust them to be working, after reading of a purchase that didn't work.
Re: 08 Shunter repair
You can find cheap replacement motors direct from China (mine were 5 for £15 delivered) but you still have to pull the gear and maybe a flywheel or two. I have a duff motor that I just cannot shift the flywheel from. I broke my puller and drifting it out isn’t working either. The replacement motor is installed but running without the flywheel for now.
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Re: 08 Shunter repair
Hi RAF96.
In my case, it's the con rods that have come off. The parts were coming from China, early 2021, according to Hornby. Obviously waiting for another shipment.
In my case, it's the con rods that have come off. The parts were coming from China, early 2021, according to Hornby. Obviously waiting for another shipment.