I just spent $70.00 on an N-Scale Life-like GP20 8 wheel drive 8 wheel electric pickup and it runs like a piece of junk. I ran it twice around the layout then back in the box it went. It didn’t even run very quiet. First chance I get, it is going back to the store. What are some suggestions on purchasing locomotives that will run good?
Thanks in advance for your time.
malcolm wyllie
$ 70.00 for a Life Like in N scale ??? You can’t beat Atlas & Kato & quite a few of them don’t even cost that much…well except Kato perhaps.
Hello Malcolm. Sorry to hear about your bad luck. Lower end Life-Like products aren’t known for their quality… You might try an Atlas or a Kato. They’re well worth the money.
Tracklayer
From similar bad experiences, I now stick to Kato, Atlas and InterMountain. They may cost a bit more but you avoid the frustrations and irritation.
Cheers,
This is the proper time for someone to launch a diatribe against Bachmann.
What’s wrong with Bachmann? I have a 10 wheel Annie (now converted to wireless battery control) and a Shay, both have been running on my railroad for 6 years now. Once I went to Reno and forgot that I left the Annie running for 6 days. I also have a lot of B’mann rolling stock. Never had a problem with Bachmann G scale.[%-)]
HELLO? He said N SCALE! N SCALE! Not G scale. HO is junk too. The Spectrum series isn’t too bad however.
There’s a big difference in bachmann quality between scales. I wouldn’t touch an N scale bachmann with a 10’ pole. Cheap life like and bachmann engines have done more harm to this hobby than any other manufacturer. And this guys poor experience just proves my point once AGAIN!
Thats because it IS a piece of junk. Buy Atlas or Kato in N scale. You will not be disappointed.
The very best way to avoid buying a lemon is to test run before purchase. All of the manufacturers may put out a piece with a problem now and again, so this method helps you avoid the return trip. When you are more familiar with the capabilities of each manufacturer’s product, you might forgoe the test run, as I do not test run any Kato SD70 any more. I have 8 that all pretty much operate identically. The same with my 4 IM FT sets, Bachmann Spectrum class J’s, Atlas GP38’s, Trainmasters and H16-44’s. I have no reservations about buying these models from reputable E-tailers and from online auctions from reputable sellers. Some E-tailers will test run before shipping if asked.
Any new model that I am interested always comes from my favorite hobby shop. My most recent purchases were the Atlas GP60 and Athearn challenger. If either had exhibited any problems such as excessive noise, pulling problems, wobble or unreliable electrical pickup; it would have been no sale. He runs them on DC and DCC for me as he knows that I go back and forth between the two. The challenger spent about 2 hours on his test track. This was because he sold his last 4 models to people who walked in and saw it running.
As to LifeLike and Bachmann, I have not had much luck with their diesels. My expierience is based on their old offerings from the 70’s and 80’s, so my opinions are not accurate and up to date. I was not happy with the Athearn SD70M, it was OK at the hobby shop, but when run with Kato SD70M’s it was way too noisey. It went back and was exchanged for a Kato.
I can say with some certainty that if you are running tight radii such as 9 3/4", 6 axel locomotives from any manufacturer will not be reliable runners.
Bob
Your best bet for N Scale locos is Atlas(good selection),Kato(very limited selection)or Athearn(next to no selection)…
I had 3 LL GP20s that was smooth runners…I don’t know what happen to those GP20s if they are as bad as you say yours is.[:(]
I see several GP20s at the N Scale club running and they are smooth runners.
Sorry to hear about your misfortune. I have 2 LL GP-20’s that I bought for about $17 each when they were being blown out from their warehouse. They both run as quiet and as smooth as my Atlas engines. They just have rapido couplers that I need to change out.
As for suggestions, The newer crop of LL engines are supposed to be about as good as Atlas. The one you have should have been a good one, you just got unlucky I guess. Kato are the best with Atlas coming in a close 2nd. If you stick to these 2- you should be very happy.
If you are buying at a hobby shop- test drive before you buy. If the shop gives you a hard time about test driving engines, walk out and find a different place to shop.
Craig
Does Proto 2000 have any locomotives in N-scale?
Tom
Kato is my first choice. All five of mine run very, very well. I have two Atlas that while they look great (detail) they just are not good runners.
Peter
Whoa, hold on there Bobbalouie! [C):-)]
Life Like GP-20’s are NOT generally bad lokies. You got a bad one, that’s all. You also paid WAY too much for it!! You should be able to get one for $40 or under at most dealers.
I’ve got a gang of these, and even converted some to DCC, and I love them.
It’s a split frame mechanism, same as Atlas and Kato, and the motors and much of the drive train, including trucks, are interchangeable with Atlas parts.
Those who speak derisively of Life Like are probably thinking of their older trainset crap, with plastic frames and lead blobs. Those days are gone.
It sounds to me like you just got a bummer. See if you can swap it, try test driving it before you take it home, and I bet you’ll be pretty happy.
And for you Bachmann Bashers, I’d like to introduce you to the new H-16-44 now out in N…
It looks like the quality they’ve been pursuing in larger scales is finally trickling down to N scale. Is it on a par with Atlas or Kato? No, but for $35 it’s a darn good deal, and very cleverly engineered. Also, the Bachmann Spectrum Consolidation quickly became very successful because it is smooth running, nicely detailed, and unlike Kato locomotives, AVAILABLE!!
Frankly, I’m surprised MR hasn’t done a review of the H-16-44 yet… it must be too N scale…
Personally, I only have 2 Kato locomotives (discounting several old Atlas/Kato joint efforts) And they are nice. But Kato ignores the US market for the most part, and seems to forget that railroads existed that weren’t BNSF or UP.
So before you go off blasting away at a manufacturer take a look at what they’re doing lately.
Lee
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N scale or HO, go with Kato. Their customer focus may be thick as a brick, but they make great engines.
As long as you don’t mind waiting 10 years for a second release, and that comes in two road names… Feh.
Intermountain, warts and all, has earned my F unit business. I never owned a Kato, because they didn’t make them for over a decade, and by the time they finally got around to it, their shells look like old Bachmanns compared to Intermountain.
I’m glad I got my Kato SD-40’s when I did. They probably won’t be released again in my lifetime.
If you just need a good locomotive, you can pick up a pair of Life Like FA-1’s right now from Walthers for about $40 for a powered A-B set. They are smooth runners, and they’ll pull your molars out. Nicely detailed, too.
Lee
I model HO and have had great luck with Bachmann. I have 2 GS-4 4-8-4’s and are the best steam engines I have bought to date dollar for dollar. I added a little weight to the engine’s and they will haul a 20 car drag up a 2% grade. I like my BLI engines, but maily because of the sound, I all so have had more of them break I will added. GS-4 $79.99 BLI M1a $210.00.
I have 14 Life Like PK’s and not a bad one in the bunch to date. Only problem I have had are on the old brown box PK’s. They where bought used and they like to crack the center axel gears. Easy fix, takes 1/2 hour to replaces all the gears and cost around $1.75. I use Athearn gears.
With my engines being HO my luck more than likely will not have bearing on N scale.
Cuda Ken
Since Life Like doesn’t exist anymore, I guess it won’t be too big a problem. Most of the original models from them I had are gone, and all my Bachmanns crapped out too. Stick with Atlas or Kato, although the Proto series, if it still exists, was pretty good. Don’t know what the deal with Walthers is, just know they have promised models that never came out.
I am in HO, but I purchase a few select N scale items. Kato and Atlas if the names if you want good quality N scale locomotives. The Kata N scale F units are absolutely one of the great N scale models and most Kato’s are very good.
Well Kato has issues and other minor detail problems…They are good runners though.Sadly Kato has a very limited locomotive selection unlike Atlas and Walthers/LL in N scale.Atlas,Athearn and Walthers/P2K blows them out of the water when it comes to locomotive selections in HO.