I bought an MTH F-7 AB set a couple of years ago. Running on DCC the B unit randomly stopped running after several weeks and then would not run at all. Taking off the shell and jiggling the connectors got it working again but I found out that if either of the locos briefly lost power I would have to bring them to a full stop in order to get lights and sound to work again. I ended up buying replacement decoders.
Does anyone know if this is still the case with MTH locos with their DCC/DCS decoders? I wanted to buy one of their Dreyfuss Hudsons but if they still work the same way it’s just not worth it. It would be nice if they offered a DC version that was DCC ready. I like the F-7s but was more than a bit angry about having to replace the decoders.
Our hobby is sometimes plagued with ‘bad runs’. MTH had a bad run with their latest batch of UP 4-8-8-4 Big Boy in HO. On a couple of sites quite a few people reported problems, both with the loco and with service. That was two years ago, maybe closer to three already. My go-to company is BLI, but I watched them get raked over the coals between 2009-2011. I think they still have complaints about both their smoke units and their chuff sensor on their steamers, and it doesn’t seem to matter which steamer.
I can’t be sure, but Bachmann seems to be slinking away from steam. Yes, they have produced a new steamer, the B&O EM-1 2-8-8-4 in the past 30 months or so, but they have ceased production of their bread 'n butter smaller stuff that did so well in their Spectrum series. Too bad, too. Even so, they had their plugs. Their Spectrum J Class 4-8-4 was a noted example. The drive train had problems, and so did the tender coupling. In my example, and in my only Mountain Class C&O 4-8-2, the pilot’s lower edge is too close to the rails on level track. Much of a vertical curve into a grade gets grooves worn into that lower edge or a derailment, or the drivers spin.
As a general rule, with lots of variation, you are sure to eventually get what you want if you identify a locomotive currently offered or in stock somewhere, even if you have to send it in, with permission, to get it serviced. That has been my experience so far.
Nothing about this hobby comes quickly, easily, cheaply, and of good quality. Sometimes you can manage one or two of those four qualities, but NEVER three or more at the same time.
Definitely agree with you about manufacturers having a bad run now and again and nothing is perfect in our hobby.
I’m still wondering if newer MTH DCC locos lose their settings when they lose power for a split second - maybe going over a turnout? The F-7s I had would do this. I had to bring them to a full stop to get the sound and lights working again. Will the MTH Dreyfuss Hudson work the same way?
The MTH Dreyfuss Hudsons run very well but aren’t quite as nicely detailed as the BLI versions. You should be able to pick one up off eBay for $350-$450.
As much as I would like to kick MTH while they are down I would bet the farm it is the Chinese who are the problem. They can not be expected to not cheapen specifications or products to make a little more money. That said from industrial experience and flat out lying when confronted. These are the same people who got rid of a nasty chemical by putting it in dog food and killing some pets in the USA a couple of years ago. Then they feigned ignorance.
I have about 9 MTH steam engines and am very happy with them. They have gotten better as time goes on plus they got the best sound, very important to me. The newest big boy will be coming my way at the end of the year if it is on time, should be great.
I agree with the poster that all mfgs have had problems and believe me it is mostly China’s fault.
Dealing with them for years they are lying S.O.B’s when it comes to anything.
You have identfied my single biggest gripe about this hobby. While there are exceptions, quality control with most manufacturers is pretty pathetic. I don
Our hobby is sometimes plagued with ‘bad runs’. MTH had a bad run with their latest batch of UP 4-8-8-4 Big Boy in HO. On a couple of sites quite a few people reported problems, both with the loco and with service. That was two years ago, maybe closer to three already. My go-to company is BLI, but I watched them get raked over the coals between 2009-2011. I think they still have complaints about both their smoke units and their chuff sensor on their steamers, and it doesn’t seem to matter which steamer.
I can’t be sure, but Bachmann seems to be slinking away from steam. Yes, they have produced a new steamer, the B&O EM-1 2-8-8-4 in the past 30 months or so, but they have ceased production of their bread 'n butter smaller stuff that did so well in their Spectrum series. Too bad, too. Even so, they had their plugs. Their Spectrum J Class 4-8-4 was a noted example. The drive train had problems, and so did the tender coupling. In my example, and in my only Mountain Class C&O 4-8-2, the pilot’s lower edge is too close to the rails on level track. Much of a vertical curve into a grade gets grooves worn into that lower edge or a derailment, or the drivers spin.
As a general rule, with lots of variation, you are sure to eventually get what you want if you identify a locomotive currently offered or in stock somewhere, even if you have to send it in, with permission, to get it serviced. That has been my experience so far.
Nothing about this hobby comes quickly, easily, cheaply, and of good quality. Sometimes you can manage one or two of those four qualities, but NEVER three or more at the same time.
If the hudson is similar to the J, there’s power pickup on the tender and engine, and what appears to be a connection between them, so you would have to lose power on all wheels on the tender, as well as the loco, before it lost power. At that point, it’s basically flying.
Having said that, my J would, at times, lose power, but it would be brief enough where it would pick back up where it left off. Other times, it would stall and lose sound. Usually that was accompanied by a derailment that would trip my DCC system. In practice, it hardly ever happened.