I have several HO steam locos in need of service. Who would you recommend?
A couple of ideas:
Do it yourself, send it to the manufacturer’s service department if they have one, or try your local hobby store. My LHS does some small work “in the back” and has been useful in the past.
Get in touch with Gerry at Maine Trains in Chelmsford, Mass., www.mainetrains.com. He does repairs and decoder/sound installations, in addition to custom painting. The work is really beautiful.
I fear that many of the models that one gets today are almost “throw-aways.” Obviously, if you have some nice brass or high-end plastic locomotives, that’s one thing, but if you are talking about some inexpensive or older models… unless they are of real sentimental value, they are probably best put on your RIP track or take up a stall in your roundhouse.
dlm
But at the same time, those “throw aways” can become valuable additions to one’s fleet… just take a look at what some of the guys here have done with the models that came in the President’s Choice sets…
The locomotive I need repaired is a Rivarossi Heisler…not a cheapy in my opinion. It runs for a short distance then I have to nudge it…over and over. That’s the problem and I’m not good at fixing things like that.
Have you cleaned the wheels? This is sure what it sounds like if all you have to do is nudge it.
Cuda Ken
Yep, cleaned wheels and rails…darn near sterile. [:)]
I agree with Ken. It’s likely that all this engine needs is a good cleaning. Also take a look at whatever it uses to get power from the wheels. If the engine uses “wipers,” make sure those are clean and making good contact, too.
As I recall, Rivarossi parts are hard to come by. This may increase the lead time for getting one of these fixed if something inside is really broken.
Unfortunately, Rivarossi went bankrupt and they have now been purchased by Hornby of England. Hornby switched production from Europe to China, and seems to have practically abandoned the U.S. market.
Several people in the past have referenced a place called Golf Manor Hobbies as being a source of parts for older Rivarossi products, but I don’t know where they are. Try a Google search. Whether they perform repair service is something you’ll have to ask them.
Their web site is below.
http://www.golfmanorhobbies.com/
Copyright 2003, Golf Manor Hobbies
Cincinnati, Ohio USA
(513) 351-3849
(513) 631-7574 (Fax)