I’m am looking for replacement knobs for loco addresses for a Digitrax UT4 utility throttle. If anyone knows where to get them or has one for sale,Jim.
Digitrax?
If what you are asking is for somethign easier to turn than the existing selector switches, there aren’t reall any knobs, you pretty much have to make your own. People have mentined what they did on the Digitrax Yahoo Group, there might even be pictures in the files or photos sections.
An idea that just came to me, remembering the old slotted plastic tools for adjusting TVs - I use skewers for uncoupling, some styrene tube over the opposite end with a slot filed in it to fit over the selector switch might make a nice ‘handle’
–Randy
Take a piece of 1/4 inch diameter or slightly larger dowel and cut a slot in the end of it that will fit over the tabs of the number knobs. That’s what I did and it works really good.
If you’re looking to replace a lost knob(s), I would suggest contacting Digitrax, their service is pretty good. Goto their site and email them or call them, phone # is on the site under Support.
I did contact Digitrax and they want me to send it in and there is a 25.00 service charge to replace a .10 knob. Not going to happen.Jim.
Does anyone know the diameter of the shaft on the Digitrax ut4 knobs, Mouser has 50 pages of knobs that you have to look thru but you need the diameter and I have no way of measuring it, Thanks Jim.
What is involved to remove the existing knob and measuring the shaft? Or is this one of those deals where if you damage the original without a replacement in hand the throttle is useless until repaired?
And it would also be my opinion that asking you to send the throttle in and wanting a service charge rather than just sending you the knob and billing you for it seems like poor and very strange customer service. Unless there is something difficult and/or magic about the repair.
No the knob just slides over the shaft,there is nothing wrong with the selector some how the knob got pulled or fell off and it was long gone. I just dont have any way to get an accurate measurement of the shaft size, 2 sides are round and the other 2 are flat. Any help is greatly appreciated, Jim.
Measure over the two round areas. It will be some nominal dimension like 1/8 or 1/4 inch. Radio Shack has knobs or grab a knob off something else.
I’m confused. At first you say knobs and then in that last post you say knob.
Do you mean the throttle velocity knob or the ones used to dial in an engine number? If the large knob, I would try a store such as Radio Shack.
Lake:
The OP stated that it was the knobs used for loco selection.
Joe
As I said in the earlier post the small knob to select the loco address, it is a small knob, that is what Digitrax calls it, Jim.
I see the knobs you’re speaking of: http://www.digitrax.com/products/throttles/ut4/.
It looks like the biggest issue would be to find a knob that has a cutout around the base where the numbers appear.
I’m not a Digitrax user, but if I were I would be very disappointed if they wouldn’t sell me a knob and gave me the $25 story. I don’t know to whom you spoke down there, but I am very surprised about their attitude.
I’m assuming you were polite when you first spoke to them. At that point, if it were me, I think I would have become a little more direct and asked to speak to the owner. That generally elicits a more favorable response. I suggest you call back. Maybe you’ll get connected to a more reasonable individual.
EDIT: Of course I could be wrong re: reasonable people. I just found this link about spare parts I think from the Digitrax Users Group: http://dir.groups.yahoo.com/group/Digitrax/message/167210
Thanks for the info but as the person said from the Digitrax group at Yahoo Digitrax does not sell spare parts and wont tell you where to find replacements.You are on your own to try and find anything, there is a place to get the battery covers from as they are the most likley to break.Jim.
Try phoning Apple and getting a new power switch for a Mac Book! There are very few consumer electronics companies that will sell you individual parts that then have to be soldered into the device. These things do not have “user serviceable parts” inside them. Ever see that message? They don’t want people botching up things worse than they actually are. Most companies are not in the business of promoting the concept of Do-It-Yourself repairs.
$25 is the fixed repair charge for a UT4 regardless of problem. It includes return shipping, the cost of the part and the labor. Frankly, I always thought that Digitrax repair charges are very reasonable indeed. They are not profiteering on work like this, that’s for sure!
BTW, it is more than likely that they have no idea where you can buy 1 of these knobs. Do you only need the plastic knob bit, or does the entire switch need to be replaced? They almost certainly buy them in bulk and I suspect that they come as part of the switch and are not even available as a separate part. More than likely their supplier does not sell to the consumer market in single units. If they did I guarantee that you would be looking at more than 10 cents with shipping.
Having written all this I just looked at my UT4. Are you just looking for the outer knob bit that slides over the shaft? It looks like the shaft has a split in it so that the knob is correctly orientated and does not slip when turning. I would say that this knob is an integral part of the switch and is probably not purchased by Digitrax as a separate item. So whilst the outer knob may only have a few cents cost, the cost of the over all part will be much higher. I would be amazed if you can find anywhere that stocks and sells this as a separate part. Google Rotary Dip Switch Knob.
Perhaps some one here could pry the little knob off of a UT4 that is other wise damaged or being sent in for upgrading to radio?
Digitrax will fix all that is wrong with a UT for the flat $25 fee. Sometimes you win (mine was crushed so I won). Sometimes you lose. (like if it just needs a button)
Martin Myers
Just out of curiosity, how on earth did you loose the knob? They don’t exactly come off easily?
If this is the case, I would just pull every knob off the throttle, remove the battery cover, and then send it in for repair. That way you would have spare knobs and a battery cover for future needs.
Never thought of that then I could sell the other knob for 35.00 and make money and pay for the repair LOL. Boy have you gave everybody following this ideas.Most likely that is what I will have to do, I lent it out to another Digitrax friend and thats how I got it back, I never looked at it until now and that was ages ago so I dont think that it would be fare to ask for the repair. Jim.