I have a question for you all. Recently, I wrecked my N scale LL E7. Nothing serious–it derailed and hit the floor, damaging the rear truck. It still runs, but the rear coupler mount is destroyed, requiring a new sideframe set.
Anyway, I poked around LL’s website, but couldn’t find a link for parts. I fired off an email asking where I could get them, how much they’d cost, etc.
About a day later, I got a message back from Walthers (they now own LL)…and wasn’t too happy with what I read. The message claimed that since LL is moving, they had no idea what parts they’d be getting in, and were unable to help me.
When I read that, my BS-meter went off the scale! I talked with people at several local hobby shop owners, and they all said that LL is not moving anywhere, and that Walthers was just using that as an excuse.
So who would know better if Life Like is moving to Walthers, the owner Walthers or someone in a hobby shop? Maybe Walthers is moving the LL parts to their warehouse, who knows. That way they could distribute them through their existing system to shops and individuals. I would assume that Walthers knows what they are doing.
Maybe Walthers should have made sure thay could service LL’s cutomers before they moved parts and "nobody knew where they were? Seems like bad business to me.
Even if Walthers is not physically moving LL inventory, they may not be able to answer you questions yet.
Have you ever bought a big box of stuff at an auction? Big box, lots of stuff. Then somebody comes up to you and wants to know if they can buy a dohicky out of your box. You don’t even KNOW if you have a dohicky yet. Same thing. Walthers is buying LL, but until they have everything settled, they won’t know what parts they have to sell. All that inventory will have to be re-inventoried for Walthers, and that takes a lot of time.
Be patient. Write them back after a while and see if they can help you out. Also, check with you LHS. Maybe they can help out, too. You might also find a used E7 on eBay that can be scavenged for parts.
Tom, not to be too harsh, but it’s likely not all Walthers’ fault.
A few months ago (before the purchase announcement), I purchased an A/B Erie-Built set, which arrived with a damaged rear-end on the B-unit. I can probably fix it, but I called LL to see if a replacement shell was available. They said at that time that they weren’t sure if/when they would have any in-stock, even from different roads.
My point is, as a major manufacturer, I doubt that LL would have been for sale unless it had some kind of problems. Perhaps distribution/stock was one of them, and Walthers is simply trying to fix things.
I’ve been through a company merger, it sometimes goes smoothly, sometimes not. I suggest that you don’t form an overarching opinion based on one experience.
I had a bent bell wire for the 2-8-8-2 I bought. I asked for a replacement MONTHS ago. I got a letter telling my parts request were canceled and that I would have to contact Walthers.
I too made a request to Life-Like a couple weeks ago regarding getting replacements for those dreaded cracked axle gears. My response was …
Quote: Hi Mark, As you may not know Wm.K.Walthers purchased life-Like about three weeks ago, and at this time we can not help with your parts request for replacement wheel sets for your locomotives. I’m told that it is going to take about 6 more weeks before we can take care of part request on Life-Like products. With that said (sorry), but could you please e-mail us back the end of September with your request, and I hope that we can take care of your parts request at that time. Thank You! Sincerely, Mike Fedderly Wm.K.Walthers/Parts Dept.
So, I think the thing to do now is just be patient and wait till the dust settles and all the parts are accounted for. I’m sure Walthers will honor the replacement issues once everything is organized.
I called Monday and got basically the same story. The person at walthers wasn’t volunteering much information.
I asked him what I am suposed to tell people that want me to repair their loco.
I don’t want to tell them to wait for parts and find out they aren’t available. Or should I tell them to just throw it away and buy another brand.
Does anyone know if a wheel assembly from any other manufacturer will fit a L/L SD7 truck?
First the easy part - If you have split axle gears Athearn part number 60024 is a direct replacement - actually better quality than Lifelike- Horizon hobbies has them in stock.
Also you can get parts from North West Short Lines - wheels, gears etc.
Now Lifelike didn’t make anything . It was all made overseas, in batches and not all parts are available at all times. Lifelike had a very small staff - my guess they just dumped what they had in boxes and shipped it to Walthers. It is going to take time to sort it out and get a system in place to handle things. For now - just chill.
And so passes the absolute, bar none, best spare parts department and policy the model railroading world has ever seen.
I sure am glad I ordered a ton of parts three months ago. I would have never gotten those second release 2-8-8-2 tenders put together otherwise.
I will always wonder if all the other manufacturers didn’t get together and foster this change just to stop their awful practice of giving away unlimited spare parts. I for one will surely miss them.
Instead of dealing with Walthers, try phoning LifeLike direct at their 800 number. I don’t know offhand what it is, but it should be listed on any of their product literature.
I have phoned LifeLike several times in the past and always received excellent, courteous, helpful, and FREE replacement parts help from them.