MTH E-9 units. Anyone had this particular problem? Any easy solutions that worked to fix it?

Or you can look to one end that clearly may be shorter and only peel back one end, and than re-glue.  Trim if necessary.  G

I would send it to mth. No reason this engine should be like that

Put it in the freezer and it will shrink back down but once it warms up again it will pop out. Maybe you turn the AC all the way down. You just have to pop it off and and reposition it. its not too long its just installed slightly off

What G said

I had to fix the walk ways on the SD40-2. Its the same problem I just gentle pulled up one end all the way to the bulge then put back down starting from the good end, may have to use some contact cement. The walk ways where the right size just not putdown in the right place. Some heat may loosen the glue's grip.

Makes no sense to send it back to MTH for something little like this.  If you can't make a simple repair, like this, you don't belong in O.

Yep, I sure wouldn't let UPS play throw the package on the conveyor for a simple fix as this.

 

    Bill T

Hey, Lee

Please feel free to ship this B-unit back to us and I will take care of it.

Thanks

Pat

PATRICK'S TRAINS

 

It's more of the principle of it.  Spending a lot of money and receiving it like that.  Make the company that did a half job on it fix it

Nothing exciting here. This has been an issue with these molds since day one. The problem is the metal grill expands more than the plastic shell does. If the grill is glued to the shell at both ends, it pops in the middle. Pop the grill loose at one end and leave it so it can slide back a forth a little. Put a drop of CA where the bump is to hold it in place and let the other end float in the slot.

 

Chris

LVHR

Its better to use a clear tacky glue on those as it dries and stays somewhat flexible. CA dries hard and brittle. Lift 1 end loose and reglue with something flexible. This is Lee we are talking about... he can McGuyver anthing

I believe these screens are installed with tabs and slots.  Generally the slots in the body are wider than the tabs on the screens, allowing the screens to expand and contract naturally.  If the tabs were pressed in tightly, they will not allow for any horizontal screen movement.  This should fix the problem.  If not, some CA glue used sparingly will.

 

Sending simple repairs like this back to MTH will only slow the process down for everyone.

 

Good luck!

Thanks everyone.  

 

PATSTRAINS - no need to repair it.  Its a minor thing, not worth even putting it back int he box for.  

 

As as stated so well by Keith above, "If you can't make a simple repair, like this, you don't belong in O."   Truer words were never spoken.  I was just curious what methods others have used.

I had the same issue with my Weaver e8's.

I routinely chop up locos to make something else but to say 'If you can't do a simple repair like this you don't belong in 'O'. Give me a break!!!

Indeed!! This may be a comfortable repair for many of us, but we (LHS) have customers that their money is as green as the next guy's, but their confidence to repair an expensive, beautiful item like this themselves is near-nada.  And, so, I agree with Pat (Patrick's Trains)...that's why we LHS's are here....to help solve these 'little' dilemmas.  It is, BTW, a fairly easy fix.

 

I would probably need all ten toes and ten fingers to count the number of times we received this F-grill issue when Athearn first released their HO Genesis F-series locos many moons ago.  Yep, I'm sure changes of temperature during the long journey from China, trucking across country in the dead of winter or baking in summer heat, etc., had a lot to do with the buckling.  But, lately it's not so prevalent/problematic. 

 

The last thing I would EVER do is discourage someone from being in this hobby for not having certain skills taken for granted by others.  This hobby has been a 70-year learning experience for me.  I've not mastered every problem (mostly electronic in nature), but it is not because I haven't been offered the chance to be educated.  For some things I have excellent go-to friends with those star-studded pointy hat-wand-cape skills I have gladly chosen to defer. 

 

Y'all come.

 

KD

 

 

Another reason Pat's Trains is good to deal with

Not to mention, accidents do happen.

  Not MTH, but the few out of box problems I've encountered that I was willing to fix, I contacted the warranty dept. and at least lined up a replacement part, and confirmation of it being OK to proceed without voiding the warranty, incase things do not go smoothly. Bachmann actually sent the parts free that day, by air, before the repair even started. They were not even needed, they didn't want them back, so the parts are in the parts box now. 

This is a common issue with HO scale E8 / 9 units with stainless grills.  I use double sided Scotch tape trimmed to fit the contact side of the grill, and re-apply.  Boom - problem solved !

Well, I am one of those guys. I have some skills. I was able to figure out why my S3 was derailing in one spot and was able to fix it. I can usually dope out electrical issues. However, precision work is a victim of age and health. 

 

If I had been the one to make this post, the variations in the responses (use CA/don't use CA, tack it all down/leave one end untacked, tabs?) would make me wary. If I screw it up, it is screwed up for good. 

 

I would rather be a happy chicken than a sad hero.