kanawha posted:Bryan,
I doubt if you will find a NOS JLC H7 at a great price. It's over 12 years old so the better discount dealers sold them out long ago. Most likely a dealer with an old, never used engine still has it because he didn't want to discount it, and still doesn't want to discount it off MSRP. Your best bet on better pricing is a used one from ebay, a train show, or an auction. With the Legacy version in the marketplace now I wouldn't pay over $700 - $800 for the JLC version in good to excellent condition.
The downsides of what I found in my JLC H7 were:
- 2 chuffs/rev (fixed this)
- anemic smoke unit which I've rebuilt several times (rarely run smoke at home)
- it leaps to the first speed step too quickly especially for an engine with such small drivers. I've found that problem in most Odyssey engines especially the C&O F19 which has large diameter drivers.
- Replacing the traction tire on the rear engine is an adventure. The wheel with the traction tire is behind all the valve gear. You have to remove most of the running gear to get to it.
I would imagine the Legacy version fixed all those issues except for the traction tire replacement.
Ken
Thank you for your response it helps put things in perspective for me. on viewing the legacy mallets my only hangup is that I really like the vandy tender and I don't think that was offered with a legacy engine? ..I am liking the looks of the usra 6-11299 though..i had a chance for one of these at $600. nos, is see now I should have grabbed it.
