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I bought an MTH Commodore Vanderbilt from an estate auction, Stout Auctions.   I  "won" the auction.  A couple of weeks later the loco arrived- and ("surprise!!") it was BRAND NEW, never run, and built in the early '90's (Proto 1).  I put it on the rails, it would not run- smoked like an SOB, but would not move.  

So, I found that the drive wheels were breaking up, cracking, defective metal somehow.  It needed a new lower chassis assembly- the only way MTH sells the drive wheels.  And worse- no parts available, from MTH or anywhere.

I wrote Mike Wolf for help in locating the part- not expecting warranty service, just hoping for help in buying the part.  Then- WOW!!- day before yesterday- the chassis came via FedEx.  Unbelievable!!!  

It is my first MTH- but it won't be my last.  I am going to Stockyard Express today to buy another MTH.

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The Stout Auction Co. contacted me after seeing the post.  They said that they were happy that there was a resolution, but would have gladly made this right had I contacted them.  That their policy was in cases where they missed such a defect, they always offer a return for the money paid.   

I never contacted them, because I wanted to try and get the locomotive up and running.   But they seem like an upstanding outfit also.

Mike Wyatt posted:

 I put it on the rails, it would not run- smoked like an SOB, but would not move.  

So, I found that the drive wheels were breaking up, cracking, defective metal somehow.

It is my first MTH- but it won't be my last.  

Sounds like an odd conclusion. 

Hope your new chassis works out better than the old one. I'm sure it will. Interesting that there are still those old chassis units hanging around in the parts bins. Glad things worked out.

Mike, 

Just recently I had a very special MTH tech who has some close ties with MTH,  try to locate a drive block (chassis assembly) for me to a Hudson # 20-3059-1 and unfortunately for me there was no block available. The flange on R-3 driver was bent/cracked and Midge sent an e-mail back saying that she regrets to inform me that she couldn't help out. I want to again thank that tech for his help and he knows who he is because he always goes above & beyond. But, I'd also would like to say that anyone on the forum who may have a drive block available, to please contact me on my e-mail, located on my profile. Mike you were blessed to have that part available to you. Glad to hear that your loco has gotten a new lease on life. Enjoy!

     Steam Forever

          John

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