I'm thinking of becoming a Lionel or MTH Repair Technician. What should I do to be prepared?

Nick, hit my email.  No doubt you can pass with no problem.  Both MTH and Lionel require that one of their dealers sponsor you.  The MTH school is done by Jeff Strank and his crew of tech guys.  They do a great job and in the last day you go to the bench to work on repairs.  A very good course.  I have been to four MTH schools and started with PS-1 years ago.  Recently PS-3.  It is not a walk in the park and I do know of one  who failed the course.

 

The Lionel school is done by Mike Reagan himself with the assistance of his staff.  Mike is a fantastic instructor.  The school day is intense and has three sessions. No resting after supper, it is back to class.  Months before the school you receive a packet of all the Lionel boards and you must learn all the pinouts to each board.  Having been an MTH guy, I spent a lot of time studying the boards.  If the pinouts are not committed to memory, you will not pass.

 

I have encountered people who think those schools are a cake walk, they are not and people have failed.  After passing the schools and being certified by MTH or Lionel you will be able to obtain all your parts at a discount and have access to all the technicial information each company has. 

After 27 years of being a car radio repair technician and a train repair technician, I can offer a few comments.

-put everything in writing. Explain everything in person, and still put it in writing

-make sure you have a thick skin. People will operate things the wrong way and blame you when it does not work

-the folks who know the least about how things actually work will want the most features, the most bells and whistles, and the most complicated setups - and they will not understand how and why they are contributing to any malfunction. No matter how many times and ways you explain the facts, they will do the dumbest things and still blame you or the train.

 

Hopefully you can figure out a fee schedule that will bring return business, but still offer some level of profit.

 

good luck

Roy knows his stuff. As repair Tech you'll get all the grief and they'll still  break everything they touch.
Years ago the little shop I started my electrical career at was one of the east coast repair centers for Hoover and Whirlpool . Lady brings in a Vacuum and no matter how hard you explain that she can't run it on shag carpet at it's lowest setting ,you might as well be talking to the wall. Another lady brings in one stuffed with dog poop and wanted it fixed under warranty . She got that one back un- assembled in a box sealed with duct tape .
But the best one of all time was a window air conditioner . Guy across the street from us brings in the unit and says it's under warranty and wants it fixed. The building was so old they could only use window units and they had windows installed that tilted inward so the janitor could clean them.

A bar was put across each window unit so it would stay in place when the windows were tilted in. All except one. When the janitor tilted the window in to clean it , the A/C unit went 6 stories down into the parking lot. It's probably not good for business if your laying in the floor laughing so hard at your customer your crying but it happens.

And that idiot brought it in and wanted it fixed and under warranty to boot.
So if you do this be ready your going to find out just how stupid people can be and they'll swear up and down it's your fault.

David

RoyBoy is correct.  In trains, the last guy to touch it is the goat or hero.  Always ask who worked on it before.  I do work for Charles Ro and myself and always ask who touched it before.  North of us is a guy who flunked the school and nobody wants to look at anything he has had his hands on. It is sad but the hobby has a lot of people who think they know and do not.  On the other side of the coin this forum has some sharp guys and I read everything they post. 

 

My big complaint with people who buy these intense trains is the fact none of them read the book that comes with the engine.

Gents,

Thank you for the insight. It's very much appreciated.

 

Sincerely,

 

Nick B.

Middleton, MA

Before deciding which companies trains you plan to service you might want to check out some threads here on the support you can expect from those companies. That doesn't mean things won't change in the future but I think its safe to say that there are more frustrated MTH techs than Lionel techs right now.

 

 

Pete

Any idea on the length of the time of the course, days?

Also, what cost is involved for the training itself?

I know I would need to look into a local hotel and then decide whether to rent a car and drive or fly and then rent a car.

 

I was thinking about doing the course more for my own knowledge but then maybe I could pick up a few bucks to offset my retirement income in a few years. I will be discussing this with a few of my LHS'.

 

PRR,

I thought I read that they are (2) day courses....

When and if... I finally get the "green" light from the wifey...and most importantly from MTH....I'd probably make the drive to MTH.....company vehicle...

 

Nick B.

Middleton, MA

Nick,

 

If you find out anything more regarding the Lionel Course (length and cost) and certification, please let me know.

 

Thank you in advance,

 

There is no charge for the Lionel course itself. You are responsible for transportation, food, and lodging. There is a charge for special tools and part kits but you are not required to purchase them.

 

Pete

How long is the Lionel course?

It was three days when I took it a few years ago. Not sure if the format has been changed since then.

 

Pete

Just curious, what did it consist of?  Classroom, practical, beer at the local tavern, what?

No beer or  tavern time if you wanted to pass.  Everyone does not pass. I drove 750 miles to get there and spent some good money to stay at the host hotel.  I can drink beer anytime but can not go to Lionel school every day.   Classroom was from 8am to noon.  Classroom from 1pm to 5pm then classroom from 6pm to 8pm.  A few days of that then on the last day a 50 question test that was intense.  If you passed the test you get to go down the road to the service facility and do the practical test with one of the techs. 

The prep for the school involved many hours of studying the paperwork on all the Lionel board pinouts.  The boards cover all TMCC and Legacy.   I have a lot of schools and College under my belt but can say this was a great school and nobody but Mike Reagan could teach it any better.  I am glad I went and applied myself as I learned a lot of good information. 

 

The information and printouts we came away with are a fantastic help.  I purchased the Lionel test fixture for testing boards and I am glad I did.

Great thread and great answers.  I too am interested in this, because I enjoy tinkering and fixing model trains .  As for doing it for others, That's a tough one, for all the reasons stated.  I'm doing my first TMCC conversion on a Wabash FT for a great guy I built (still building) a layout for.  I know him and I know he's going to pay me, so it's not a stranger who may not be entirely honest.  Although this guy is a bigshot lawyer, so that actually may be an oxymoron.  An honest lawyer?...  But that being said, after I had test run every engine he had on every part of the layout and had deemed it run worthy, he said he was experiencing 'shorts'.  I came back to do some work, everything ran great.  He was still experiencing 'shorts', and he can't reach because he is in ill health, so he was getting frustrated.  Fact is he was running trains into each other, which I knew, so I got frustrated a bit myself and told him to run 1 train at a time, get the books out and learn how this stuff works.  When I came back to wire the uncouple & operating tracks, I mentioned again that he is having 'shorts' because he is running too many trains at once and crashing them into each other, lighted bumpers are missing peices, and I actually have a piece of black electrical tape holding up a dangling rod from a T-bone shot on a $ 1500 Legacy Hudson that also is chipped on it's pilot from an operator that follows the beat of his own drummer- ' ramming speed'.  So when I mentioned it to him, he said he wasn't having any collisions and got a little huffy.  I was under the layout for 5 minutes when I heard--- thunk- crash- boom.  A 'short'.  When I crawled out there were 4 trains all piled in a heap in one corner.  Which resulted in a 'short'.  Within 15 minutes I reset the breaker on the Powerhouse and rerailed trains 4 times.  Then he could tell I was po'd and left me alone so I could get some work done.  Just thought I'd share.  Even good customers can be a challenge.  Learn how the stuff works and you will have more fun.  Which I guess really, is the point of this thread after all.     

Hey nick here's some advice whatever you want to be is fine whatever system you have and/or know the must about is fine just go with what you like

So when I mentioned it to him, he said he wasn't having any collisions and got a little huffy.  I was under the layout for 5 minutes when I heard--- thunk- crash- boom.  A 'short'.  When I crawled out there were 4 trains all piled in a heap in one corner.  Which resulted in a 'short'.  Within 15 minutes I reset the breaker on the Powerhouse and rerailed trains 4 times.

 

Wow! Does that hit home for me. I have had a number of customers just like that. The thing that bothers me the most is that they cannot see how they are contributing to and causing the problem. And no matter how hard you explain, they never will. What a drag! Thanks for writing this, though. Now I know I am not alone.

I will share this experience I had over the weekend.  I finally got around to putting electrocouplers in some engines this weekend as an introduction to upgrade projects.  2 are 'Command Upgradeable' Alco C420s and 1 a Lionel Lines circa 1998 GP20.  I also have 2 1997'ish  Geeps to do.  I'm thinking couple hours on the first, then it'll be a snap for the others.  Took me all day for the first C420, wrapping up at 2 am.  Most of a day for the 2nd C420.  And when I woke up on Sunday I knew they still weren't right, but had figured out the problem.  All 4 parts of the gear assembly need to be seated in it's pocket just right.  Another half a day.  But I got em running perfectly finally! The GP 20 was half a day, and none too easy to do.  When I finally got everything in, the rear coupler fired from the F button and the front coupler not at all.  I switched the leads.  Still one coupler won't fire, this time the rear.  So I switched it back figuring something wrong with the mother board, which this first gen engine has, and I will be satisfied with the rear coupler firing from the F button.  She was running great. I moved another engine so I could give her a run and make sure all was well and I address the GP20 and now no railsounds?  She's giving me the silent treatment.

I think BoxcarBill charges $ 25  to install a pair of coil couplers.  I think I would have made about 35 cents an hour at that rate.  And now I need to send my GP20 for repair, because the fix is now beyond my scope.  This experience has made me rethink my desire to be a Lionel repair guy.  Although in the end I learned a lot.  I hope I have better luck with my next Geeps.  At least it looks like I'll be able to access the top of the trucks much easier than the GP20.  

I have a full TMCC upgrade on a Wabash FT to tackle next.  I'm charging $ 100.  I don't think I'll come anywhere close to making minimum wage on that deal.   

Being in customer service is not a panacea, as the previous stories will attest.   That's the reason I spent my working life in development, I didn't have to deal with that kind of issue.

As just a pure smarta remark, and as an answer to your thread's question, I will say, if you wish to pursue this venture, don't grow your hair Nick, because you may just end up pulling it out...

Probably want to grow a think skin as well.

William, Sounds like the R2LC may be the issue.  A blown triac on the board for one of the couplers.  You should start with the 97 GPs they are a little simplier:-) 

 

Just wait until you replace a set of $200 boards, only to find a hidden problem that blows them.  Those are the ones that keep me up.  Board bad.  Test all the known culprits, no obvious smoking gun.  So you put the new boards in and cross your fingers as you power it up.  Watching the amp meter closely.  G

I'd suggest an immediate psychiatric evaluation and pending the results of that you should be issued a sharp stick to jab yourself in the eye repeatedly.

 

Pending the results of that 2nd test, if you still want to proceed, by all means follow your dream!

G, good advice.  I would never just put in a set of boards without knowing what took them out.  It is extra time, but time well spent to meter each wire.

Trouble shooting the most difficult job of the repair profession.  A good trouble shooter does well in the repair field.

Marty, how much was the test fixture when you bought it? Just curious. I have two emails into Mike Reagan regarding any scheduled classes in 2012. Unfortunately, no reply yet. I may need to see what is available for 2013.

Mike Reagan visited our office today, and among other things I asked him about the training program.  There are no classes currently scheduled for 2012.  Mike is in the process of evaluating the overall effectiveness of the earlier program and determining what might be done to make improvements that would benefit Lionel, their dealer/service network, and the end user of Lionel's products.  I'm confident more information will be forthcoming once Mike has had a chance to more fully explore and evaluate the various options under consideration.

 

He and I also hope to spend a bit of time in the near future taking field trips to some area layouts with the goal of just playing trains a bit.

Thanks Alan for the update.

 

One of my acquired talents are Field Service/National Hot Line Manager and Now WEB and Classroom based Curriculum Development. We have students take online course for when new products come out. They range from a differences WEB Based Training and Certification or a Blended Training where Theory/Specifications etc can be covered as a prereq prior to classroom training. Classroom training is then reserved for Hands on with the equipment, operation, dis-assembly and re-assembly, adjustments, firmware and solutions upgrades and installation.

 

Since I am in a different industry it is not a conflict of interest with my present employer but I am willing to discuss with Mike, if I can get in touch with him to see if I could help out.

 

Have you seen 2012 class schedule from the mth website?   The classes are coming up. 

 

July 23-24, 2012 (New Technicians)
August 20-21, 2012 (Proto-Sound 3.0 Seminar For Existing Technicians)
September 17-18, 2012 (New Technicians)

 

http://www.mthtrains.com/conte...e-mth-service-center

Thanks Lou, but was more interested in Lionel.

Dennis, The Lionel test fixture cost $100.00.  You have to pass the class before you will have the chance to purchase one.  I value this fixture and use it often.  Any questions on an R2 or R4 board and you know in seconds.  No need to spin wheels.  A board is good or bad. Use it if it is good and move on to another issue or throw it away if it is bad.  It tests several things. 

I believe that kind of thing is one of the options Mike is considering.  On-site training is a costly and time consuming proposition (travel, food, lodging, instructional time, etc.) and with the technology available today there may be faster and better ways of getting the information to those who need it.

The problem is that this is now 2 years without the school; and it is becoming detrimental to the dealers and in the long run customers.  This policy needs to be rethought.  You can't wait unit it is perfect.  Older techs have retired and newer ones cannot get trained.

 

There are qualified MTH techs with years fixing trains including Lionel TMCC stuff that can't get a Lionel certificate, access to the board tester, and discount parts.  Heck, I have helped a guy in NC that went to one of the last schools with a problem.  This is not good policy; you can't stop your process while your trying to revise it.  You need to keep moving forward.  G

Hey guys. I know this i an pld thread. Can anybody provide where to get information about becoming an Authorized Lionel and MTH Dealer and Repair Center?

Call them.

 

Dave