LionChief Plus Diesel Problems

I personally don't own any LC+ loco's, but if I did, being an operator, I'd run them. Especially in the first year while they're under warranty.

No Problems

As Penn-Pacific said, run them while they're new.  I have the B & O switcher and the Contrail E-33.  I have only run them for less than fifteen minutes each, as I purchased them only a month or so ago.  So far they have performed as expected.  The E-33 did show a minor glitch however a few minutes out of the box.  I powered it up and it ran perfectly.  Then I turned the track power off along with the remote.  When I powered it up about a minute later, it went right into operational mode without the remote turned on yet.  It hasn't repeated the anomaly since.  

So far I really like them.  The idea that I can run more than one locomotive on the same track independently simplifies things greatly.  

Dan Padova posted:

he idea that I can run more than one locomotive on the same track independently simplifies things greatly.  

Dan, we do that all the time with TMCC/Legacy and DCS stuff.

Why aren't you running them?  Are they still under warranty?   If there is something wrong send them back to Lionel.

No problems with my two GP-7s

Better run the snot out of 'em while they're still in warranty.  Then if they break it's on Lionel.

Pete

There will be little or no market for mint in the box, unrun LionChief or Lionchief Plus locos in our lifetime, so you might as well run them.  If you go to sell them, the buyer will want to know that they run, and if the buyer receives them in non-operational condition, you'll have a return on your hands and an annoyed buyer.  So get your  money's worth by running them now.  There are only a handful of people having problems, and they've sold tens of thousands of these in all likelihood.  Yours are likely fine.

Of my four LionChief + locos (one steamer, one electric, two diesel), I've had zero problems.  That's typical of purchasers from what I've read and heard.  Don't mistake a few lemons for a pervasive problem.

They are fairly cheap at the discount stores, for what they do. Run  the wheels off them if they break in warranty send them back if they break after the warranty throw em in the garbage and buy a new one and keep running the wheels off them, thats what they are made for

Bob,

I purchased the LCP Santa Fe FT's two weeks ago.  The first sets' features ran great- except the A unit wouldn't move at all.  Checked all wires and switches, nothing loose or apparently wrong.  The folks at Mario's were good about swapping it out.  Mario tested the new one before shipping it back.  Works like a champ.

I agree with all the comments.  I also like running more than one on the same track, not to mention not having to worry about DCS issues.  I love the DCS stuff-when it works.  Lionchief Plus also...

Jerry

It seems this topic of the motor/drive train problem has really taken off in the last few weeks.  Is this effecting only one particular model?  And has anyone actually identified what the problem is?  On the forum here from the threads I've seen there are only a couple of reported cases, but one person had several engines with the same problem.  

All I have for experience is my LC+ NW2 that I've used for most of my testing of the LC+ system.  This engine has somewhere around 100+ hours running on it and is working in like-new condition at the moment.  I also put A LOT of stress on the gear box and motor when testing the pulling force and voltage requirements of the engine, loading it down to a stall at various track voltages.  As a note over about 14VAC the wheels would crawl up and derail before stalling.  

I guess the question is, with these problem engines, is there an actual design flaw in the gear box, or is it a quality control issue with improperly made parts?  And in either case, just how wide spread is the problem?  

As others have said, I believe in running these engines.  They are not collectors items, they are fairly low end toy train engines.  

JGL

Thanks John, this was the first post that actually addressed my question in detail.  I read recently that there is a drive-shaft bearing that is made from nylon or plastic that may be causing the  trucks to lock up.  I will be running mine, but it comes down to their order in the line-up.