The latest Zinc pest discovery

WOW, 50 cars!  That's a bummer Ben, I guess the likelihood of Atlas making good on those is pretty minimal.  Is it only the center beam you have to replace?  I guess it's good that at least the part is available, not like the Lionel JLC GG-1 sideframes!

I own about 25 of those cars & I'm afraid to look. Is it possible to show a photo of one of the worst examples?

You had to pay for a classic defective product parts replacement?  They were not gratis?  Why wouldn't  such a problem be subject to manufacture's recall.  I seem to remember these hoppers had this problem years ago.  I have seen them at train shows for give away prices.

Considering their heavy weight what do you use to pull a string of these cars?

Looks like a product for a 3D printer.

Here is a question, but it may have already been answered. Could a person save that center beam by removing it, and then saturating it with some type of super glue that would soak in and stabilize the part? Just trying to think of a way to minimize the replacement cost.

Jeff

I think many people have tried to rescue zinc pest affected parts, I don't know of any that have succeeded.

I checked 6 of mine & I didn't notice any issues. The whole car is diecast. I would still like to see a photo.

ironman1 posted:

I checked 6 of mine & I didn't notice any issues. The whole car is diecast. I would still like to see a photo.

Thats not the same car  You have the fishbelly hopper if its all die cast  These are the 55 ton two bay hoppers

Someone here told me to send my RB trucks back to Atlas for replacement. I even emailed them first to get an RA. I sent them in and never heard another word. I could have at least used the wheel sets in a scene!

 I think the importers won't stand behind defective metal castings unless they fail right away. Maybe not even then?

Engineer-Joe posted:

 I think the importers won't stand behind defective metal castings unless they fail right away. Maybe not even then?

And of course, zinc pest never happens right away!

FWIW, MTH stood behind the RK PRR Torpedo tender casting dying of zinc pest, they replaced it many years after the release.

OK, to advoid a shark attack, stay out of the eater.

So, to advoid zinc rot, stay awsy from zinc.

Thetr should be other alloys thatno not self destruct!

Here are some pics of what I mean  I wasnt aware of the problem until I removed one of the center beams

First here is the car upside down after a replacement  I havent put all the underside detail back on yet

This is a brand new center beam  Those raised round things on both sides are what the trucks are mounted to

This is what was originally broken  The little round thing was on the center round circle but broke off and detached the truck

This is whats left of two center beams that I took off  Look at the castings  You will see little hairline cracks in the pieces that arent apart already

mowingman posted:

Here is a question, but it may have already been answered. Could a person save that center beam by removing it, and then saturating it with some type of super glue that would soak in and stabilize the part? Just trying to think of a way to minimize the replacement cost.

Jeff

I dont think that would work as the castings are cracked right through not just on the top

I have no pest on my PRR circle keystone or Berwind (BWCX and NRBX reporting marks) 55 ton hoppers.  However, I have noted zinc pest on a pair of C&O 55 ton hoppers.  The center beams and truck mounts seem okay and the pest is on the bottom bay doors and the bars that connect them.  Both C&O hoppers have the problem.

I think that picture tells the story Ben, talk about destruction!  What does Atlas nick you for the beams?

Wow, that is unbelievable! As mentioned earlier I believe the cars I have are the full diecast Fishbelly Hoppers & I haven't spotted any issues with the ones I've checked.

Thanks for sending the pictures. That's a shame. I sure hope Atlas makes good on your investment.

Good luck,

Joe

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I think that picture tells the story Ben, talk about destruction!  What does Atlas nick you for the beams?

The beams are 9.95 each  

This is the car in question  Its a plastic body car with plastic add on parts  The center beam and hopper doors are the only die cast parts

Until we get away fro China this will continue. This is why China made products are less expensive. They may meet our designs but simply do not use materials of equal value. Atlas, Lionel and MTH can trace the product run and should offer no charge replacements. 

This is a Zinc question unrelated to the hoppers. Is it possible for zinc to corrode when stored in high humidity areas but not be zinc rot. My early MTH steamer has a spot that has slight corrosion. no where else. Im assuming its a zinc blend and not pure zinc.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Engineer-Joe posted:

 I think the importers won't stand behind defective metal castings unless they fail right away. Maybe not even then?

And of course, zinc pest never happens right away!

FWIW, MTH stood behind the RK PRR Torpedo tender casting dying of zinc pest, they replaced it many years after the release.

Unfortunately, IIRC MTH did not stand behind the zinc-pest issue with the couplers on some of their premier passenger cars from '99-01 that disintegrated after the 1 yr warranty.  Rather they offered to sell replacement couplers that cost IIRC $25 per pair which added up if you had 4 or 5 car sets to replace.