Williams Peter Witt Zinc Rot

No issues with mine, granted I haven't really run it a ton but I've put maybe 2 hours total on mine since buying it at York in April, very well done little car. Very happy I bought it. Even more so this one seems to run cool and not overheat like many (but not all) of my other Williams locos.

No issues with the trucks but I remember the display model I saw at York, at the vender booth I purchased it, had a chunk out of the side frame missing. Didn't think much about it at the time. I've seen a photo or two from one of the dealers with a similar chunk missing (perhaps same dealer and car for their website, don't remember).

Interesting to hear that.  I hadn't heard mention of any zinc rot issues with these until I received mine.  I thought it was maybe just rough shipping broke the side frames, but I couldn't even operate the model because the truck bottom was so eaten away and crumbled.  I sent Bachmann a note about it when I ordered the new trucks to see if they had heard anything, but never got a reply.

You may be on your own. Bachmann is generally unresponsive to customer emails. I purchased an SD-70 last year. The True-Blast Plus sound card failed right away, and Bachmann wouldn't even respond.

I see a lot of zinc rot on repairs that come into the train store where I work. Mostly modern era production.  But every once in a while, I will see postwar Lionel castings that swell up with zinc pest and disintegrate.

Call Bachmann and wait on hold to talk with a tech.  Can't guarantee that they'll make it right, but they do eventually answer the phone.  When I had an issue on another WBB item, the tech was knowledgeable and helpful.

If no luck with Bachmann, contact Frank Vacek through the TCA directory.  He worked for Williams and has some castings.  I was able to get some FM side frames that failed due to zinc rot.

Thanks for the tips guys.

Like I said, I did get a pair of new trucks ordered from Bachmann and installed.  It's working correctly now, I was just curious as to how I had never heard of this being an issue with these until I took mine out of the box.

I have a lot of Williams freight cars and engines, most are pre-Bachmann and i have never had any problem with the truck assemblies.

However most of the new stuff, Bachmann included, is made in China and the standards for quality are very low.

Lee Fritz

I had a lionel GG1, JLC version where the trucks just crumbled.  Sad situation.  Not much you can do about it other than replace it and hope that replacement part doesn't crumble away also.

John Hon posted:

" Sad situation.  Not much you can do about...".

Yes, truly sad indeed. But which is sadder. That it's happening or the attitude of model railroaders, "that's the way it is today and nothing can be done about it"?

Obviously if we as a hobby have come to accept such flawed products from manufacturers that's likely what they'll continue providing. After all, no need for them to improve QC when their marketplace willingly accepts a lack of it! 

For info on the process:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc_pest

Thanks for your input.  I've had some minor issues with the problem from other manufacturers, but this is a first from Williams (for me).

If you have any problem with a Bachmann item call them by phone, it gets the best results, talk with somebody, don't leave a message. Some of the email gets overlooked or not looked at.

Lee Fritz

Its a shame that the quality control has dropped to the point where we see this issue again in model trains.  Lionel and others figured this out decades ago. Dont see many postwar trains having zinc pest.  From my understanding, the amount of impurities in the metal are what determines if the casting does this or not.  Mike

artfull dodger posted:

Its a shame that the quality control has dropped to the point where we see this issue again in model trains.  Lionel and others figured this out decades ago. Dont see many postwar trains having zinc pest.  From my understanding, the amount of impurities in the metal are what determines if the casting does this or not.  Mike

It's not just the amount of impurities(that is very important too) in the metal but also how hot(what temperature) your metal gets up to. Also is the cleanliness of the metal vat and how clean the molds are that are being used. There are many factors about melting or smelting metals and allows, however cleanliness and temperature are 2 main factors.

FYI; my dad was a metallurgist with Carpenter Steel, so that is why I know a bit about metal work.

Lee Fritz

I pulled my Peter Witt off the shelf and put it on the layout last night. The other thread on MTH Zinc Pest made me curious about the items I had. I flipped my Williams Peter Witt over - the trucks are noticeably cracking. I don't think it will take long. The photos don't do the full justice here. I purchased this car brand new from Trainworld at York last April 2016. 

for what these things cost,the manufactures should address this asap,and offer to fix any,,in this day and age this is shameful

Just looked at mine. Front truck has nothing, but the rear truck is starting to look like the above pictures.

Should it not be covered by Bachman's warranty policy??

I bought a Bachman DCRU from a vendor w/o instructions and Bachman e-mailed me instructions within 24 hours with a nice note.  Good service to me.