Lgb Mike

kim

kim

retired at last
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I'm toying with the idea of buying myself an lgb Mikado, GRS have one for sale currently. Anybody got one? Thoughts on them please with pluses and minuses, have heard that the drive can make a clicking noise due to the shaft arrangement, true/false?
Kim
 
I have a Pennsy mike, bought from someone on GScaleMad a few years ago. I think it`s quite an early one. Lovely loco.

No evidence of any clicking sounds. I did read that the very early models did have a drive train problem that had to be redesigned, but I don`t know if mine is that early. It runs very nicely.

A couple of very minor DCC niggles which I put down to it being an old factory-fitted DCC model: it won`t work on 128 speed steps but is ok on 28 (my NCE system doesn`t support 14), and although it seems to accept programming of a long address it doesn`t respond (I need to try that again, I might have had it set to 128 steps at the same time?)

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I had one of these brought to me as it was rough running. The front and back wheels were not in synch. Once the drive was realigned it was fine. As far as I know it has been OK since.
 
I've never owned one, but I do recall either hearing or reading that the early ones had drivetrain problems as Nick mentioned. Probably if you check the date that the model was first introduced, then make sure you don't buy one from that year, you'll be OK!

Jon.
 
Zerogee said:
I've never owned one, but I do recall either hearing or reading that the early ones had drivetrain problems as Nick mentioned. Probably if you check the date that the model was first introduced, then make sure you don't buy one from that year, you'll be OK!
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Yes that would guarantee not getting a duff one, however the ones with the problems were recalled and fixed so even if you get an early one it could be OK. Only if the recall was missed could there be a problem.

Nice engine by the way. Never had one myself but often considered getting one.
 
Cheers lads, I'll have to give GRS a call and have a chat with them and find the ins and outs of this particular one and whether they have run it etc.......
Kim
 
I have a Southern in gold and green. (No such Mike ever existed as I understand on the Southern. I don't care.) Magnificent locos, and simply captivating. To scale?, not so much. But fun. Great smoke and sound. Big and impressive.

As I recall, and only that and not guaranteed, the first two rood names produced in the first run, UP and ATSF, had the defective star drive on the motor shaft ends.
later ones used a u shape connector which did not slip and eventually strip under load.

I added an LGB capacitor as I run analog and like the standing sounds.

I do not overload this loco, and on the flat pull about 8-10 cars.

Given current production, but Marklins practice of not supply spares, I would be careful to buy one in top condition only.
 
Given current production, but Marklins practice of not supply spares, I would be careful to buy one in top condition only.
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Very good advice indeed. The one I bought from GRS was posted back to them the following day and I have now got a new one on order at a discounted price, with the option to cancel if it drags on to long. Delivery is 3rd quarter apparently, this year??
 
kim said:
...... Very good advice indeed. The one I bought from GRS was posted back to them the following day.......
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Dare I ask what was wrong with it, Kim...?

Jon.
 
Basically it looked like it had lived in a dirty shed Jon, put into its foam containers and then sold. It had the clicky drive, splashes of white paint on the body, the wheels were filthy, the traction tyres looked original and about to split, the smoke unit didn't work, the steam generator was missing and the skates needed replacing. All topped off with no original boxes or instruction booklet.
Kim
 
Interesting How was it described?

I am looking at a few items on their SH lists no,, i have spoken to them but not quite impressed by their info yet!
 
Checked and test run Steve. Just had an e-mail from Marklin the new Mikes will be with UK dealers in September!
Kim
 
Must admit I always prefer to buy new if possible, I have had quite a few problems with SH (As New!!) locos over the years, A Mallet which was incorrectly digitally/sound wired and covered in cement, a Rugen which had to be totally dismantled and CLEANED to make it work etc, etc

PS the above rugen was several years ago not the recent purchase!
 
With you on that Steve re new, to be fair I have done quite well on 2nd hand Moguls, different story on my Sumpters, one I have had to rebuild the gearboxes and fitted Massoth, the other is ok.
Kim
 
As it turned out Steve the refurb of the Sumpter was a dream to do, parts from Germany and the most important part was the gearbox bottom plate. The recess for the axles have a flat part that pushes the gearing up into the motor, the old plates had worn round which looked correct at the time! You live and learn.
Kim
 
The returned loco is now back on the GRS site and amazingly it has shed £200 in the process. I have decided not to bother with a Mikado for the time being, see how the new issue ones behave.
Kim
 
kim said:
Basically it looked like it had lived in a dirty shed Jon, put into its foam containers and then sold. It had the clicky drive, splashes of white paint on the body, the wheels were filthy, the traction tyres looked original and about to split, the smoke unit didn't work, the steam generator was missing and the skates needed replacing. All topped off with no original boxes or instruction booklet.
Kim
Click to expand...
Oh heck!
Guess who might be getting this to sort out then! :( :o
 
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