Wow that was Tense, I was Shouting at the Screen “Give it a Shuggle”! 😂 A lovely Loco Indeed But a Prime Example of Why I Shall Be Sticking to DC Classics - In My Mid Teens Working PT at a Local Garage The Cars were Great to work on with Everything Accessible (Mostly), but these Days Nothing is Designed to be Repaired, Just Thrown Away and Replaced..
It looks as though Hornby took a page out of Bachmann's book with an over tight press fit gear that needn't be. Tolerances were the issue and that includes your chassis shell problem but in the end your tolerance won out. Great repair and video, Jersey Bill
The intermediate gear set appears to be a common point of failure for these Britannias. I'm trying to source a X9607 but not having any luck here in Albany Western Australia. Hornby Tech services didn't help either rather just fobbib=ng me off to second hand suppliers. I asked if the gears were the same across several models under different numbers. They didn't know...
When the owner said a clicking noise I immediately thought split gear. Very common on Mainline Warships but I have similar vintage Hornby locos with similar problems.
I have a couple of these things, a right p in the elbow to get the body off and back on again. I use DCC on my layout, and want to Install decoders into them. This highlights another bad design issue, and that is lack of space for a decoder. It's all well and good having a dcc socket and them saying it is DCC ready, but no proper thought given to make space for a decoder.
The problem stems from modern sound and light enabled decoders being bigger than those available when the model was designed and built. It’s a huge headache with Bachmann steam locos (eg. Ivatt 2-6-0). That’s why new models have the decoder socket on the tender. I’ve had to use one of the after market plug in harnesses to feed cables through to the tender to fit a sound decoder, speaker and stay alive. It wasn’t Hornby (or Bachman’s) fault. Technological progress strikes again.
This seems to be a common fault with this model. I bought a 'Robin Hood' which had the same issue. In my case it was sold as runner -which it did for all of two mins before making the dreaded whirring noise of a motor running without the gears engaging. Fortunately the seller agreed a return without argument. As I remember I had similar fun getting the body back on, though perhaps not quite such an epic as yours!😀 P.S. Love the T-shirt😁
Nice job Bill. I've 2 Brits, 70000 and 70013. Both are 'a little sticky' and seem to loosen when warmed. I may have another look but I haven't seen a gear issue - more just a little tight in certain positions - rods, 1/4-ing, etc., all good, so it's just one of those things - they're nowhere near the way yours was, and above 35mph scale they're smooth and haul well. I may have another look in the next month or so - next is to 'operate' on my Hornby Coronation coaches - particularly the Kitchen cars - they're terrible ... another story!! Al.
Please do not label me as a rivet counter, but you had a small screw (Self-Tapping) lying on the Blue mat right next to your white cloth. It rolled at some point to hide under the white cloth and then you placed your glasses over the top of where the screw was. I just wanted to draw your attention to it. A nice repair. I have heard that the splitting of the idle gear is a common problem. Martin. (Thailand) The screw counter.
Problem is they don’t produce a lot of these models long term, they might just do a batch and that’s that. So there are other no replacement to be had even if you want one, other than the secondhand market.
The central drive gear, known as the Idler gear is noted for splitting, and is the main culprit for locos lurching and clicking - and replacements arnt cheap - but Ive found a cheaper solution. The idler gear for a West Country/ Battle of Britain/ Merchant Navy to an ideal one to use. But you will need to knock out the spindle and reverse the bigger of the 2 gears - it is a simple fix for a Britannia and well worth it - its what I've done to fix Britannias.
If ever I hear a click -click-click or the loco, lurches you can bet it's a split idler gear, check the easiest stuff first, and only if you've identified the idler gear as undamaged, dont take the underneath to bits ! It's a pain to get back together.
I detest working on the more modern versions. I have managed to get Bunsen working but the design of the motor mountings is appalling and subject to Mazak rot- never again
your patience with the fiddley bits is awesome , nice fix
Wow that was Tense, I was Shouting at the Screen “Give it a Shuggle”! 😂 A lovely Loco Indeed But a Prime Example of Why I Shall Be Sticking to DC Classics - In My Mid Teens Working PT at a Local Garage The Cars were Great to work on with Everything Accessible (Mostly), but these Days Nothing is Designed to be Repaired, Just Thrown Away and Replaced..
sadly enough ! Not to mention the mass produced chinees junk ... and almost no alternatives !
Nice work Bill. Beautiful looking model, but what a tricky one to work on. As ever your tenacity and patience saw the job through.
Another satisfying repair on a beautiful model. Thanks Bill from a fan in northern California.
Wait, is there a surplus screw, where you eventually put the glasses? (Probably just an unrelated item…)
I felt your frustration. In my limited experience, my problems have often come from struggling while trying not to damage any of the detail.
Very nice model. Always a good thing when you can revive a iffy eBay purchase.
Brilliant. My you have some patience. Great repair.
Great video Bill
Looking forward to the next one
It looks as though Hornby took a page out of Bachmann's book with an over tight press fit gear that needn't be. Tolerances were the issue and that includes your chassis shell problem but in the end your tolerance won out. Great repair and video, Jersey Bill
I also feel your frustration, I to have had the same problem when fitting decoders to my 4MT's.
The intermediate gear set appears to be a common point of failure for these Britannias. I'm trying to source a X9607 but not having any luck here in Albany Western Australia. Hornby Tech services didn't help either rather just fobbib=ng me off to second hand suppliers. I asked if the gears were the same across several models under different numbers. They didn't know...
When the owner said a clicking noise I immediately thought split gear. Very common on Mainline Warships but I have similar vintage Hornby locos with similar problems.
hi Bill another great repair, this is not the first time hornby gears have failed, just not acceptable, the clowns should get a grip on quality.
I have a couple of these things, a right p in the elbow to get the body off and back on again. I use DCC on my layout, and want to Install decoders into them. This highlights another bad design issue, and that is lack of space for a decoder. It's all well and good having a dcc socket and them saying it is DCC ready, but no proper thought given to make space for a decoder.
My Brit has a Lais 8 pin which just about fits. Same pain body off/on problems like Bill
The problem stems from modern sound and light enabled decoders being bigger than those available when the model was designed and built. It’s a huge headache with Bachmann steam locos (eg. Ivatt 2-6-0). That’s why new models have the decoder socket on the tender. I’ve had to use one of the after market plug in harnesses to feed cables through to the tender to fit a sound decoder, speaker and stay alive. It wasn’t Hornby (or Bachman’s) fault. Technological progress strikes again.
This seems to be a common fault with this model. I bought a 'Robin Hood' which had the same issue.
In my case it was sold as runner -which it did for all of two mins before making the dreaded whirring noise of a motor running without the gears engaging. Fortunately the seller agreed a return without argument.
As I remember I had similar fun getting the body back on, though perhaps not quite such an epic as yours!😀
P.S. Love the T-shirt😁
Same issue as my William Wordsworth Britannia you repaired a few months ago
Nice job Bill. I've 2 Brits, 70000 and 70013.
Both are 'a little sticky' and seem to loosen when warmed. I may have another look but I haven't seen a gear issue - more just a little tight in certain positions - rods, 1/4-ing, etc., all good, so it's just one of those things - they're nowhere near the way yours was, and above 35mph scale they're smooth and haul well.
I may have another look in the next month or so - next is to 'operate' on my Hornby Coronation coaches - particularly the Kitchen cars - they're terrible ... another story!!
Al.
Thank u from the pholipines
Please do not label me as a rivet counter, but you had a small screw (Self-Tapping) lying on the Blue mat right next to your white cloth. It rolled at some point to hide under the white cloth and then you placed your glasses over the top of where the screw was. I just wanted to draw your attention to it. A nice repair. I have heard that the splitting of the idle gear is a common problem. Martin. (Thailand) The screw counter.
Saw that too.
Another great repair. Keep it up.
Ooh… that was an ominous “wait til you see what’s next”…
Nae bother fir Bill he’s aff tae the pub fir a wee scoosh😅
You sometimes wonder if they do not want you to take models apart but buy a new one when you have trouble with the old one
Problem is they don’t produce a lot of these models long term, they might just do a batch and that’s that. So there are other no replacement to be had even if you want one, other than the secondhand market.
The central drive gear, known as the Idler gear is noted for splitting, and is the main culprit for locos lurching and clicking - and replacements arnt cheap - but Ive found a cheaper solution.
The idler gear for a West Country/ Battle of Britain/ Merchant Navy to an ideal one to use. But you will need to knock out the spindle and reverse the bigger of the 2 gears - it is a simple fix for a Britannia and well worth it - its what I've done to fix Britannias.
If ever I hear a click -click-click or the loco, lurches you can bet it's a split idler gear, check the easiest stuff first, and only if you've identified the idler gear as undamaged, dont take the underneath to bits ! It's a pain to get back together.
I will stick to Lima and roco locomotive.
Should never have stopped making the gears from brass brogress I don't thing so
I detest working on the more modern versions. I have managed to get Bunsen working but the design of the motor mountings is appalling and subject to Mazak rot- never again
Looked a bit fiddly to be fair
The gear seems common on a lot of locos certainly Hornby std class 4 some std 7 some Black 5s maybe others such as patriot ......
Chaz
The too hard to fix modern hornby locomotives and there poorly designed