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Post by SantaFeJim on Dec 10, 2012 7:53:47 GMT -8
Is anybody aware of a link that will allow me to do a search for replacement parts from the Walthers web site?
I am trying to locate parts for an El Capitan car. I talked to the Walthers rep on the phone, gave him the parts numbers and he told me that the cars were all sold out and that there are "very limited" replacement pieces.
I tried to explain that the parts I need are still being used in their Amtrack Hi-Level cars and since the cars are identical (except for the paint scheme) I should be able to use the parts from those cars. My problem is that I do not have access to the exploded drawings for the Amtrack cars so I can't verify the part numbers.
Thanks in advance.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2012 8:19:12 GMT -8
Walthers usually does not carry any "replacement parts" in stock for these and most of their other products nor do they have any "links" to the parts listings.
They have been known to cannibalize damaged or returned, blemished cars cars or kits that may have some parts for replacements.
Keith Turley The Original Whistle Stop Pasadena, California
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2012 9:28:47 GMT -8
Is anybody aware of a link that will allow me to do a search for replacement parts from the Walthers web site? I am trying to locate parts for an El Capitan car. I talked to the Walthers rep on the phone, gave him the parts numbers and he told me that the cars were all sold out and that there are "very limited" replacement pieces. I tried to explain that the parts I need are still being used in their Amtrack Hi-Level cars and since the cars are identical (except for the paint scheme) I should be able to use the parts from those cars. My problem is that I do not have access to the exploded drawings for the Amtrack cars so I can't verify the part numbers. Thanks in advance. Walthers DOES NOT OFFER ANY PARTS other than warranty parts and even then they may not be able to help you......as I found out last year. I somehow lost the draft gear cover for one of my Proto by Walthers E9's and they couldn't supply the part. If you have a broken or missing part due to workmanship, there is a chance they will be able to help. If you need a part for any other reason, you are flat out of luck.
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Post by drolsen on Dec 10, 2012 11:48:27 GMT -8
Walthers DOES NOT OFFER ANY PARTS other than warranty parts and even then they may not be able to help you...... Jim - That's not completely accurate, but the problem with Walthers is that there doesn't seem to be any real set policy or process when it comes to parts. I've dealt with them over this off and on for about 15 years, and the experience has been a little different each time. I'm pretty confident in saying that they are moving away from stocking any parts on newer models, but the bottom line is that you need to contact them and ask about specific parts for the model in question. You're most likely to end up out of luck, as Jim said, but you should definitely ask. A lot of the response seems to have come down to the specific individual in the customer service or parts department over the years (i.e. there doesn't seem to be a set policy, as I said). They certainly don't believe in selling parts separately if you want them just for kitbashing or something like that, so you're probably not going to have any success asking for that (but I did once a long time ago). Back in the late '90s and early 2000s, the parts people were really great at trying to find something to help you out, and it was always free when they had parts available. That was back in the kit era, so they had more parts on hand that they could pull from. An example was the original FGE 50' RBL box car kit that initially came with the wrong style (X-panel) roof. I asked about a replacement diagonal panel roof, and asked if I could get extras for other models, and they sent me two at no charge. Around 2002-2003, I went through a bunch of problems with their early Superliners - the undecorated cars came with their windows glued in, which made it pretty challenging to paint them. I managed to pry the windows out of one car but caused major damage to the window inserts, and Walthers sent me replacement windows and diaphragms (because the tabs broke off those when trying to remove the windows). When I ran into the same problem with a second car, they ended up sending me an entire replacement car (with non-glued windows). About 2 years ago, I bought one of their recent Trinity tank cars - undecorated - and like many from the first run, the end platform had gotten smashed in the package in transit. They didn't have any of the gray undecorated parts, but they sent me black parts as a replacement (probably salvaged from a warranty return). Most recently, about a year ago, I picked up two Amtrak baggage cars secondhand that had no grab iron packages with them. I contacted Walthers, and they said they had the grab iron baggies in stock, but I would have to buy them since I wasn't the original purchaser of the baggage cars. That was fine with me - it only a cost a few bucks - but that was actually the first time I was ever able to purchase parts from Walthers. I also asked them at the time if they had any spare sides for their Budd dining car, because I was trying to kitbash a later Amtrak car with a relocated door and wanted spare sides to splice together. They replied back that they didn't have any of those parts in stock. A couple weeks ago, I emailed them about parts from one of their RTR gondola models and received no response. I'm sure they are moving towards keeping fewer, if any, parts on hand for any of their current models, and possibly salvaging parts from returns if at all possible. However, based on my experience, it's worth it to try contacting them and see if they can help. Dave
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2012 12:20:42 GMT -8
When I asked about the coupler cover, a run of E9's had just been released a month or two before and the response was nope none available. They recommended I "build one" which I finally did.
Last year I bought an A-A set of the PRR E8's for the Broadway Limited. One of the models was missing a battery box vent. I telephoned them explained what was missing, they said "they'd see if they could help me. "See if they can help me!!!!!! What a piss poor excuse is this place!!!! Thank God my dealer is my LHS. So, I got in the car and drove the 40 miles one way to the shop. My dealer photographed the unit to show the missing part and to make it easier on his rep at Walthers. Walthers basically didn't give a crap about the problem. My dealer got excuse after excuse by various people at Walthers, none of which seemed to care.
I then hit the ceiling, especially since my A-A set were sound and DCC. Even my pre-order price which was $199 per locomotive plus the "governor's cut" I had about $425 wrapped up in the models and one was missing a part!
Since my dealer wasn't getting anywhere with anyone at Walthers, I finally grabbed the bull by the horns and mailed a two page letter to Walthers. Lets just say that my words in the letter were incendiary. About two weeks later I got my tiny part. A few weeks later my dealer also got the part! Now I have spare.
All told it took nearly two months to get a resolution to a warranty issue with Walthers. After looking for parts in past and getting told "no" by Walthers and the warranty issue, I've given up.
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Post by SantaFeJim on Dec 10, 2012 13:26:13 GMT -8
I guess it is time for me to write a strongly worded letter to the Walthers Customer Service Dept with a cc to the Parts Department.
Why bother to include a detailed exploded assembly diagram with over 100 separate named and numbered parts if you do not offer/allow the customer to purchase any of the parts? That IMHO makes no sense and goes against common good business practice.
I bought the complete Deluxe addition El Capitan set at MSRP direct from Walthers for the cool sum of $1,125. In addition, I managed to to pick up 3 additional Deluxe 700 series, 72-seat Coaches on that major auction site. I did this because the "complete Deluxe Addition" that Walthers offered only came with two coaches, not five as the El Capitan used in 1956-1958. (see consist below which was taken straight from the Walthers promo for the El Capitan)
Summer 1956-58 Train #21 El Capitan Chicago-Los Angeles Summer vacation time actually meant more work for El Capitan, as demand often required additional coaches in the consist.
F3/F7 A-B-B-A Baggage (storage mail) Baggage Baggage-Dormitory (transition car) Hi-Level 68-Seat Step Down Chair Car Hi-Level 72-Seat Chair Car Hi-Level 72-Seat Chair Car Hi-Level Diner Hi-Level Lounge Hi-Level 72-Seat Chair Car Hi-Level 72-Seat Chair Car Hi-Level 72-Seat Chair Car Hi-Level 68-Seat Step Down Chair Car
All I am looking for is the end car door and tall diaphragm. I'm not asking for it free, I will pay, I just need these parts.
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Post by buffalobill on Dec 10, 2012 15:56:42 GMT -8
Jim: I also had a warranty issue with a recent purchase of a Pennsy E-8-A directly from them. When it arrived the pilot was damaged. I called Walther's, they said they had no parts for it, and could not help me. So, back it went. Don't have a Pennsy E unit. The proverbial will freeze over before I buy another Walters product that I can not put my hands on and inspect. Their customer service bites. Bill
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2012 18:08:17 GMT -8
I guess it is time for me to write a strongly worded letter to the Walthers Customer Service Dept with a cc to the Parts Department. Why bother to include a detailed exploded assembly diagram with over 100 separate named and numbered parts if you do not offer/allow the customer to purchase any of the parts? That IMHO makes no sense and goes against common good business practice. I bought the complete Deluxe addition El Capitan set at MSRP direct from Walthers for the cool sum of $1,125. In addition, I managed to to pick up 3 additional Deluxe 700 series, 72-seat Coaches on that major auction site. I did this because the "complete Deluxe Addition" that Walthers offered only came with two coaches, not five as the El Capitan used in 1956-1958. (see consist below which was taken straight from the Walthers promo for the El Capitan) Summer 1956-58 Train #21 El Capitan Chicago-Los Angeles Summer vacation time actually meant more work for El Capitan, as demand often required additional coaches in the consist. F3/F7 A-B-B-A Baggage (storage mail) Baggage Baggage-Dormitory (transition car) Hi-Level 68-Seat Step Down Chair Car Hi-Level 72-Seat Chair Car Hi-Level 72-Seat Chair CarHi-Level Diner Hi-Level Lounge Hi-Level 72-Seat Chair Car Hi-Level 72-Seat Chair Car Hi-Level 72-Seat Chair CarHi-Level 68-Seat Step Down Chair Car All I am looking for is the end car door and tall diaphragm. I'm not asking for it free, I will pay, I just need these parts. Four words - Walthers does not care......
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2012 18:37:02 GMT -8
Jim: I also had a warranty issue with a recent purchase of a Pennsy E-8-A directly from them. When it arrived the pilot was damaged. I called Walther's, they said they had no parts for it, and could not help me. So, back it went. Don't have a Pennsy E unit. The proverbial will freeze over before I buy another Walters product that I can not put my hands on and inspect. Their customer service bites. Bill As I said in a previous post, I don't think Walthers really cares. At least they don't act like they are at all interested. You call on the phone and leave messages and they are never returned. Your DEALER asks for help on parts and the request gets kicked around with NO ONE really lifting a finger. You write letters and still no response. From the my perspective I felt like I was trying to communicate with a black hole. Thought for sure Milwaukee had broken off and fell into Lake Michigan. Then if you have warranty issues you'd better be prepared to have receipts from a "legitimate" dealer. I did and still no response. My dealer or LHS does a high volume of business with Walthers. They place orders twice a week. But the warranty issue on the PRR E8 was so frustrating to the owner of the store. All he got was excuses and finally HE, the store owner, chewed his rep out about the issue. In about a couple of weeks the part showed up at the store. I nearly asked for my money back on the E8's too. I was at a point where you are so frustrated and angry at the events that the models act like a silent reminder of your inability to solve the problem.
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Post by bnsf971 on Dec 10, 2012 19:03:51 GMT -8
If it is not a fully completely assembled structure with no moving parts that I can verify every piece is in perfect condition before I pay for it, I will not buy any Walthers product. Like many others, I have gotten the Walthers two-step. My temper is the stuff of legend, so after I bought a brand new $300 turntable that was non operable out of the box, and got a "too bad, would you like to purchase another to replace it?" response, I'm pretty sure the phone in Milwaukee melted by the time I got done telling them in very plain language that they would not like it if I drove there in person to get this taken care of. Yes. From North Carolina. End result was I sent back the broken tirntable, and the replacement lasted five minutes. Never again.
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Post by diburning on Dec 11, 2012 1:52:41 GMT -8
Walthers is horrible. I have a Proto 2000 GP38-2. It would not run because of a mysterious short that I pinpointed to the front truck. I tried to disassemble the truck to see what was shorting, and broke it.
I called Walthers and asked if they had any replacement sideframes in stock. Nope, but they had entire truck assemblies for sale. Sure, I said, how much? $60. SIXTY DOLLARS? I can buy a whole new locomotive for that price! So, I looked around and found another GP38-2 of another roadname (It was only 40 bucks too!). I figured that I could swap the shells and be done. Nope. The new one had the same dang problem! Dead short! This time, I bought it brand new from a Walthers authorized dealer, so I sent it in for warranty repair. Turns out it was the motor drawing too many amps. They replaced the motor (and took TWO MONTHS to do it... compared to Athearn's repairs which take two WEEKS!) and I got it back operational. So, I swapped the shells, and it hasn't given me problems since.
The GP38-2 was a model that was released after Walthers bought Life-Like, so this is entirely a Walthers model.
And don't get me started on their stance on the Proto axle gear fiasco....
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Post by bnsf971 on Dec 11, 2012 4:35:51 GMT -8
And don't get me started on their stance on the Proto axle gear fiasco.... That w the fiasco before the turntable.
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Post by milgentrains on Dec 11, 2012 7:31:13 GMT -8
Has there been any problems with the Walthers GE U28-B loco?
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Post by scl1234 on Dec 12, 2012 10:58:21 GMT -8
^ Re: The Walthers GE U-boats. I have an L&N U30B. The gear ratio gives the loco the acceleration characteristics of a slot car (i.e. difficult to modulate). Don't expect to be consisting one of these with an Atlas or Athearn unless you want to spend time fiddling with speed tables...even then you'll likely have to deal with quirks.
As for spare parts, on the rare occasion I find anything manufactured by Walthers that I really like, I buy a pair of them...one to run, one for spare parts (it's the "Walthers way" - spread the word).
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Post by milgentrains on Dec 12, 2012 11:04:08 GMT -8
^ Re: The Walthers GE U-boats. I have an L&N U30B. The gear ratio gives the loco the acceleration characteristics of a slot car (i.e. difficult to modulate). Don't expect to be consisting one of these with an Atlas or Athearn unless you want to spend time fiddling with speed tables...even then you'll likely have to deal with quirks. As for spare parts, on the rare occasion I find anything manufactured by Walthers that I really like, I buy a pair of them...one to run, one for spare parts (it's the "Walthers way" - spread the word). Thanks SCL1234, I think I;ll pass on anything Walthers.
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Post by diburning on Dec 13, 2012 2:37:34 GMT -8
^ Re: The Walthers GE U-boats. I have an L&N U30B. The gear ratio gives the loco the acceleration characteristics of a slot car (i.e. difficult to modulate). Don't expect to be consisting one of these with an Atlas or Athearn unless you want to spend time fiddling with speed tables...even then you'll likely have to deal with quirks. As for spare parts, on the rare occasion I find anything manufactured by Walthers that I really like, I buy a pair of them...one to run, one for spare parts (it's the "Walthers way" - spread the word). Of course they take off like a slot car. The gear ratio is 5.65:1. Standard is 14:1, with 12:1 being acceptably close enough to match. The Life-Like Proto 2000 locos all had different gear ratios. To make matters worse, they compounded the gears for some really odd ratios When Walthers took over, they made it ever worse by adding helical gears making gear replacement impossible since helical gears are not standard replacement parts. Here's what I mean: GP7/9/18/20/30/60 - 12:1 SD7/9 - 14:1 SD50/60/60M - 18:1 GP38-2, RS27 - 11.3:1 SD45 - 9:1 U28B/30B - 5.65:1
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Post by milgentrains on Dec 13, 2012 6:53:38 GMT -8
^ Re: The Walthers GE U-boats. I have an L&N U30B. The gear ratio gives the loco the acceleration characteristics of a slot car (i.e. difficult to modulate). Don't expect to be consisting one of these with an Atlas or Athearn unless you want to spend time fiddling with speed tables...even then you'll likely have to deal with quirks. As for spare parts, on the rare occasion I find anything manufactured by Walthers that I really like, I buy a pair of them...one to run, one for spare parts (it's the "Walthers way" - spread the word). Of course they take off like a slot car. The gear ratio is 5.65:1. Standard is 14:1, with 12:1 being acceptably close enough to match. The Life-Like Proto 2000 locos all had different gear ratios. To make matters worse, they compounded the gears for some really odd ratios When Walthers took over, they made it ever worse by adding helical gears making gear replacement impossible since helical gears are not standard replacement parts. Here's what I mean: GP7/9/18/20/30/60 - 12:1 SD7/9 - 14:1 SD50/60/60M - 18:1 GP38-2, RS27 - 11.3:1 SD45 - 9:1 U28B/30B - 5.65:1 What are the gear ratios of the P1K models, F-3, RSC-2, RS-11?
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Post by bnsf971 on Dec 13, 2012 14:47:46 GMT -8
Of course they take off like a slot car. The gear ratio is 5.65:1. Standard is 14:1, with 12:1 being acceptably close enough to match. The Life-Like Proto 2000 locos all had different gear ratios. To make matters worse, they compounded the gears for some really odd ratios When Walthers took over, they made it ever worse by adding helical gears making gear replacement impossible since helical gears are not standard replacement parts. Here's what I mean: GP7/9/18/20/30/60 - 12:1 SD7/9 - 14:1 SD50/60/60M - 18:1 GP38-2, RS27 - 11.3:1 SD45 - 9:1 U28B/30B - 5.65:1 What are the gear ratios of the P1K models, F-3, RSC-2, RS-11? While I haven't verified actual ratios, The RS2, RS11, and RS18 I have all run at comparable speeds to my BLI diesels with no CV alterations or speed table tweaking.
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Post by diburning on Dec 14, 2012 19:39:58 GMT -8
I am not sure as to the gear ratios of other locos as I have not verified it myself. This info was taken from a post on the old atlas forums.
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Post by SantaFeJim on Dec 15, 2012 9:26:06 GMT -8
As for spare parts, on the rare occasion I find anything manufactured by Walthers that I really like, I buy a pair of them...one to run, one for spare parts (it's the "Walthers way" - spread the word).
That can get expensive real fast. Going forward, I think that I will just steer clear of Walthers products.
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