|
Train Buddy™ Engine Service |
| We provide the
following service on all ENGINES: |
|
Gauge and adjust all wheels per NMRA
standards. |
We gauge spacing, width and
flange depth to assure positive, and non-derailing motive power. Any
deviation in spacing is corrected and CA'd (super glued) to avoid future
movement. Wheel width and depth is noted but not corrected unless requested. |
| Gauge and adjust coupler
height, spring tension, and trip pins. |
for smooth coupling and
uncoupling operation. Unreliable operation is noted and corrected if
possible. Optional replacement of couplers is available. We have found that
Kadee® couplers provide the best performance, least maintenance, best
overall customer satisfaction and therefore use only Kadee® couplers unless
otherwise requested. We have found that you can pull more cars and up
steeper grades with Kadee®. |
|
Grease and lubricate entire mechanism. |
When we have to dismantle the
locomotive for any reason we will take the opportunity to properly lubricate
all accessible areas. This means:
- Worm gears, universal joints and truck gears with gear
lubricant. This is a gel at room temperatures.
- Wheel journals, worm gear bearings, and rods (on steam)
and motor bearings with non-conducting oil.
- Electrical connections that depend on rubbing
conductive surfaces. This includes wheel journals, wheel bearings,
springs, wipers, and truck mountings to frames and motor brush springs.
This lubricant is both grease and conductive helper. It keeps the surfaces
conducting, lubricated and clean. This is the most important lubrication
that you can do to an engine.
|
| Lubrications are of
the highest quality that we can find. We constantly research the market for
the best available and have years of exceptional customer satisfaction with
the current lubricants. |
| Adjust moving parts. |
This includes universals,
flywheels and gears. This is done to insure smooth and quiet running. Notes
will be made on any parts that cannot be adjusted. Optional replacement is
available. |
| Clean the wheels. |
Our last step to make sure that
you will get a first class job, even if the engine is brand new. |
| Suggestions are
noted but never pushed. The customer is always right. We will never replace
a part or do service except that noted above without the customer consent. |
| Additional
services available: |
| Replace incandescent light
bulbs with LED's. |
We use only commercial grade
(this is much better than you can buy at Radio Shack) ultra-bright white
or mellow bright white LED's. These are very bright and have a very slight bluish
or yellow cast. We can
lessen the brightness with a resistor or we can replace with bright yellow LED's if
you prefer. We have found exceptional customer satisfaction with the
ultra-bright white LED's that we use. We are currently able to put bright
white LED's in ANY situation. We have white LED's that are literally
smaller than the head of a pin. LED's NEVER burn out and are hundred's of
times brighter than the incandescence that come with most engines. |
| Addition of other lights |
like ditch, cab, beacon, truck,
firebox, beacon or any other light you want or can think of. These will be
associated with either the main (F0) function of the decoder on simple
function decoders or can have their own function on multi-function decoders.
Customer choice on functions when available. We have available either LED's
or incandescence in many different sizes and colors. Your wish is our
challenge. |
| Decals. |
We will number or decal engines
as appropriate. We always use the best decals available. We can make decals
to order if necessary and can hand paint where decals cannot be made (white
and yellow usually). |
| Painting. |
We will safety paint railings
and steps where appropriate with the appropriate color. All attempts to
paint will be done with a prototype picture as reference to insure
authenticity where appropriate. We use only Pactra® Racing Finish paint that
is both durable and flexible. With normal service, this paint will never
cracks or peal. |
| Sealing. |
Painting and decaling will be
sealed with a flat lusterless lacquer overcoat. We use only the best, Model
Master®, Lusterless (Flat). |
| IMPORTANT NOTE:
Decals or painting will be done with some prototypical reference where
appropriate. The obvious exception is fantasy railroads. When numbers are
applied we will research the rooster for the appropriate period and notify
you of available numbers for you to choose from. Although we can put any
number on rolling stock that you choose we get the best customer
satisfaction when we use numbers that we have prototype pictures to paint
and decal from and the numbers have not been already used in production runs
by the manufacture. This requires an amount of research that can be
expensive. Since our reputation is on the line we want to satisfy the most
discriminating rail fan yet not alienate our loyal and appreciated
customers. You may provide the information; roster, available numbers and
prototype picture, if you wish to save yourself this additional charge. We
can also do this research by itself if you just want to have it for your
engine to detail or weather. |
| Detailing. |
We can weather or detail to any
specification. We can use plastic or brass parts that are commercially
available. Again, we believe in prototypical appearance where possible.
Without a photo, either yours, or ours we will do whatever you wish, you are
the expert. |
| Assembly. |
While many models today are
ready to run, several have tiny parts that are always time consuming, and
for some challenging and even frustrating to attach. We specialize in the
assembly of these models, again, to exact prototypical reference. We will
even construct a steam engine from the kit if you wish. We enjoy the
challenge. |
| Finally, we do all these
services usually as an adjunct to our premier service of installing DCC
decoders. During installation we will: |
| Determine the most
appropriate decoder for your engine. |
We will notify you of the choice
and possibly give you more than one with attributes associated with each for
your decision. Once a choice has been made and work begins, we will
dismantle, as appropriate your locomotive and provide the all engine
services described above. Making sure that the engine is in peak physical
running condition we will begin the electrical services. |
| Test the decoder. |
This is the most important step
in our process. Any decoder we use is guaranteed to work both before and
after we install it. |
| Install lights. |
Many times we must replace the
bulbs or install resistors on existing bulbs when we install a decoder.
Since this is a time consuming process and new bulbs and resistors will be
added to the bill anyway, this is usually the best time to have us install
LED's to save on another service charge at a later date for dismantle of the
engine. |
| Program the decoder. |
This is usually just the address
but we can offer you many additional features like:
- lower, mid and upper level speed adjustments to insure
that the engine will start at "1" and will not go higher than the maximum
prototypical speed at "99". Or, if you prefer:
- adjust the speed curve to match the speed, that is,
when the throttle says 60 it is doing 60 scale mph or kph if that is your
preference.
- adjust two engines to the same speed for most throttle
settings. This is a popular option for MU or lash-ups where you have two
engines that will usually be MU'd together.
- adjust lights to match prototype. We will most likely
do this anyway if we have evidence of what it was. Like gyroscope or Mars
lights. We can create unusual lighting capabilities like "cab on when
still and F1 but off when moving" or dim (rule 17) "other" light when
going in a certain direction.
- transponding. If you want or need it.
|
| Test the decoder again |
with all CV's programmed to
insure reliable service. Without the shell and with the shell. |
| Many of our
customers have expressed great satisfaction in old and new engines after our
service. We have a way of fixing the broken and enhancing the new. If you
would like us to do any of the services mentioned above just call (919)
369-2373 or e-mail us at kparker@trainbuddy.com. |
