westonman Posted June 29, 2016 Share Posted June 29, 2016 Hi all, i have read about Hornby class 31s suffering from chassis metal fatigue,Doe!s anyone know which model numbers were affected and which ones to avoid.ThanksBob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffnut Thorston Posted June 29, 2016 Share Posted June 29, 2016 Not the class 31s, but some BR 9f 2-10-0 loco chassis are also affected with the zinc pest / rot.... But no replacements available from Hornby! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TATICMOOR Posted July 2, 2016 Share Posted July 2, 2016 I had the original DCC Ready "Durch Livery" Class 31 loco. Due to the way the chasis' are made mine broke at one bogie area after the main central chassis body on the two outer edge joints. I still have the body but I can't get the correct chassis as the buffer beam sides are slightly different from the Green Livery version that was released at the same time. Though one of these would fit my class 31 body I would made the cosmetic changes needed, if it wasn't for the chassis' being prone to breaking. Anyway If any one is looking for inner spare parts for this class, I would be able to assist you for the parts you need. As for Westonman's question, I would say it affects all of the locomotives in is Class and another classes that have this Metal Chassis: [CAB]=[bOGIE AREA]=[MOTOR DCC PCB AREA]=[bOGIE AREA]=[CAB] the question marks are the left and right hand metal chassis struts that are prone to breakage, if you can understand my bold type diagram. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TATICMOOR Posted September 2, 2016 Share Posted September 2, 2016 I had the original DCC Ready "Durch Livery" Class 31 loco. Due to the way the chasis' are made mine broke at one bogie area after the main central chassis body on the two outer edge joints. I still have the body but I can't get the correct chassis as the buffer beam sides are slightly different from the Green Livery version that was released at the same time. Though one of these would fit my class 31 body I would made the cosmetic changes needed, if it wasn't for the chassis' being prone to breaking. Anyway If any one is looking for inner spare parts for this class, I would be able to assist you for the parts you need. As for Westonman's question, I would say it affects all of the locomotives in is Class and another classes that have this Metal Chassis: [CAB]=[bOGIE AREA]=[MOTOR DCC PCB AREA]=[bOGIE AREA]=[CAB] the question marks are the left and right hand metal chassis struts that are prone to breakage, if you can understand my bold type diagram.Oops, excuse the typos and as for bold type diagram I mean EQUAL symbols. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarabuses Posted September 25, 2016 Share Posted September 25, 2016 The class 31 models affected are R2413, R2420 and R2421. Later models are ok.I just found my R2420 with this problem. I was trying to remove the body to install a decoder and the chassis would not come away when I undid the 4 screws. It had swollen up against the body sides. I then noticed cracks on the four corners of the body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Occasional Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 I can confirm R2421 and R2420 both suffer mazak rot - My R2421 (Dutch) went in 2012, however my R2420 collapsed on me today (24/10/16)!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VESPA Posted October 26, 2016 Share Posted October 26, 2016 Funny how this was not sorted out by Hornby and the Chinese makers!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazzler down under Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 Add royal scot R2629 to the list of contaminated locos, I was about to buy the iniskilling fussilers last week brand new in the box and upon inspection it also had a rotted chassis. Not sure of the r number Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rcik Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 Hi. Would anyone know if it possible to get the buffer beam sides, referred to above by 2000MAN, as a seperate part? I have replaced the chasis on 31110 after it suffered from Mazak rot, but the new chassis whilst being great, doesn't have the side edges to the buffer. On the original 31110 chassis, the side beams are part of the main chasis and not detachable as far as I can see. Looking at the Hornby class 31 service sheet, there looks to now be a seperate part but is has no reference. If anyone has any ideas, any advice would be great to receive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazza 597 Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 i have a R2420 class 31 and the chassis ends have broken off. can any one tell me what hornby are doing about this problem /recall /replace / exchange / repair for free ?????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atom3624 Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 Welcome to the forum. I would try contacting Hornby directly. There are other options.If you want a chassis, look here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313.TR8.TRC1.A0.H0.XHornby+Class+31+chassis.TRS0&_nkw=Hornby+Class+31+chassis&_sacat=0 If you want to get it running, I would look at the replacement good chassis ASAP - or consider selling for parts - people have done this. It's a relatively old locomotive now, even if one of the premium models, so storage can be critical.I doubt if there's much assistance but you never know. Al. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NWR-Gordon-4 Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 but some BR 9f 2-10-0 loco chassis are also affected with the zinc pest / rot.... I know I am replying to a nar 4 years old thread, but which Hornby Class 9F models are affected by this chassis rot? Made in GB or China models? After reading this, I am worried about my Hornby Murdoch model. GNR-Gordon-4 (HF) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modelnut19 Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 Chassis rot is a sporadic problem that has affected models made by several manufacturers.For Hornby, early China made Class 31s (as mentioned by a previous correspondent), some China-made Patriot / Royal Scot models and some of the first 2009 T9s. I have personal experience of this but Hornby customer service were very good providing I could give them the precise model reference in each case (the unique one on the sticker on the instruction sheet included in each box, not just the R number). Hornby do not have a bottomless supply of spare chassis and they still need to make a profit despite failings by a previous management! There must be a cut-off date for them.Apparently some of the early Heljan Class 47s suffer from it as well.I have also see 1980s tender-drive Liliput A4s and Flying Scotsmans with it.I understand it is all down to qulsaity contol of the alloy making process. Impurites lead to expansion and cracking. Dampness and high humidity make it more likely to occur. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NWR-Gordon-4 Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 So whether or not a locomotive gets chassis rot or not, comes down to the lcocomotive being stored propery? My locomotives are boxed and stored in a dry cupboard when not being used. GNR-Gordon-4 (HF) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 I don't believe storage makes any difference. I had a Class 31 that was looked after perfectly and it cracked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffnut Thorston Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 It is the China made models that have suffered from contamination of the mazak mix used for die cast parts. Chassis blocks and bogie frames are common failures. We have had at least two 9f locos affected. In the end, we used Margate made chassis blocks to replace the China made Tender Drive models that were affected. Some times the metal just swells, and bits fall off... It's a chemical process, and there isn't really anything that can be easily done to stop it. Storage conditions are not really revelant. It is not a new problem. A lot of early die cast models, etc, have the problem, as it wasn't fully understood at the time. War time developments produced a more detailed understanding of the chemistry of Mazak castings. Post war, there was a great improvement in the quality of the metals used. That said, some late 1960s - early 1970s Tri-ang Hornby Synchrosmoke units suffered from swelling and going brittle, so bits fell off. One of the "Railway Children" set "Jinty" Locomotives we have suffered from an exploding smokebox, due to the smoke unit swelling, and breaking the plastic body. We have a few of the affected smoke units, so it wasn't just the one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NWR-Gordon-4 Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 Thank you for the information, Sarah. 😀 Oh. This is not great to read. I would hate it if this happened to my Murodch. ou mentioned our were Tneder drive, so older models. Murodch is locomotive drive and uses the Class 9F tooling from the Hornby RailRoad range. GNR-Gorodn-4 (HF) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffnut Thorston Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 The Mazac problems are not limited to tender drive models. Though we have, so far, not had any problems with loco drive, Railroad, 9f locos, there have been other loco drive models with problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NWR-Gordon-4 Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 Thank you for the information, Sarahagain. 😀 The more I read this thread, the more I am getting worried! 😆 Where would I get a new chassis block for Murdoch if it happened and what are the signs of the rot? What does the rot look like? GNR-Gordon-4 (HF) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modelnut19 Posted February 3, 2020 Share Posted February 3, 2020 I would not get too worried at this stage. So far, I have only known of one 9F that had problems in my circle of friends. Since Evening Star has been made for decades and black 9Fs are also common, if your Murdoch does have problems then a spare chassis should be reasonably easy to locate.Mazak degradation is just one of things that we have to be wary about. It does not affect every loco of the same type. It occurs in particular batches made from the same metal alloy mix.I know that some of the early 2000 Class 50s also had a problem but not all.My comments on storage conditions are based on what very experienced people I know in the TTRCA (Trix) have reported. Having said that, if a loco is going to deteriorate, it can be kept unused in its box from new and still crack. A collector my brother knew had a Class 31 that cracked the end cab without ever leaving the box. Back in 2015, by agreement with Hornby, it was returned and they kindly gave him a credit note because he could give them the batch details from the instruction sheet of the model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NWR-Gordon-4 Posted February 3, 2020 Share Posted February 3, 2020 Thank you for the information, Modelnut19. I have never run into this problem, hence the reason for my questions. How old was the Class 31 that was sent to Hornby Hobbies, in return for a credit note? Was it a recent release around that time, back in 2015? GNR-Gordon-4 (HF) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modelnut19 Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 The Class 31 we returned dated from 2005 but had never been out of its box. The tissue paper still wrapped the model. Hornby suffered from inconsistent quality problems on some of their models made by their Chinese supplier back in the period 2005-2009, as confirmed by the first China-made Class 31 and early T9 problems. I would like to think that the 2015 model is not affected.One model, the Class 50 Achilles from 2005, apparently also suffers. However, to date, famous last words, mine is still OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NWR-Gordon-4 Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 Thank you for the information, Modelnut19. 😉 😀 They also suffered from quality problems back in 2015 and 2016, mainly with the Thomas & Freinds products, that were made in those two years. GNR-Gordon-4 (HF) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian-348809 Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 Hello, I have just taken my Class 31 BR Blue 31270 out of a display case where it has been living since new and never ran. The chassis below both cab ends have broken and the plastic body shell at both front ends have cracked. A little disappointed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atom3624 Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 Unfortunately there were periods when poorer quality MAZAK was used by Hornby's suppliers - over time with local moisture / humidity they corroded.The alloy expands and crumbles - knock-on unfortunately is as you've seen - destroys potentially valuable bodies.All is well documented if you look.There are many 'survivors' which escaped this - different, preferable batch of the alloy.Al. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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