Mallard returning to Hornby for 3rd time

[Skelton Junction]

Can anyone beat this for a single loco?

I am fuming as just received it back for the second time and it just sits on the track and hums. Hornby CS knock off at 3pm so I’ve had to email my thoughts to them instead, perhaps a good thing in the circumstances as I’m discovering my goodwill threshold is getting close and wearing thin.

[Moccasin]

Is it fitted with a hm7000 decoder? I went through the unlink procedure when Flying Scotsman came back and that got it working with my app.

[Skelton Junction]

Cheers Peter. Yes tried that (twice). Just stopped short of running it under a tap and hitting it with a hammer.

[Skelton Junction]

ggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrhhhhh

harumph!

[Going Spare]

I am not a DCC or TT user but has the loco been returned with a decoder fitted? At 00, a humming loco can be indicative of a DC loco on a DCC track.

[Moccasin]

Ah sorry - worth a try! If it was tested as being ok at Hornby before being returned, then it could still be a DCC /HM7000 issue, so sending it back may not help. Possibly worth contacting the HM7000 email and see if George has any ideas.

I do think they would be worth including a sheet on getting HM7000 locos working again when they come back from repair, as the troubleshooting material assumes different scenarios and I think it’s particularly confusing when the decoder seems to be all ok (showing connected and green marks in the health check list).

[Skelton Junction]

Thank you GS but yes the duck makes appropriate sounds and registers on app with expected ID. However on the returns note it says that contacts were replaced and my loco returned tested. The mallard I sent them had had the square of insulation tape removed from above the front bogie but the one that I got back still had it in situ so unless they’re in the habit of replacing the black tape at Hornby repairs, I have a different loco.

[Rallymatt]

Do you have a spare DC blanking plate to replace decoder with and do a DC test or use a 9v battery across wheels to test?

And/or

clear out the engine shed of any previous versions of Mallard, unassign the decoder in the latest mallard, delete the decoder, shut down app and re install the loco from scratch. Do a test to see if loco moves ok on the default sound profile before uploading Mallard.

If you are running DCC as well as App, remember the loco will be assigned address 3 as the default (not used by app though)

[Moccasin]

All good advice @Rallymatt

Like I say, a sheet sent back with models after repair would be helpful as the return note says DCC - tested ok or whatever but the checks that the technicians seem to break/disrupt the link between the decoder and the app.

Even a note on the returns sheet saying that the decoder might need a soft reset, along with a QR code taking you to the troubleshooting guide, would be a start.

[Skelton Junction]

I’ll revisit over the weekend, maybe, if I’ve gotten over the underwhelming experience of being returned something that still required attention or is still imperfect.

[Moccasin]

I’ll revisit over the weekend, maybe, if I’ve gotten over the underwhelming experience of being returned something that still required attention or is still imperfect.

 

 

I feel your deflation as I’ve had the same twice now with Flying Scotsman. Turned out the first time it was returned, they’d replaced the tender chassis with one without a speaker.

It’s great that Hornby have an efficient and generous repair policy but it is let down a little by these, and other, issues.

[Skelton Junction]

Mallard returned home within a few working days. Valve gear and rods replaced and it’s working fine. Brilliant customer service. I received a refund for the 3 lots of postage too.

[Chris98]

Agree, excellent customer service. Got Blink Bonny back today after a rear wheel replacement. It took less than a week.