Going Spare

If you have to push the locomotive to get it on the move, perhaps one of the armature windings has failed. GS

Without the intermediate gears in place, do the driven wheelsets turn freely? If not, check the back-to-back distance between the wheels - it should be 14.5 mm. If the small gear on the armature shaft is silver and loose on the shaft, replace it with the brass equivalent S2290. GS

The tooling for the two GWR Centenary coaches originated with Airfix and came to Hornby via Dapol. As far as I am aware, only the composite and brake 3rd moulds exist. GS

Hornby offer tool R913 which is a double-ended hex-head driver produced specifically for the crank pin screws on all current locos (small end for class 08 diesel, large end for all steam locos other than those having pins). Out of stock at Hornby themselves but still in stock at Peters Spares and others. GS

The strip of metal in the photograph looks to be the representation of the piston rod that has snapped off just in front of the crosshead. In the absence of a service sheet for this locomotive, I would suggest you contact Customer Services for them to confirm to you the pack number of the valvegear assembly that you need. It may be X9321, which I believe is unavailable, but confirmation would be advisable. GS

According to my records, X6142 is a bogie for the class 395 Javelin emu. If you search for X6142 on this site, you are taken to X6162 (presumably because Hornby do not have X6142 - but why do they do that rather than just advise non-availability?) which is a Castle part. GS

Good to hear you have resolved the problem. However, X6142 is not a tyre pack: could it be X6412 you are using (nominally for the class 86)? GS

As per my previous post, X8030 traction tyres are suitable only for UK- and early China-made tender drives with Ringfield motors. Later Chinese tender drives will not accept these 'chunky' tyres, hence X7125 tyres being produced, which have a smaller profile. In the absence of pack X7125, try pack X9722 if it is available. GS

If you bring up the loco's details on this site, Hornby state it has a 5-pole skew-wound motor. GS

Have you asked Hornby's Customer Service dept. when they expect the X7125 pack to become available? There is often a delay between a model being released and replacement parts appearing. GS

I think it is unlikely that the traction tyres in packs X7125 and X8030 are similar. As the latest Gordon has a can motor tender drive, the tyres are probably thinner in width and depth (viz X9721/2) than their rather chunky UK predecessors although I do not have the ability to compare the two physically. Whilst it is not unknown for Hornby to issue a new part number for a reissued but unchanged component, I imagine the new number in this case does indicate a new specification. GS

You say you have serviced both an X03 and an X04 motor (i.e. one with a 'coarse' black plastic worm and one with a 'fine' brass worm. The black plastic worm on the X03 motor meshes with a grey plastic worm wheel on the drive axle whereas the brass worm on the X04 motor meshes with a brass or black plastic worm wheel. Have you switched the motors round by mistake so a coarse worm is trying to mesh with a fine worm wheel, or vice-versa? GS

Have a look at the Silver Fox Models website. Class 89 ready to run @ £175 on a Hornby DCC-ready chassis in a choice of liveries. (or in kit form). GS

Hello Mike, I can't let your comment about profiteering pass without comment. Yes, there will always be (rare) occasions of supply & demand mismatches giving those so minded the opportunity to try to reap excessive profit but you only have to look on this website to see what (sometimes wild) variations exist in component pricing - not just motors - at Hornby themselves. Authorised retailers can only base their prices on what Hornby charges them, with a mark-up of course to cover their overheads, but their prices can be lower than Hornby's own in some cases. As to matching parts supply with potential demand - always a difficult conundrum - Hornby lost the benefit of long-serving UK staff experience a few years ago and it takes time for that experience to be regained, particularly whilst also dealing with volatile manufacturing/supply lines in China. GS