spoilybear
New Member
Hello all! New--Bee here to AZL , Getting ready for Christmass most loving time of year.
Posts: 42
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Post by spoilybear on Jan 5, 2018 12:03:05 GMT -5
Just wondering why parts to repair our own Engines are so hard to find compared to some pothers . most Dealers I've checked on line are very limited and don't even carry light bulb for them. Not good for the company that designed them no matter how complicated they are to work on. Past history of companies not carrying parts for their Items never do as good as companies who do. Just good marking in tuff completion between companies . Lot of us can't afford to buy new every time we would like to add to our set. So Used one , sometimes worn or need of part . Just in like car industry where most all companies supply parts to there products for years . At least Dealers should have traction tire replacements Like Roukan .Not sure I spelt that right . Anyway just some of the things missing from Z Scale that others are not faced with . A lot of Marklin dealers do carry lot of Marklin Parts and sure helps in the keeping Z Scale going . And usually buy other items at same time so it' Win Win. for both. Just for you Guys to think over and I'm sure I'm not only one to bring it up.
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Post by jhrailroading on Jan 5, 2018 12:53:33 GMT -5
It's my impression that it's a bit of a pain for manufactures to have a parts inventory and keep it stocked. From what I have seen this is the case in every scale and the obscurity of Z only makes it worse. As far as AZL goes, they offer a good selection of parts through AZL Direct.
-Jason
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Post by markm on Jan 5, 2018 12:59:58 GMT -5
I don't think it's all that hard to find parts. AZL has a number of parts on their website: www.azldirect.com/parts as well as MTL: www.micro-trains.com/index.php?_route_=parts and both companies respond to email for specific parts not listed. It seems that your complaint is with the dealers. They decide what they stock. Most dealers will tell you there is no money in spare parts, they mostly sit for years (or decades). This isn't unique to AZL, MTL or Z scale. I was recently asked to look into repairing a Lionel O scale locomotive. Of the 60 or so dealers in California, only 2 carry spare parts or make repairs. May I suggest that you go to your dealer and insist they carry spares parts. Mark
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spoilybear
New Member
Hello all! New--Bee here to AZL , Getting ready for Christmass most loving time of year.
Posts: 42
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Post by spoilybear on Jan 5, 2018 13:33:43 GMT -5
Thanks Mark , I knew if I asked right questions on here I would be provided with Excellent answer and Place to look. Ben
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Post by emaley on Jan 5, 2018 14:01:44 GMT -5
Don't depend solely on the website. Call or email the source. They sometimes have access to parts not listed online. MTL and AZL have both been very helpful.
Trey
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Post by tjdreams on Jan 5, 2018 17:03:17 GMT -5
As has been said contact AZL or MTL directly for pars.
As for the individual dealers not having parts on hand, Try looking at it from their point of view. They Can tie up their operating capital in parts that are not going to give them much profit and may take months or years to sell, Plus that many parts will take up a lot of room on shelves (Dozens of parts for each model)
Or stock their shelves with new models that will sell faster and give them a better profit margin.
Now factor in the fact that better than 3/4 of those in Z scale wouldn't even attempt to remove the shell muchless attempt to repair a broken loco. And of those willing to try it better than 1/2 wouldn't be able to tell whats wrong, Wont have the right tools to fix it or the skill level to do the repair their self.
The bottom line is it just doesn't make financial sense for most dealers to stock and sell replacement parts.
David
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Post by dave on Jan 5, 2018 17:22:21 GMT -5
On AZL Direct, the parts section is extremely small with a grand total of 43, that seems small for the number of cars and locos they have produced. If I remember right, there are about that many parts just in one of the coil cars. Like I said, I am sure AZL has their reasons so no knock on them.
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spoilybear
New Member
Hello all! New--Bee here to AZL , Getting ready for Christmass most loving time of year.
Posts: 42
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Post by spoilybear on Jan 5, 2018 20:05:01 GMT -5
TJ Dreams , your probably right about most wouldn't attempt to even take shell off just sign of times we live in where every thing is Don't work Trash it instead of fix buy another . I still work on my Truck even if it's ten years old if I can do something to repair it with out going to Shop . I'm amazed at this Generation of Wimps. Now that I've made everyone Mad. You can make tools your self . I made several of my own tools to work on Marklin Steam Loco's. So yes you can work on them. Fortunately AZL and Micro give Diagram with all the engines. So you can see parts and work on them. Having gotten into Electronics much but Have Field Piece that will measure right down to as fare in electrical you want to go. From selling point of view I understand just make money forget everything else is the social world we live in . I'll do it lone wolf way . thanks
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2018 20:44:20 GMT -5
TJ Dreams , your probably right about most wouldn't attempt to even take shell off just sign of times we live in where every thing is Don't work Trash it instead of fix buy another . I still work on my Truck even if it's ten years old if I can do something to repair it with out going to Shop . I'm amazed at this Generation of Wimps. Now that I've made everyone Mad. You can make tools your self . I made several of my own tools to work on Marklin Steam Loco's. So yes you can work on them. Fortunately AZL and Micro give Diagram with all the engines. So you can see parts and work on them. Having gotten into Electronics much but Have Field Piece that will measure right down to as fare in electrical you want to go. From selling point of view I understand just make money forget everything else is the social world we live in . I'll do it lone wolf way . thanks It’s not so much the “don’t work trash it” mentality as it is the person who tried to fix it once and lost a part in the carpet, a spring went flying off, or broke the model in some way trying to repair it themselves. I work on these things all the time so I’m used to working with them. I also have a shop and tools to do it. Most people in Z don’t have any interest in fixing it themselves. What can be said is don’t give up trying to work on them. I’m the same way. If I can’t fix it nobody can.
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spoilybear
New Member
Hello all! New--Bee here to AZL , Getting ready for Christmass most loving time of year.
Posts: 42
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Post by spoilybear on Jan 5, 2018 23:00:22 GMT -5
AMS you are so right , perhaps I was bit short , but I still think at least you should be able to pull shell off to lubricate it correctly. I'm sure AZL And Micro know how log they will run with out being lubricated. or can you replace bad traction tire. come on those type of things we should know or instructed to do . I have many tools and the biggest tools set I use most is Marklin Tool set . But it's limited to three to four items in the set even though it's supposedly for Z scale. Even Screw drivers in set are questionable. They need to up grade it to call it toll set for Z scale. If I get to point that it's frustrating I quit do something else after while urge to complete the job comes and back at it With some fresh ideas on how to fix it. Or you can research most on the net or U-Tube. I started doing thing back in the days when we had nether. And it is much more simpler now. Hope your listening- JHrailRoading -Markm-TJDreams-Dave. Your all right in some ways. but there are many who can do it them selves. Yes Many and we're gaining knowledge all the time
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Post by zscalehobo on Jan 5, 2018 23:05:03 GMT -5
I don't think it's all that hard to find parts. AZL has a number of parts on their website: www.azldirect.com/parts as well as MTL: www.micro-trains.com/index.php?_route_=parts and both companies respond to email for specific parts not listed. It seems that your complaint is with the dealers. They decide what they stock. Most dealers will tell you there is no money in spare parts, they mostly sit for years (or decades). This isn't unique to AZL, MTL or Z scale. I was recently asked to look into repairing a Lionel O scale locomotive. Of the 60 or so dealers in California, only 2 carry spare parts or make repairs. May I suggest that you go to your dealer and insist they carry spares parts. Mark I wouldn't mind keeping AZL spares, but presently the dealer cost for all AZL spares listed at our AZL dealer ordering location is the same price as the direct price for end user customers on AZL Direct. In order for me to justify bringing those in, I'd have to jack up the price well ABOVE what AZL Direct lists which is not offering good value to my customers. Summary: At present, I would suggest you to just buy spares at AZL Direct where they are readily available. For spoilybear ... if the quantity of Marklin repairs & cleanouts heading my way is any indication, there is a strong contingent of people who are more interested in running their trains as opposed to working on them. I'm not going to call anyone names, but I might call these folks: "enjoyers of smooth-running trains." I cannot fault them for wanting to enjoy smooth operation with minimal effort every time they pull their trains out from the cases.
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Post by zscalehobo on Jan 5, 2018 23:09:07 GMT -5
I still think at least you should be able to pull shell off to lubricate it correctly. Funny you should mention this ... a majority of locomotives I have seen are pooled over with lubrication - which ends up accelerating the accumulation of dirt and gunk. I would estimate that >80% of my first-time customers are in this type of condition. So, I think people ARE TRYING to repair things themselves, but don't know when enough is enough. Then they get stuck and cannot recover - lose parts, etc, etc ... The smaller the amount, the better; and use the right lube.
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Post by smr on Jan 6, 2018 4:23:53 GMT -5
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spoilybear
New Member
Hello all! New--Bee here to AZL , Getting ready for Christmass most loving time of year.
Posts: 42
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Post by spoilybear on Jan 6, 2018 12:22:57 GMT -5
Z hobo, Thanks for your advice , Yes we all like it to run smooth and you keep best supply of Marklin Parts on hand , I've bought lot from you . Glad you can stock - That is one of the reasons I'm repeat customer . But Some get joy out of buying used ones and get it up and running close to new is lot of Satisfaction . Sometimes even spend more that if you bought it new from Dealer. Maybe that's always been difference in Conductor who was responsible for train to run on time and the Engineer who was responsible for train to run. Both had their jobs and enjoyments. Some Like to Do the Mountains in the Lay out more than anything - some like to paint their trains different - some like to have most track than next guy . Some like to do Sound , others like to do the new Code electronics set up. Some like to do all . Is any perfect at all No has to be researched, learned, Knowledge gained . It's the fun of all that draws us to spend our money on them. Not just the guy who can spend 50,000 have someone build it , yes he may enjoy it but nothing compared to guy that builds one himself. And we are the ones who keep you in business Also . Thanks again for good Service
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Post by dazed on Jan 6, 2018 19:09:16 GMT -5
It's my impression that it's a bit of a pain for manufactures to have a parts inventory and keep it stocked. From what I have seen this is the case in every scale and the obscurity of Z only makes it worse. As far as AZL goes, they offer a good selection of parts through AZL Direct. It might be a "bit of a pain" but it's called good customer service. And this absolutely does NOT exist in the other major scales....you can pretty much call up and build a loco from scratch just about any time you want to, for the most part. Kato in N does have some things go out of stock moreso than the others. Like just about everything, Atlas leads the industry in this level of customer service and good product development. Frankly, I think that is probably one of the top 3 "problems" with Z-scale, looking at it from this newbie/past n-scalers perspective. The fact that I'm spending 2x-3x per locomotive AND potentially will have it go completely useless at some point scares the heck out of me. Neither MTL nor AZL keeps extensive repair parts available which is kind of mind-boggling. I daresay that is why we don't see more large Z-scale layouts. I would be hesitant to invest that much time and money and end up with basically a static display.
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