Bachmann K27 acceptance trials

[KeithT]

Hi Keith,

Sorry to hear of your problems with the K27, I think I'll wait a while.

I too will be in Austria in August this year, stayed in Mayrhofen every year for the last 20 years, love the Zillertal region it's a great place.

Hope you have a great time.

Regards

Bruce.

Bruce
The basic problem was that this was a version 1 loco that had not been upgraded.
If it is a version 2 or has a red dot on the outer box then it should be OK. See also post #20 by Tony Walshan for more detail.
I thoroughly enjoy Austria but have stayed at Obergurgl and Kitzbuhl in the past for the mountain walking. It will be my first time in the Zillertal.

 

[silverflyer]

Hi Keith,

The reason I like Mayrhofen is that, it's at the end of a valley which has four more valleys running from it.

The walking is fantastic and even after all these years there is still some places we have not yet explored.

Plus the fact that it's at the end of the Zillertalbahn line so plenty of trains to watch or ride, right up to Achensee.

Bruce.

 

[KeithT]

Hi Keith,

The reason I like Mayrhofen is that, it's at the end of a valley which has four more valleys running from it.

The walking is fantastic and even after all these years there is still some places we have not yet explored.

Plus the fact that it's at the end of the Zillertalbahn line so plenty of trains to watch or ride, right up to Achensee.

Bruce.

It all sounds very promising.

 

[Richie]

Hi Keith
Good to see that Bachmann are sorting out your K-27 hope it hasn't put you to much out of pocket , Do you know what number loco you will be getting in it's place ?

 

[KeithT]

Hi Keith
Good to see that Bachmann are sorting out your K-27 hope it hasn't put you to much out of pocket , Do you know what number loco you will be getting in it's place ?

In fact it is the retailer who is replacing it. Bachmann weren't too helpful. They would repair it if I paid carriage! It seems a great deal depends on who you talk to at Bachmann - pot luck really.
The loco is I think No 463 in Flying Rio Grande livery. I am not too fussed about the livery. Ideally I would have liked the green boilered one. Initially no one seemed to want it but now it is rare as hens teeth.

 

[Richie]

Hi Keith
Good to see that Bachmann are sorting out your K-27 hope it hasn't put you to much out of pocket , Do you know what number loco you will be getting in it's place ?

In fact it is the retailer who is replacing it. Bachmann weren't too helpful. They would repair it if I paid carriage! It seems a great deal depends on who you talk to at Bachmann - pot luck really.

I was offered a Green Boiler K-27 with DCC and Phoenix sound from a member of the G Scale Society before Christmas .

 

[KeithT]

Hi Keith
Good to see that Bachmann are sorting out your K-27 hope it hasn't put you to much out of pocket , Do you know what number loco you will be getting in it's place ?

I was offered a Green boiler K-27 with DCC and Phoenix sound before Christmas by a member of the G scale Society.

Lucky you!

 

[KeithT]

My replacement Bachmann K27 arrived yesterday.
Two disappointments the first being that I have had to accept one without a snowplough. If I could retro fit a plough I would not be able to open the smokebox door and operate the switches housed in the smokebox. The factory fitted ones have a split door to facilitate this.
Secondly, the front uncoupler bar was broken off. Probably I can glue it back but a "pedestal" from the right front buffer beam is missing.
The culprit for this is the almost impossibly tight packing. The polystyrene fits fine but the loco was encased in a plastic bag and the whole thing wedged into the polystyrene. This is the second time I have had a loco damaged by plastic bags. They are fine in theory but they have a tendency to drag across delicate parts and cause damage.

 

[KeithT]

My replacement Bachmann K27 arrived yesterday. Two disappointments the first being that I have had to accept one without a snowplough.

In that case, Sir, you do NOT have a replacement. You have a non-optional substitution which, unless you agreed to it in advance, is a contravention of the Sale of Goods act.

You did NOT have to accept this substitute. 'One for one and like for like' is the rule, and the law.

tac
http://www.ovgrs.org/ < Link To www.ovgrs.org
RLGSS Member

Yes that is true although my absolute right would have been to get a refund but, given the good price - I thought that I would accept the other version.
I could still reject this one given that there is a broken component.
Never having tried to glue any Bachmann plastic it will be a voyage of discovery. I will try my trusty aliphatic adhesive first.
At least this loco runs well on the rollers and all the lights work as they should. The smoke is prolific which means it uses a lot of fluid!

 

[Richie]

Hi Keith
Nice to see you got your replacement but sorry to hear about the damage . The plastic bags have broken several parts of my locos like horns and steps on USA Trains and small details on my Bachmann locos . I brought myself a plow to go on my K-27 #453 but found i couldn't open smoke box door you would think they would put a spare split smoke box door with the plow , have only used it once not easy to take on and off as it involves putting the loco up side down .

 

[minimans]

Can

Hi Keith
Nice to see you got your replacement but sorry to hear about the damage . The plastic bags have broken several parts of my locos like horns and steps on USA Trains and small details on my Bachmann locos . I brought myself a plow to go on my K-27 #453 but found i couldn't open smoke box door you would think they would put a spare split smoke box door with the plow , have only used it once not easy to take on and off as it involves putting the loco up side down .

Can you not just buy a split door to retrofit?....................

This thread is good as it just remind's me why I don't buy Bachmann!! I have tried in the past but had the same results, bit's break and fall off and generaly they don't run very well, although I understand with the later Spectrum (ie more expensive) range they do at least run decently. But bits are still breaking off and not built properly in the first place......................

 

[Richie]

Can

Hi Keith
Nice to see you got your replacement but sorry to hear about the damage . The plastic bags have broken several parts of my locos like horns and steps on USA Trains and small details on my Bachmann locos . I brought myself a plow to go on my K-27 #453 but found i couldn't open smoke box door you would think they would put a spare split smoke box door with the plow , have only used it once not easy to take on and off as it involves putting the loco up side down .

Can you not just buy a split door to retrofit?....................

This thread is good as it just remind's me why I don't buy Bachmann!! I have tried in the past but had the same results, bit's break and fall off and generaly they don't run very well, although I understand with the later Spectrum (ie more expensive) range they do at least run decently. But bits are still breaking off and not built properly in the first place......................

I e mailed Bachmann several times about a split smoke box door they said they would try and get me one but nothing ever turned up gave up in the end :impatient:

 

[KeithT]

Can

Hi Keith
Nice to see you got your replacement but sorry to hear about the damage . The plastic bags have broken several parts of my locos like horns and steps on USA Trains and small details on my Bachmann locos . I brought myself a plow to go on my K-27 #453 but found i couldn't open smoke box door you would think they would put a spare split smoke box door with the plow , have only used it once not easy to take on and off as it involves putting the loco up side down .

Can you not just buy a split door to retrofit?....................

This thread is good as it just remind's me why I don't buy Bachmann!! I have tried in the past but had the same results, bit's break and fall off and generaly they don't run very well, although I understand with the later Spectrum (ie more expensive) range they do at least run decently. But bits are still breaking off and not built properly in the first place......................

I e mailed Bachmann several times about a split smoke box door they said they would try and get me one but nothing ever turned up gave up in the end :impatient:

I think I will give Bachmann a try but it does appear that Bachmann customer service is hit and miss.

 

[main131]

Never had any problems with the running of the two K27s that run here at Thurnby or indeed my live steam K28.
Having said that we only have R3 or above with running 12' radius curves.
Don't do too many engine mods until you have sorted your track.
If thats not possible you have a couple of options. Move house or sell it to me at a s/hand price. I am only here to help!

 

[nico]

Can

Hi Keith
Nice to see you got your replacement but sorry to hear about the damage . The plastic bags have broken several parts of my locos like horns and steps on USA Trains and small details on my Bachmann locos . I brought myself a plow to go on my K-27 #453 but found i couldn't open smoke box door you would think they would put a spare split smoke box door with the plow , have only used it once not easy to take on and off as it involves putting the loco up side down .

Can you not just buy a split door to retrofit?....................

This thread is good as it just remind's me why I don't buy Bachmann!! I have tried in the past but had the same results, bit's break and fall off and generaly they don't run very well, although I understand with the later Spectrum (ie more expensive) range they do at least run decently. But bits are still breaking off and not built properly in the first place......................

I e mailed Bachmann several times about a split smoke box door they said they would try and get me one but nothing ever turned up gave up in the end :impatient:

I emailed Bachmann last week,with no reply

 

[barryw]

i emailed bachmann and received a reply the next day with a name to telephone and the matter was dealt with over the telephone so i have no complaint with the way they responded to my complaint

 

[Rhinochugger]

Yep, I was lucky when I had the tender bogies bits break on my Connie

William the Conqueror responded to my emails with alacrity, sent me the wrong part (that was my fault) and sent me two of the correct parts (by now I realised I needed two) after a quick telephone conversation.

It may be pot luck as to when the old Conqueror is around

 

[The Devonian]

Barry,

Tell the Forum the secret of your sucess, I am sure they will want to know.

Maybe the address of the 'charm school' you attended might be beneficial.

 

[KeithT]

I emailed Bachmann last week,with no reply

One of my first posts to this site was to advise somebody that, from ten years experience of trying to contact Bachmann both here and in the US of A, you are more likely to get a letter from William the Conqueror than an email response from Bachmann.

I'm not going to say I told you so.

Heck, yes I am.

I told you so.

tac
http://www.ovgrs.org/ < Link To www.ovgrs.org
RLGSS Member

Email sent this morning, fingers now crossed.
The last time I emailed them a couple of weeks ago I got no reply so I phoned them.
"Oh yes" was the response " I think a colleague has had your email"!
No indication was given that "he" intended to reply.

 

[KeithT]

I emailed Bachmann last week,with no reply

One of my first posts to this site was to advise somebody that, from ten years experience of trying to contact Bachmann both here and in the US of A, you are more likely to get a letter from William the Conqueror than an email response from Bachmann.

I'm not going to say I told you so.

Heck, yes I am.

I told you so.

tac
http://www.ovgrs.org/ < Link To www.ovgrs.org
RLGSS Member

Email sent this morning, fingers now crossed.
The last time I emailed them a couple of weeks ago I got no reply so I phoned them.
"Oh yes" was the response " I think a colleague has had your email"!
No indication was given that "he" intended to reply.

Well, I got my reply pretty quickly -

"Unfortunately we are unable to help you on this occasion as we do not have any split smoke box doors remaining as spares. It’s possible that Bachmann in Philadelphia may still have some remaining."

As far as customer Service is concerned Chocolate Teapots spring to mind.
Do they not intend continuing to produce the model?