In praise of Roundhouse

400Parker

400Parker

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I have a Roundhouse "Silver Lady" that is getting on for 3 years old. One of the original features was an opening smokebox door but I had problems with it and it didn't close properly. Roundhouse obviously weren't too happy with this feature either because current models now have a fixed smokebox door. I discovered this on the Roundhouse web site so I called them yesterday lunchtime to order a replacement and spoke to Harri. "No problem" he said. A complimentary smokebox door arrived in this morning's post.
In the extremes of customer service there are some firms (fortunately very few) at one end to Roundhouse at the other!
Steve
 
Hi Steve, I also have a silver lady. The first time I opened the smoke box door it took a fair amount a jiggiling of the smokebox dart to get it to screw back in, there's a definite knack to doing it. I would heartily agree about Roundhouse service, When I went to pick up my millie from the factory Harri demonstrated the loco but wasn't happy about its performance as it had not been run in as much as usual due to show commitments. I wasn't aware that Roundhouse ran in the basic locos but was given a large can of gas and half a litre of steam oil so that I could do it myself......top class.

Regards

Dave
 
The opening smokebox door seemed like a good idea at the time I guess, but the zinc casting isn't up to it. On mine, the smokebox door wouldn't fit flush. I broke the hinges the first time I tried by forcing it and gave up on the second one when that wouldn't fit flush either. You can't beat a good cast brass smokebox and door. DJB Engineering comes to mind.
Steve
 
I've only opened mine twice, once out of curiosity and once to fit a summerlands chuffer. Probably won't open it again though.

regards

Dave
 
I'd had the same problem with mine last summer. A friend of mine was passing by Doncaster the next day so I rang them up and explained what had happen and if they could change it round if I got the loco to them the next day. Not a problem, as simple as pulling the old one out and pushing the new one in. Never had another problem with it!
 
cheshire said:
not sure if it should, but mine is not hinged but pulls out, so sort of opens!! Its only 6 months old.
Click to expand...
It sounds as if the clamping screw is loose Mark. If in doubt go to the Roundhouse web site, click on "Technical" on the left (it's the third up from the bottom), then "Service Sheets", and http://www.roundhouse-eng.com/ss12.htm < Link To SS12 Silver Lady smoke box front change. Actually, I've just found that clicking on the SS12 link in this reply works, though I can't get rid of this bold typeface!

Steve

 
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