Hornby B12/3 problems
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(In Topic #14336)
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Hornby Service Centre come to the rescue
![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/2006/2006_281844_440000000.jpg)
About 4 years ago, I bought a new Hornby B12/3 to replace an old version that I remember having as a boy and which I bought "just for historic purposes" a bit earlier (The one with the sandpaper chuff-chuff noise!). She is seen above on the old Yarslow layout in London - all nice and shiny and red, hauling a Kirk Gresley 3rd. The old version is half-hidden on the right of shot.
Recently, on the new layout, she came a dead stop for no apparent reason. I had a quick look for any obvious signs of trouble and finding none, put her back on the track where she ran another 6 feet before stopping again.
A full investigation revealed nothing obvious - motor, tender electrics, PCB all looked OK. A quick on-line search produced a thread on RMweb about B12's stopping. It turns out that there are issues with dry joints on the PCB in the tender and a simple re-soldering job would cure it.
Now, I have learned to solder wires to switches and other components BUT wiring tiny wires to a PCB? - no.
I called the Hornby Customer Helpline and spoke to a very helpful guy who knew that "there had been some on-line traffic" about this issue. He promised a Warrenty repair and suggested a couple of weeks turnaround.
I'm not easily impressed by big companies and their promises but I was very pleased with the way Hornby handled this. I shall send the loco off tomorrow and let you know what occcurs…………….
Last edit: by Barry Miltenburg
Shed dweller, Softie Southerner and Meglomaniac
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Good luck with the loco - I too had one of those sandpaper chuff versions and very effective it was. :thumbs
'Petermac
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![](https://yourmodelrailway.net/gallery/2006/2006_112020_570000000.jpg)
She's back
After what Hornby have described as "a new capacitor and PCB", 61533 has been returned to traffic free of charge and running well. She has had a dozen laps of the main line and looks just fine.
Whilst it can be a disappointment to have a new engine fail, I can only applaud Hornby for their polite helpfulness and willingness to effect a repair. The whole process took about a week, door to door.
Net cost to me was the £8 I spent on postage - she went back to Hornby via insured/signed-for post.
Barry
Shed dweller, Softie Southerner and Meglomaniac
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How does she run compared with the sandpaper version ?
'Petermac
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I have an old one - bought for pure nostalgia - and despite having lost its phosphor bronze strip under the tender, runs like a whale in custard
![:cry:](https://yourmodelrailway.net//themes/default/images_custom/cry.gif)
The new one, although a bit noisy when starting and stopping, is smooth and powerful. The only thing missing from the DC version is the chuff-chuff noise!!
I can hear it in my head of course……….
Shed dweller, Softie Southerner and Meglomaniac
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