Burned out train motors (et al) from club shows

[zephyr1934]

Branching off of this tread with a new topic...

I would feel guilty going back to TLG for them to replace motors that we wore out over the course of an AFOL show. Lego makes wonderful toys that are reliable but when I look at the amount of use (to the threshold of abuse) we throw at a MOC over the course of a 3 day show and compare that to the time that a child would play with that toy over a period of several years, I can see where we might be pushing the limits of their testing program. There is nothing like rolling a train over a layout for hours and hours to find all the week clutch points in Lego parts and make the running gear scream for mercy. I know we have one unit that will need a complete overhaul because the clutch on the Lego pieces has worn to the point where it drops parts off the MOC as it rolls around the moonbase.

Ah, okay, heavy use at a show is a different thing, but I think Lego would still support that. They already have lugbulk offering generic parts at steep discounts for clubs that put on public shows and I believe there is a program where clubs can request to order parts for a specific project. Lego realizes how much business these public shows generate.

If several clubs that operate trains approached the Lego community team as a group (and ideally with someone who is already in regular contact with the community team as the point of contact since lego does not like to hear special requests from 500 different inquiries), I wouldn't be surprised if Lego could be talked in to deep discount motors and other consumable parts for trains and things that move. Like Lugbulk, I would presume any parts would have to be "intended" for public displays. If Lego were concerned about abuse for nonpublic displays, perhaps they would simply offer a motor exchange or ??? It should be very rare that a lego motor burns out in regular use.

If there is much interest in this idea, why don't we start discussing it here...

[dr_spock]

You could run the idea by the LEGO Community Team. I think an issue might be if your club runs 9V. LEGO no longer makes 9V. PF parts in current production shouldn't be a problem.

[JopieK]

If it is a current motor, LEGO service will replace it, if it is not a current motor we will not be able to buy it from LEGO.

[Lazarus]

U can always repair the motors the way I have showing in the past. I did not even know lego has spare parts

[cgarison]

I am biting my tongue in this thread because the feedback that I get from the people that communicate with Lego is that their view of the community is less than positive at this time. Another item is that I have heard that Lego does not want to provide special "LUG Support" for train or town layouts. Now if we want to build a model that has a theme for a special event then we are enabled to get items for that event through the support team,but the lead time may be several months.

With all of that out of the way, I don't see where the Community team is going to be able to help us with these type of issues.

[Cwetqo]

Its worth at least trying asking.

Main problem, as I see it that PF is not included on LB list. Will work on that.

[Paperballpark]

I'd be hugely surprised if PF stuff was on their list of LUG support stuff.

[dr_spock]

Maybe train wheels and couplers are?

[cgarison]

I know the 2013 LugBulk had some PowerFunctions available but I am not sure if it was the servo motor of the L-motor. There could have been other items but this triggered a memory because they were recently released power functions pieces.

[Duq]

This is a typical question for the Ambassador programme; contact the Ambassador for your local LUG and they can contact the community team.

When the new LUG Ambassador programme kicks off in November Railbricks will also have an ambassador so maybe he can chase this up too.

[zephyr1934]

As far as I know, one could call customer service on their own and ask for motor replacements. After a couple times they would probably ask questions. If you told them why, they might just continue sending replacements, or the might tell you this is the last one they send.

I know 1-2 years ago my younger son pulled the spring out of the clam shell digger part and bent it out of shape. I told lego customer service it was our own fault and asked if I could get just buy a replacement spring, they said, no, but they were happy to send me a complete clam shell at no charge even though it was broken out of negligence.

Yes, the lego ambassadors MIGHT be a good venue to talk to lego, but from my experience it was mostly the AFOLs talking and LEGO just listening to us with little actual response. There are a few AFOLs who have more direct communication with the community team (not me, but I think I know a few), and with a well crafted proposal, they might be able to get a better response. Given Lugbulk and a few other programs, I think Lego is very much interested in helping clubs put on good public shows, because it helps sales (both because for every $1 they spend on a club, the club probably spends $100 and because when the public sees a good display the visitors then spend an even larger sum of cash on lego).

So if there is much interest by clubs to replace motors burned out in the line of shows, I would think there is a good chance lego would agree to help out some (no, not 9v, monorail or anything else discontinued, just what is in current production). I've never thought much to pursue it since we tend to burn out 9v motors rather than pf and lego doesn't support those anymore.

It sounds like most are of a similar opinion, "yeah, it would be nice, but it probably is not worth the effort."

[peterab]

For the relative rarity of motors being burnt out (once you are used to how many motors you need to pull heavy AFOL trains) I'd agree it is probably not worth the effort. Clubs already have access to some great support, and as the numbers of shows and clubs rise it makes sense for LEGO to make that support as easy to provide as possible.

It would be nice if PF motors were still available via LUGBULK but I doubt they were removed without reason.