I bought a replacement Menards Chicago and Northwestern Diesel loco 9291

[@stevencilento3364]

I have a few trains from Menards and have had only one issue. Sent an email to them and they rectified the issue right away. Great customer service.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

That's excellent ❤️

[@alanjensen4830]

My Menards Santa Fe beta 3.5 had the nylon drive gear split after above 9 months of moderate use. Menards design uses a brass worm 0:03 gear on their motors and a nylon main drive gear. As a graduate engineer this not a best practice design IMO. Regardless I contacted Menards customer service and they mailed a replacement truck. Still has the nylon main drive, but excellent customer service. Still trying to find a source of a brass gears to replace the nylon ones. I am guessing, but don’t think that a design change from nylon to a brass main drive gear would cost Menards very much and again IMO it greatly improve the operating life of their locomotives. I would highly recommend not loading up a Menards locomotive with a long consist of cars.

[@johnchambers8528]

Interesting. I bought a Lionel Santa Fe F unit back in the 1970’s and noticed the same problem.Lionel used a nylon or plastic main drive wheel gear.I ended up replacing it several times. I finally gave up using that engine. I sold it at a train show and advised the buyer to only run it with lightweight cars or he would experience the same problem. Even if it costs a little more metal gears work best.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

I'm really impressed that they mailed you a replacement truck.

[@RaysTrains]

That’s the customer service we all wish we had with every company !

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

True! Unfortunately at Menards there's no repair option or parts availability

[@scpvrr]

I appreciate your perspective on manufacturing errors happening.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Thank you. Sometimes I'm a little too understanding for my own good 😁

[@BillThomas-i6i]

I also just bought the C&NW Diesel and non-powered unit also. I broke them in as you suggested and they ran nice and smooth after 15 minutes in each direction. This is the best powered unit I have purchased from Menards. I’ve returned all the others. My only real issue now is they start up too fast. I talked with the trainman from Menards corporate and he said they are looking into correcting that. If they can, their sales will skyrocket. That was a nice video, thanks.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Thanks! Glad the break in helped. What power supply do you use?

[@bradkorando]

Thanks for sharing your experience with the Menards C&NW F3. I think it's really helpful that you explained and showed us what was wrong with the motor. It's good to hear that the return process was pretty easy. And glad to see that you have already replaced the engine and that the replacement seems to be running fine. Terrific job with the video!

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Thanks for the kind words Brad

[@TwistedMacGyversTrains]

Awesome Jeremy! I’m glad you got it resolved and got it replaced!

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Me too

[@mzinet2099]

I too am interested in too many hobbies, but O scale model trains is number one now. I, like many in my IT Tech profession were laid off and so this hobby has come to a halt, mostly. In between sending out over about 400 resumes and 18 months, your videos helped me a lot. I'm open to ANY entry level jobs that don't require a lot of standing, but I can't find any. - Anyway, Menards have really put good dent in the model train market. While their products do have a lot of details, any imperfections or lack of something (when compared to other manufactures) is and really should not be a huge deal to many people. Our imagination can easily fill in any gaps and watching strong trains with different road names and designs pull a bunch of cars around is the majority of what people want. Menards has retail stores in a lot more places than your local hobby shop. So, while we get these more affordable trains in our collection, we don't have to worry about the products not being returnable or being charged for some sort of restocking fee. - Thanks again for sharing.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Thanks for the great comment. I hope you find gainful employment quickly

[@mzinet2099]

@@TooManyHobbiesJeremy If you have any ideas of anyone I can work for, I'm open to suggestions. I'm 56 and I can do house yard work but being at a desk for 32 yrs with my heart and health condition has limited me away from hard labor jobs or standing for long hours in the day. - I know its a reach asking, but I thought if you had any suggestions - I trust your opinions. - Thanks. - I look forward to more of your videos. 👍🙂

[@danshobbies13]

It sounds like any defective part that any other company could have happen. Glad they didn’t give you a hard time exchanging it.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Very true. I'm happy how it all worked out.

[@artiefufkin1705]

I'm having the same issue as you described. Menards had been helpful. It's nice to see that it wasn't just my train that had issues. Thanks for the video.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Tell me more about the issue you had?

[@N_scale]

2000$ Lionel’s are made in same China and have to be fixed / exchanged too. Menards is our athearn blue box It is affordable If there was a micro trains bowser athearn blue box made in USA loco product I would buy it but it doesn’t really exist anymore and menards we are extremely lucky they are willing to offer a engine with all same features for 1/2 of a Lionel ft lionchief. Yes I know horn is different Yes I know But if you got people getting into hobby this locomotive and its future home in sets for the price I am really glad it exists Now let’s go with the turnout production and we’ll be set!

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Yep! I'm really looking forward to seeing what products Menards will bring out.

[@N_scale]

@@TooManyHobbiesJeremy gp7 is same wheelbase in real life dimensions so can put that on. I bet they don’t know You live in eau Claire hq why don’t you head on in and tell them to make a geep And f in every road name

[@SteveRenon]

Glad it worked out for you.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Thank you. This second unit is running great ❤️

[@paulbervid1610]

Great video. I am glad they resolved it and it is working.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Thank you Paul

[@MichaelMartinczak]

Remember, Lionel has had many issues with very expensive engines right out of the box. Menards is filling a niche that was vacated by k line and Williams some of their products were not durable and reliable. Menards shows an interest in improving their product, and I am excited that they will occupy a space in the toy train market that Lionel and Bachman destroyed

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

I'm really looking forward to see what new products they bring out

[@JimAlderson-cn6ek]

Jeremy i had to replace first beta run red bonet it happens i also live near manards love ship to store free and return policy one thing i put couple drops silicon oil on gears before first run

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

So true! Thanks for the great tip

[@JimAlderson-cn6ek]

Also check allen screw on trucks they hold motor in place if they come loose the worm gear will wobble and wipe out drive gear caught mine in time u will start to notice a slight whine and varying speeds always use a silicon base oil because of the plastics involved

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

@@JimAlderson-cn6ek I'm going to check them tonight 😀

[@JimAlderson-cn6ek]

👍

[@genemanno1533]

Kinda sad one has to go thru a “trial” period with a brand new engine to make sure it don’t crap out. We just ran Lionel trains from day one on Christmas morning when we were kids and never looked back.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Quite true ❤️

[@jamesnear3911]

I ask this question in and old video. I wonder if the lionel Universal remote will work with the Menards Locomotives. I have N scale. But I got some eye issues now. And I am looking at O gauge for a switching layout. I have the Menards CNW F9 with a cab. And some freight cars from them. I am an retired GTW RR conductor. Just something to keep me busy. I subscribe. You have interesting videos and I enjoy them.

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoy the videos. I doubt the Lionel remote would work as the communication protocols will be different

[@bernardconeghen]

nice engine but the logo could have been done better I do not buy these because do not want to be stuck with a lot of remotes but its what is prefered enjoy

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

@@bernardconeghen thanks for the great comment. I hear you on the remote issue. Even after playing with these & my MTH protosound engine - I still enjoy the postwar & MPC era stuff.

[@richardnelson-ux1zz]

I just bought one today after j watched your v on this chicago north western f3 locomotive I also bought the Pennsylvania Milwaukee road f3 locomotive both funning grest I expect to get many years of service

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Excellent! I'm super happy with my Santa Fe & 2nd CNW.