No 120. YOUR HELP NEEDED! Dapol’s Awful Running Class 122 Bubble Car Unit.

Hi and welcome. Need your help with this one I have a Dapol class 122 bubble car unit that has a running fault. If you can help then please drop a comment below.
Thank for your support
Andy

[@adrian_cooney]

Definitely a loose drive shaft. I repaired mine after watching a video by Jenny Kirk where she showed what the problem was and how to fix it.

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

Thanks Adrian 👍 I will check that out

[@ModelTrainOutsider]

Hello, Andrew. Sorry to see the issue, but looks like some knowledgeable people can steer you to the solution! It is a sharp unit!

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

Thanks Anthony 👍

[@Bassetvids]

I had mine repaired under warranty...I contacted dapol via the details on the device sheet. It's a common fault with the model, there are other KZbinrs who've had same issue , have a search for their videos. All the best

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

Thanks for that I will check them out. Keep safe and well my dear friend Andy

[@Bassetvids]

@@MarchWestJunctionTMD kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZKyiIKqbp6El9Esi=ALIHNC91eIozHB6D Here's the company who do Thier repairs , here's my bubble car after the repair, they post a vid for each repair as you'll see there's a few in their page as it's a common fault. Hope you get yours sorted

I had one of these models. I did not encounter any problem with. thank you for this video. 👍😃

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

I have four of them and two have now developed the same fault. They all ran perfectly before. Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment. Keep safe and well my friend Andy

[@Pixie586]

Definitely sounds like an issue with the driveshaft and the worm gear not connected properly or loose. Susannah

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

Thanks Susannah 👍 a lot of people are saying the same. Apparently Jenny Kirk has made a video about it so I will need to check that out. Keep safe and well my friend Andy

[@jamtart606]

If it's anything to go by it's most likely a slipping driveshaft. I've had this problem with two of my 121s which required to remove the driveshafts and glue the universal joints (or whatever they are called) It's a very common issue unfortunately, there are videos available online which show how you can go about permanently curing this problem. Forums can probably help you as well

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

Thanks for that I will check them out 👍

[@davidtrent3686]

My father’s one had the same problem, it appears to be the drive mechanism locking up. I got round it by removing one of the driveshafts, this essentially means that it is now driven at one bogie which isn’t necessarily ideal but is more than sufficient for a bubble car

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

Hi David thanks for that I will give it a try. I have four of them and this has happened to two of them so far. Keep safe and well my friend Andy

[@AndyJohnson-vq1wx]

Definitely drive shaft replaced mine I’m not an expert but fixed it myself after getting new part

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

I’ve been told it is a pain to fix but hay ho I will give it a go 👍

[@IanPnai]

I bought one direct from Dapol a while back which failed almost immediately. I don't live too far away so I took it back and they replaced it without quibble. However, the second one developed the same issue after running it in for a short while. I wasn't prepared to dismantle and try and fix this on a brand new (and not inexpensive) unit with every likelyhood it might fail in the future so I got a full refund. So another round trip to Chirk needed... very disappointed... shame, as it was a nice looking model too. You'd think, with what appears to be a common fault, that Dapol would have fixed this problem once and for all! Not good for their reputation at all.

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

They are nice models. I’ve got four now that have developed the same fault and I’ve now had them repaired by Dapol so hopefully they have sorted mine once and for all. Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment. Keep safe and well my friend Andy

[@IanPnai]

@@MarchWestJunctionTMD I hope that Dapol have made a good job on the repairs for you. If the "fix" is so easy then surely they could make sure all new products being sold were up to scratch in the first place!

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

@@IanPnai Fingers crossed 🤞

[@ModelRailwayShed]

Hello Andy I hope you're well Sorry mate i dont know much about this model sorry can't help.

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

No problem Deano but thanks anyhow 👍

[@formidable38]

Well documented elsewhere on KZbin . They have a 2 piece drive shaft (they are normally manufactured by others as one piece) What happens is, the dog bone bit on the end of the shaft which is just a push fit, slips as the fit is poor, coupled with the oil, its just a matter of time. Apparently, a ne piece shaft from a Bachmann class 220 fits these. Or, some have tried superglue but im not convinced it would last. All Dapol needed to do was make the shaft in one piece like every other manufacturer in the world does!😂

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

Thanks for the information 👍

[@TheRealMondayClub]

Just fitted all my Dapol 121s with Bachmann 65mm drive shafts (the ones fitted to 220 Voyagers) part number E3260-209-01. They are single piece plastic rather than the Dapol concoction of metal shaft with a plastic "butterfly" on each end. Works a treat and and once you get the hang of what you are doing, it's a fairly painless operation. Also when fitting the Bachmann shafts, the flexibility of the plastic also assists with the fitting operation. Cost is £2 per driveshaft but beware, post is £5 per order

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

@@TheRealMondayClub Thanks for the information 👍 I’ve tested all four of my 121 and 122 and they have now all failed so I contacted Dapol and they sent me a free post address and said they will repair all of them free of charge. Regards Andy

[@markvickery4032]

Hi Andy I had the same problem with a deltic its like the motor has died never cured it. On a better note had a great day out at the NEC one or two KZbiners there Charlie Bishop jenny kirk Tris from 00 neil have a good day at the show today best regards Mark vickery

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

Hi Mark👍 glad you had a great day my friend. Hopefully it will be a good day just the weather is very wet 💦 so hopefully the parking is not far from the entrance All the best my friend Andy

[@mickc7563]

We went yesterday and it took less than ten minutes to walk to the entrance from where we parked, but it wasn't raining so that was easier. When we came out, the shuttle coach was waiting so we jumped on that.

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

@@mickc7563 Not so bad to get back to the car then 👍

[@puffcandy]

Andy contact Dapol and they will replace the driving shafts and fix the problem. for free of charge I bought one from rails of Sheffield with a simular problem. Dapol replaced the shafts and the car works a treat. Regards Andy

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

Thanks for that will do 👍

[@puffcandy]

Never cost me a penny Andy just ask if they could either look at it or fix it and I think her name was Lauren will check she replied with a label took a week and it's running great Andy

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

@@puffcandy ok thanks for that

[@DugmerJunction]

Drive shaft issue, I had the same and luckily got away with you reconnecting 😅

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

Thanks for the information 👍

[@going2thedogs]

It is the drive shaft Andy.

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

Thanks mate I’m going to checkout a video Jenny Kirk has done on it 👍

[@chelmswoodjunction]

Hi ya mate You need to contact dapol as it sounds like the motor could be struggling. Hope that helps mate. Peter

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

Thanks mate 👍

[@chelmswoodjunction]

Have you had the body off and investigated what could be wrong??? Peter

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

@@chelmswoodjunction Will do mate been told it’s a drive shaft issue 👍

[@jontipperrmrailways4995]

I’ve got exactly the same issue with mine. I have emailed Dapol but it’s been a week and I still haven’t heard anything back from them. Mine had been in storage for about 12 months as well and had been running perfectly alright beforehand.

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

Hopefully someone out there can help us. Keep an eye on the messages

[@jontipperrmrailways4995]

Just had an email from Dapol this morning and they are quite happy to repair foc with a replacement driveshaft and also send it Freepost to them as well.

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

@@jontipperrmrailways4995 I need to contact them 👍

[@jontipperrmrailways4995]

Yes, I certainly would and I’m sure they will sort the problem out for you

[@monsvillerailways5736]

Have you tried setting it to DC and seeing if the problem persists Andy?

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

Yes and it the same now on both DCC and DC

[@monsvillerailways5736]

@@MarchWestJunctionTMD so it's a mechanical fault. Time to strip it down and look for the problem. Hornby Ringfield motors have a problem with the main drive cog slipping on the motor drive axel. Don't know that model but it may be something similar. Good luck trouble shooting.

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

@@monsvillerailways5736 thank you my friend. I’ve been told by Topps Models it’s painful todo

[@nickdolman6927]

Hi.i got one change drive shaft on regular basis wood never by dapol again

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

Thanks for the comment. It is disappointing they have this issue

[@Flymochairman1]

Andrew, that is the shafts coming loose in the Universal Joints, or at least, something not catching on the drive train. I had the same problem with the 121(same unit, different livery) but mine was apparently Brand New and it was fixed on return to the Dealer. Jenny Kirk has done a video about this issue and how to fix it yourself. It seems to be a bit of an Achilles Heal with this one as they're very pretty when they're lit up. (In real life, when I was a youngster, there would be 2 x 108 pairs and a 121/122 in the middle of the consist and that would be the 1st Class section...) It is the shafts needing re-set in the Universal Joints, Thanks and All The Best Andrew. Jenny's video.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nGLXmoGMrb5krtk

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

Thanks for the information Flymo. I will check her video out. Keep safe and well my friend Andy

[@paulburton9386]

Contact the company that made it and get it replaced.

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

Thanks Paul I will do that 👍

[@kevg707]

drive shaft fault

[@MarchWestJunctionTMD]

Thanks Kev 👍 yes it’s looking that way 👍