Heljan Metropolitan : Repair Request

[@duncanrhodes4778]

Incredible. What a mission this was. However, no matter how difficult things are, those of us who have watched your channel for any length of time, know that in the end we will see you successfully running the model. Brilliant, dedicated work.😊

[@mikeking2539]

OMG! the "fun" of working on a Heljan loco..... getting the bogies off, and then back on again is enough to drive you up the wall! Well done for sorting it out for Gerry! On another note it's also fun to try and spot the Tardis on your layout and see where it turns up! Always enjoy your videos, keep up tjhe good work, but remember to have time for yourself and family, take care!

[@johnstephens649]

Just brought one of these Metropolitan Bo-bo,s. A delightful model andcruns beautifully. Now praying nothing goes wrong with it… At least I now know a bloke who has worked on one!

[@johnmassey7687]

well done,, what a fiddely piece of rolling stock to work on .

[@JerseyBill-x9r]

Great video as usual, I enjoyed the uncertainty you displayed in this rendition due to its rarity but, I also empathies with your hesitation to disassemble the thing. I'd be a bag of thumbs just getting the shell off. These new detailed locomotives are a trap for breakage during attempted repairs. The best thing you did, had a tea and a think. Looking forward to the next installment.

[@AnthonyWilliams-ew3wp]

Your skills are outstanding.

[@stephendavies6949]

I was very curious to see what rolling stock you'd pair with this loco, but your tussle with Heljan's seemingly deliberate actions to prevent you from accessing its heart helped me resist the temptation to ffwd to the end of the video. Both watching you succeed in overcoming the obstacles and your choice of coaches for the running session did not disappoint.

[@Lexingtons2024]

When you heat something up the inside doesn't get smaller. It expands the same as the outside and gets bigger. This is the principle for putting tyres on real loco sets. They heat up the tyre put it on the wheel set and as it contracts it gets tighter. Simple physics.

[@ausfoodgarden]

Oh Bill, I feel your pain! I was fixing an American loco with a very similar setup. It took me 3 days as I kept getting so frustrated I had to walk away. But like you, I got there in the end. Nice video. Cheers!

[@thedepot7416]

Cracking job there, if any of my Heljan models pack up they will be static displays😵‍💫

[@scottmcneil1150]

You have the patience of St Heljan ! I've got a couple of those locos, beautiful, but I'll stick to ringfields !

[@vikingsmb]

i did have heljan 47, but returned it as had issues, prefer lima and hornby ringfields much better to work on

[@timgray3491]

Great job Bill tried your patience a wee bit😊

[@tombeck6335]

I think you deserve a cup of tea Bill, or possibly something a little stronger after that, Well done! ☕

[@knottyal2428]

It must be beer o'clock after that marathon Bill! Runs nice and smooth now, but what a job.......

[@peternorris6438]

Well done we certainly live and learn the effort was worth it in the end

[@terrycharleslewis7565]

Well done Bill, I reckon it was quicker to build the actual prototype! Regards Terry 😮

[@michaelaldred6529]

Do like your videos been watching your channel a lot plus i like how you ballast your track looks great. Keep the good work up.

[@roberthocking9138]

Nice one Bill, I thought it was going to beat you for a while, good job

[@peterwebster3076]

Nicely done sir

[@charlesemerson6763]

Very nice job Bill. I've never been a fan of Heljan's bogie mount system. I don't know why manufacturers don't just use a system similar to Kato which is pretty much fool proof.

[@thestocktonflyer4059]

Great video bill 👍 very fiddly but the man got there in the end 👍

[@astolatpere11]

Very nice looking model. Nice job.

[@modelrailroader5619]

“Bit of a fiddle…” Right!

[@stevehewitt4190]

That looked like open-heart surgery, I wonder what the sequence of assembly is at the factory.

[@stephendavies6949]

I bet they take delight in designing products that make maintenance and repairs as difficult as possible!

[@AnthonyWilliams-ew3wp]

I reckon they’re all pissed.

[@stephendavies6949]

@@AnthonyWilliams-ew3wp Or high?

[@russellbenton2987]

Heljan locos drive me to distraction .. The worst is the Class 17 with these infernal buffers you have to take off to get the body off . You have the patience of a saint . I think you've just done open heart surgery . Well done !

[@glennwoods2462]

Certainly looked a bit of a faf to do... kudos for your dedication...👍✅🇳🇿

[@lesbird2074]

Imagine what it must be like working in the factory assembling these things day after day! I have a W&M railbus which works but not very well. I'm not looking forward to working on it; it's bound to be similar inside.

[@DaiElsan]

The centre hole, will expand outwards not inwards. It's normal practice to warm bearings before fitting to shafts. Trust me, I've been doing it for over 40 years off and on.

[@oobill]

To be honest I'd never really thought about it much but of course it expands outwards otherwise it would be compressing not expanding.

[@petersmith4455]

hi there, well done, with this classic Dr Frankenstein loco,

[@colincampbell2372]

Where did you get your pinion puller from . I purchased one and it was rubbish, It kept bending the shaft pins.

[@patricksmodels]

That was some job! I say that old Jouef steam locomotive s have complicated pick-up and gear layouts, but they're a piece of cake compared to this one.

[@johnsrailwaylines7087]

You have to unplug all the wires. The board is marked as to where the plugs fit.

[@Londontransitduck]

Yay a metropolitan railway locomotive

[@suninn22]

Have you ever repaired a Heljan class 33? Body comes easy though, it is completely dead, where can I get the spares as I live in the States

[@roba4297]

Rather you than me. What a pain !

[@carolinerogers1057]

Great video as usual

[@ModelRailwayShed]

Any news on your APT train project Bill?

[@davidstead4048]

Hi Bill could you possibly do a service for me on an Airfix 2 6 2 tank engine

[@johnwalker9750]

And here's me who couldn't get the lid off a new bottle of Humbrol white wash.😂

[@stephendavies6949]

I feel your pain. So often I too fall at the first, simple hurdle.

[@Bambootattoo]

One thing is puzzling me, Bill: how did Gerry remove the old motor in the first place?

[@oobill]

It will pretty much just pull out but with a little stress to the driveshafts. Sometimes fitting is not the reverse of removal though....

[@dennissharp4292]

I hope that mine never has that problem. It seem extremely fiddly and overly complicated. It would appear that it is not user friendly which is a shame.

[@peterwatts4163]

It is a misconception that if you heat up a piece of metal such as a flywheel that has a hole in it, then the hole will get smaller as the metal expands. Imagine that the hole wasn't there - the metal that fills the space that the hole takes up will expand in the same way as the rest of the piece. When metal is heated, any hole in it will get bigger. It is why vehicle starter ring gears, or steel wagon tyres are heated up before fitting - they shrink onto the flywheel or wagon wheel as they cool.

[@dl582]

Yes, I was surprised he didn’t know that. Have done it with flywheel rings on cars. You would have to be extremely careful though on a OO model.

[@eugeniomarins2936]

Perfect! Cheers from Brazil!

[@nikesb9420]

I’f you want to see this train go to the London transport museum

[@donniblanco5239]

Edge of the Seat Stuff - Was more like an Episode of Greys Anatomy - Awesome Micro Surgery Doctor, I don’t think you’ll have much rest in your Retirement I’m Afraid 😅 Well Done 🙌🏻✨

[@stephendavies6949]

Excellent analogy.

[@bigmac60]

Very jiggly and faffery

[@keitheglon]

Heijan are the worse to work on, stay away from the crap models will save you less hassle😅😂