TT120 Shaft Issues and Upgraded Shaft Install

[@MikeNRail]

Excellent work! You’d think Hornby’s designers would’ve spotted this issue before production.

[@ThisWayWorksTWW]

@@MikeNRail To their defence things like this can be missed, it seems not everyone is having issues but were all different in the way we run locos and handle them.. The question is what will be done to improve this issue? I only have so many shafts i can sell, its finite at the moment 😞

[@mikebiggs6632]

Good mod. If your 3D printing modified props, you could also 3D those washers to the size you want.😊

[@ThisWayWorksTWW]

@@mikebiggs6632 these are actually injection molded shafts ATM whilst i have stock, I am printing some at the moment though so hopefully they stand the torture test 👍, with regards to the washers a copper washer or nylon similar to the one i use in the video is probably more desirable to allow a slippery surface for the cup to rotate against 👍

[@mikebiggs6632]

@@ThisWayWorksTWW ahh. I didn't realise they were injection moulded, I just assumed they were 3D printed. 👍

[@StormmyStormmy]

Hi, great informative video of a issue Hornby probably know about, maybe the drawings weren’t adhered to and the factory just fitted them anyway, I’m not a TT modeller but it reminded me of an issue I had with a new Accurascale class 37 that locked up after 10 minutes of running it in, I’m very competent in taking model trains apart so it wasn’t an issue in sorting the problem myself, once I had disassemble the unit I was surprised how thin the driveshafts were! The shafts had no lubrication whatsoever on them which surprised me so I applied some Labelle 106 ptfe grease to all the joints and the bogie driveshaft tower worm gears and other associated parts, put everything back together and tested and then ran the loco in according to manufacturer’s instructions, it’s such a shame manufacturer seem to cut corners when it’s not necessary on such a vital part of the models drive system, thanks for sharing.

[@ThisWayWorksTWW]

@@StormmyStormmy That is a very good point with the drawings maybe not being followed properly, like you im mainly a different scale modeller, Im mostly N gauge whereby slight errors can make a really big impact on performance. Im very interested to see what the driveline scenario is like with the Class 66's due to come out soon in TT, With TT's infancy im just hoping the video can aid the Manufacturers to the phenomenon here if they dont allready know and educate and hopefully not put off newcomers to model railways if starting with TT, theres normally a fix for most things 👍

[@StormmyStormmy]

@@ThisWayWorksTWW Skilled modellers like you are an asset to this unique hobby, I’m sure your video will pop up on RMweb because others have found this issue and don’t want to send it back to Hornby because you might not get the same model back, if they’re prepared to sell you a unit that has a potential problem then they will do what they want when you surrender your unit for repair because you genuinely can’t do the work required to fix it, these things happen a lot with Hornby products, calling it out is not a crime or Hornby bashing! It is a fact and making fellow modellers aware is a duty of care in my opinion, it shows that all the development wasn’t fully undertaken as the manufacturers claim, some modellers never have issues while others have way too many, a lot of people knock Accurascale for various reasons but they support modellers without issue and that’s me speaking from experience unlike Hornby who tend to ignore and abandon modellers at times.

[@ThisWayWorksTWW]

@@StormmyStormmy Thank you, I just muck about with alot of mechanical things all the time! I have emailed Hornby so hopefully I do get a reply, those Accurascale models are beautiful, I cant bash Hornby, its just the way I am and most manufacturers are, theres so much we dont see going on behind the scenes at these places and other industries, horrific lead times from suppliers, overlooked designs, peer pressure to push quality control back or not do it as the project is allready late etc etc... 😞, on a high note though tech has come along way, We all just need to know how to use it 🤣

[@ianhughes-zf1ll]

Brilliant thank you

[@rogerclark5869]

Good to see you back again Richard. I have got more into TT as I think it’s just the just the right scale.

[@ThisWayWorksTWW]

@@rogerclark5869 Its a lovely scale Roger, with time the scale will grow 👍, love my HST 👍

[@piccadillymodelrailways]

Great mod, so simple and very effective. The washer by itself maybe sufficient if the thick shafts are not available. Have to say so glad Ive not experienced this in N gauge, well into tweezer territory, lol.

[@ThisWayWorksTWW]

@@piccadillymodelrailways Yes with TT it has its own challenges but definitely larger than N gauge for sure! Ive never had Propshafts remove themselves from N gauge so its testament to the N gauge designers!! 👍

[@Chris-BognorRegis]

Hi Rich - When are wegoing to see more of the Brackley Layout, watching you build that and how you go about things are amazing. Guess your going to Tings this month, I am up there and would love to say hello bearing in mind I have no idea what you look like LOL. I am hoping to get back into my layout soon having had a long period of illness. Keep the updates coming, cant get enough of them. Regards Chris

[@ThisWayWorksTWW]

@@Chris-BognorRegis Thanks Chris, yes il be going to TINGS on the Sunday so if you see me wearing a TWW shirt come say hello chap, Im probably not going to film this year as my hands will be busy with a pram i suspect 😁, Brackley will be coming soon, theres been alot happening, more than i thought would just lately, being unwell is no fun, glad your getting back into your layout 👍

[@Chris-BognorRegis]

I will be wearing a blck T shirt with RTR on it and it does not mean Ready to Run but I guess it could. See you then, looking forward to it.

[@ThisWayWorksTWW]

@@Chris-BognorRegis Haha yes Ready To Run was the first thing to pop into my head! Only a week away! 😁

[@PeachyTT120]

Top stuff Richard

[@ThisWayWorksTWW]

@@PeachyTT120 Im hoping it can help Hornby and us modellers get some issues sorted 👍

[@PeachyTT120]

@@ThisWayWorksTWW absolutely 👍

[@tonyray8701]

Excellent work, both to yourself and High fell for coming up with solutions to fix Hornby's issues. All the issues affecting their TT120 range is a sad indictment that serves to illustrate that this situation is bad and deserves to be condemed, What are you doing Hornby??? no response to any of these issues, no accountability to customers, no press release, OH only to say raising prices again twice in a year, well beyond inflation rates. Hope future release will be fault free as you cannot raise prices without raising quality of your products which is so far sub standard, and very poor quality control processes.. Will these be availible as warranty replacement parts from Hornby as well as your motor replacements for A1/3/4 trains, as you say you only have a certain amount availible, do the right thing Hornb'y and put right that which you have got so wrong, if you want Hornby to survive, as each issues is just another nail in the coffin.. The future is of your own making, which way will you let it go???? I really want Hornby to succeed but the way it has been, Im not sure???? Time will tell, drastic times, drastic measures, things need to change big time, Hornby, listen to your customers if you want to keep them, dont treat them with ignorance and contempt, as it feels like.. sorry for the rant people, Hopefully it may get seen.

[@ThisWayWorksTWW]

@@tonyray8701 Thank you, we all want the Scale to succeed, dont want newcomers especially to be put off at all so actions for solutions were needed 👍

[@JohnThomas-lc3hr]

Hi Richard, This is not a comment about this video but rather the TT120 coreless motor you have developed. I have just watch the "high Fell" test on them. I'm in Australia and have taken up model trains in last 12 mth for retirement interest. Love it but chose TT120 for various reasons. I have had four motor failures in this time, Night Hawk twice all with 12 months. Hornby have one importer here and although very helpful and easy to talk to can do nothing except replace them with same motor. Their service dept is fully aware of the brush failure and has heard of a coreless replacement. Anyway, I see on your eBay site that you are not shipping to Australia. Be really good if you could please.

[@ThisWayWorksTWW]

@@JohnThomas-lc3hr Hi, listings have been updated to international post, its a bit pricey though, if you need more than in the listing just drop me a messege via Ebay 👍, Cheers Rich

[@JohnThomas-lc3hr]

@@ThisWayWorksTWW Thanks just ordered one. Had some UK money left on travel card so didn't hurt. Postage is outrageous from K.

[@JohnThomas-lc3hr]

Hi again. Will you be restocking the TT cordless motors on eBay. Have one but going to need more. Tar

[@ThisWayWorksTWW]

@@JohnThomas-lc3hr Hi, i have more on my website 👍, baylissbespokedesigns.co.uk, eBay was being very problematic. That being said i can only do UK orders on there... Drop me a messege via that website and i can put an order together for you chap 👍

[@Paul-ue3zy]

Good to have you back. Look forward to some new vids. How's Crewe coming along?

[@ThisWayWorksTWW]

@@Paul-ue3zy Its good to be back 👍yes Crewes going good 👍 it took ages but i can loop locos on it now! Soon very soon! 👍

[@mf303]

To save fitting the washer, could your replacement propshafts be slightly longer? Or is it moving the cup closer to the motor which is improving the geometry? Received my Class 50 propshafts and also 3 replacement A2/A3 motors today, excellent service, thank you!

[@ThisWayWorksTWW]

@@mf303 Hi, you dont need the washer but it really just improves the reliability for free essentially.. I did it on the HST but no washers on the 50. The worst offender is the stock fishbone like shafts 👍 Love to hear your experiences with the motors, they are proving to be pretty popular 😁

[@wilsonkemp-sr7ez]

Hi Richard, do you still have these for sale?

[@ThisWayWorksTWW]

@@wilsonkemp-sr7ez Hi, I have a new version out now. Please check out my website, baylissbespokedesigns.co.uk I will pop a new link in the video description 👍

[@chompette_]

Strange design choice to have a bogie-mounted worm sitting central in the bogie tower, models I've owned with this mounting have the worm as offset forward so the propshaft's universal joint can be as close to the centre of bogie rotation as possible. Thus minimising the propshaft being rotated at extreme angles.

[@ThisWayWorksTWW]

@@chompette_ Yes completely agree, the ball on the shafts should be the swival point of the bogies 👍