SECR Hornby H Class, quality control issues and fixes

Again with the heartbreaking disapointment :( Hornby have always and continue to bring us beautiful models with ever more refinements but from my recent experience the quality control in China is shocking.

This quick video (like the S15 one before) charts the issues but this time shows the fix.

It's not offered to have a pop at Hornby who we all want to succeed and carry on the goods work (maybe a bit cheaper) but instead for those who might be so afflicted later on and need to know how to fix it.

Just to confirm, this video is not having a pop at Hornby, far from it, this video is offered for the benefit of other modellers in the future. Clearly if you have a defective brand new model you should return it or send it to Hornby for repair in the first instance.

My retailer did manage to acquire a replacement from Hornby for me so all credit to them, however having given this little thing so much time I wanted to keep it.

[SamsTrains]

Hi Mike really sorry you had issues with her - glad you managed to fix her in the end!
Mine ran pretty badly too - I've found that my issue was thanks to the pickups - a few of them weren't even touching the wheels!
All the best,
Sam :)

[jerryallen]

Once again Mike, I feel you pain. I've just received faulty Hornby goods again and it's a complete pain in the you know what to return from where I live. I understand there is a chance of this but it does seem to be getting the norm rather than the exception! Well done on your skills on getting it sorted out. Cheers Jerry

[ChrisJNeale]

Hi - another piece of the Hornby poor quality control jigsaw! I purchased an 'unused' push pull set with a BR liveried H class, after having watched your video, so forewarned and forearmed!" I raised the motor as you did but encountered similar problems. What solved the 'one legged donkey' running for me was reducing/removing the loco loading onto the rear pony. This was set ‘out of the box’ to prevent the rear driving wheels making contact with the rails! This in turn meant that motion was only achieved, via the connecting rods, to the front wheels and so very jerkily. Reducing the loading on the rear bogie has now resulted in all 4 driving wheels making contact with the track and she runs sweetly!!! Thanks for the video - it gave me confidence to make the purchase even though my solution required another approach!

[helenrussell-clark]

Brilliant video, thanks for posting and really glad you fixed the issues. Well done. Now at least I am prepared when the BR black ones start to

[athopi]

Hornby need to bring that factory back home.

[themidlandcompoundarchive]

Of dear though I'm glad you managed to fix it!

[H_chapman]

Great Video Mike I hope Hornby see this because I have noticed that the Hornby nylom gear beneath the worm drive, cracks after a time sometimes you get the loco out and all you hear us the motor spinning. Not good why can't they make the gears out of plastic or maybe carbon fibre for extra strength.
Many thanks
Harry

[tonydaly]

Hi Mike.

I bought one of these just before last Christmas but only now am I getting to look at it.
I have given it a good running in on a rolling road.
I could swear that it speeds up & slows down at times.

I haven't taken the body off or anything like that as I have been busy doing other things.
I know you did a video on motor problems recently but I can't just find it ?

Tony

[hollpoll]

Oh No, my heart dropped when I watched this having just ordered one, I have now asked the lady I buy from if she can test it prior to despatch before travelling thousands of kilometres to Australia, This is appalling stuff Mike at least you were able to fix it but I simply don't want to take loco's apart as you know I have had three casualties myself this year. Lovely models ruined by poor quality control (lets say NO quality control). We simply don't get these problems with Bachmann, anyway thanks for the heads up Mike, all the best
Stewart

[trainsontuesday]

Was it just me or does it also have a rocking motion as it trundles down the track? David.

[ChapelEndJunctionUK]

I know if I did that to a new loco it would never work again with my luck LOL, great fix in the end

[andrewguttry]

I'm a bit late to the party but, although most of my Hornby locomotives run perfectly, there are a few notable exceptions which have been relegated to the scrap line. The new Terrier stops and starts at random; the M7 runs smoothly but with a loud screech-unpleasant to listen to so it doesn't get run.
That said Hornby aren't alone; Bachmann's motors can be noisy (Wainwright C and Billinton E4), but not necessarily running in both directions. The BR 4MT tank has also been relegated because of lumpy and unusable running.
I prefer to think these are rare (if irritating), anomalies among an otherwise fantastic array of fine models we're able to run on our layouts.

[MarmiteCrumpets]

I was looking forward to the BR black version, but your issues have really put me off. This is unacceptable on the part of Hornby, and the related QC issues I've read that others have experienced have me thinking that my hard earned may now instead go to another project. I've had issues with both the M7 and T9, and Hornby seem to have difficulty in producing a decent 0-4-4 or 4-4-0 that both negotiates track well and has good haulage capability. The DJ O2 is also a bit feeble in the haulage department so perhaps this is a more general issue with the "balance" of 0-4-4's?

[howarth]

Not a good thing from quality control Mike ..you should not have to do this ..its a pain when you get a bad one ...well done on fixing it ..Dave

[vkanth]

Mike do you have any Western Pacific class collection?

[Fred-Wilbury]

Blimey Mike you seem to be probably do the same as you...having said that I’ve just returned a Bachman 101 2 car unit to Rails of Sheffield...it ran intermittently for a couple of days then packed up completely....fingers crossed with the replacement....also that’s the first dodgy set I’ve had you take your name off all the dodgy hornby stock in the warehouse....regards ..Fred

[OlivierGabin]

Well... I was planning to buy this model, but seeing all the problems, I have removed it from my shopping list.
I don't want to have a second brand-new SR model with motor issues from Hornby, I have my S-15 on a shelf waiting a replacement motor NOT from Hornby, that's enough for me.
Anyway, I have to decide if I scrub the forthcoming Hornby Standard 2MT from my shopping list or not. At roughly 180 € apiece, I have something more constructive than deal with the return department of one of my favorite retailer. I have not decided yet what to do (I want a mogul in BR early emblem) but with such issues, they can count me out as a customer until having hired people for quality control.
Model train is supposed to be a hobby, not a pain in the neck to stay polite. Especially if you are buying from outside the UK.

[bluebellModelrailway]

You are certainly having, some bad luck as I said on RM web, I found a few small little niggles after filming my review how ever not as bad as yours, although credit to the retailer for trying, I do have to ask if your consistently getting bad models from one retailer I would certainly buy else where.
 I tend to stick to one or 2 retails mainly de-rails as the models are tested before dispatch which is a good thing for me as I know it works before arriving.

I feel Hornby in terms of customer care, is not great, spares are difficult to get hold of and expensive, or just not want to produce them.
But for sure more care needs to be taken when checking for flaws before leaving the factory.
Theres a white sticker on the box with batch and factory I would certainly send that in to Hornby to ask them to look in to it.

[michaelwearne]

Nice of you to review these models it’s getting silly the price they charge and all they are doing is cutting corners there getting greedy there well behind with there profits so just bang the price up some idiot will buy it, it’s getting worse more money for less quality, it’s disgusting, thanks for pointing these things out.

[garyburford]

I must agree with Harry’s comment, but I must say that I have little confidence that Hornby will actually respond as, in my experience Hornby customer service is abysmal to say the least. Long gone with Hornby is the credo that the “customer is always right.” You bought this beautiful model, the money paid and therefore the relationship is over! Pity really as Hornby has much potential.