The Shay Fixer
~
The Shay Fixer ~ |
| Home | The Shay Fixer | Testtraxx | The Nickel Plater | What's New | For Sale | Contact | Links |
~ Welcome to "The Shay Fixer" for all your brass needs ~
I specialize in working on United/PFM geared engines...Shays, Heislers and Climaxes. I have in house, the largest inventory/selection of original PFM/United factory Shay parts in the world!!!
| Remotoring |
| Regearing |
| Tune-Ups |
| Decoder Installs |
| Lubrication |
Some particulars to remember about your prized brass engine...
***
These are 30+ year old engines...
Solder joints can be inherently weak and time is not a friend to them...
These engines had originally installed in them, a high current draw open frame motor or an early run can motor...
Many gear materials were tried and few compare to today's materials for wear and durability...
After 30+ years many of these gears are brittle and prone to breakage with even a little operation...
Original lubricants are now non-operable in your beautiful brass beauty...
Proper lubrication is a must before operating a long boxed engine. I use only the finest quality lubricants such as "Neolube", "Nano-Oil" and "Nano-Grease" on your engines...all of my engines get the exact same treatment...
Many replacement parts are non existent, are salvaged from other locomotives, custom made at a shop such as North West Short Line or custom made here in my shop....
Repairing and replacing components on brass engines takes time and costs $$$...and...even that does not always produce the results desired. Important…at what point is the cost of repairing just not realistic?...
"Tune-ups" are highly recommended if engine is or will be returned to service...
I can not be expected to be responsible for anything outside my immediate control...for example: shipping damage, any complications arising from work done on your engine prior to my work or any complications arising from work done to your engine by someone other than myself, etc...again...I will be happy to work on your engine...normal rates and shipping apply...
PLEASE NOTE... Because they save time, money and do a superior job of cleaning, we use ultrasonic cleaning units to help clean an engine's parts and sometimes superstructures. We try always to protect from damage, any paint work or original finishes that we work around. However, due to a number of factors, most involving your locomotives history, how a particular model's finish reacts to this type of cleaning can be very difficult to assess. Since I cannot control what has happened to your locomotive in any way prior to its receipt by me for any work which you may want me to do, I cannot guarantee that there will not be in some way, some finish damage. This means, that any paint or finish on the locomotive has the inherent risk of being damaged in some way by the work you are requesting to be done. I always do any touchup painting required as long as it is minor as part of your job. If there is more substantial damage done to the finish (extremely rare) and you want it repaired AND that repair requires use of a spray gun, paint booth, masking, color matching or what have you, I will charge at minimum, $40 for one hour of 'time' for the cleaning, set-up and breakdown of the airbrush painting process. I will not charge for the painting process itself.
***
How about satisfied customers? Here is a sampling...
***
Carl from Jefferson, Pennsylvania...
”Hi Phil,
The Shay locomotive arrived safely thanks to the excellent packing. The locomotive runs so well that I was mesmerized running it back and forth at a scale speed of 1 - 2 miles per hour. In fact, the SRT throttle speed check timed out because the locomotive was running at less than 1 MPH. Phil, you may call yourself "THE SHAYFIXER" but you truly are "a SHAYWIZARD/SHAYMAGICIAN
Four other people attempted repairs on this locomotive, and now, at long last it is running! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Your friend in Pennsylvania
Carl
***
Watch the 'You Tube' video below to see:
Carl's N Scale Overland 3-truck Shay going through her paces before going home...
~*** ~
*
*
*
Do enjoy Carl...
Denny from Albia, Iowa...
”Phil,
Awesome repair job. I don't think anyone would ever pick-up on it.
I guess when you're good you're good!!!
Denny”
***
Phil from Califon, New Jersey...
I received my Shay today. I did not get a chance to run it as I am getting
home late but I look forward to it and I will let you know how it is. Thank
you for your excellent communication and hard work...
***
Anders from Slagtofta, Sweden...
”The Shay looks terrific...”
Ander's Shay is below...
***
***
***
***
***
***
Neil from St. Louis, Missouri...
”Phil, the Masons arrived yesterday afternoon! Somehow I waited until 8 pm to test them. Can't you just feel the struggle I went through, waiting for so MANY hours before trying them out? Had to wait for my wife to go to her tennis match!)... I am able to acquire their addresses and operate them. The momentum starts and stops are very impressive. The flywheels really help with pickup and getting through any sketchy spots. The work is very nice, Phil. I particularly appreciate the CV sheets for each loco. This is clearly an essential item of record-keeping that I will adopt for all my locos. So, please know that I am a happy customer, and I look forward to the other Masons...
Thanks again, take care and keep up the great work!”
***
Gregg from Cedar Rapids, Iowa...
”Hi, Phil...Received the repaired shay in the mail yesterday. Repair on the U-joint looks really nice! Can't see that it was ever broken. Nice job!
As you said it would be, it is still a little balky and jerky on my test track, requires a little coaxing at times with a finger tap, but it does run and the U-joint functions fine. At present, it is just going to be a display model at best, so not a problem. I did learn my lesson about old NWSL shays though, and won't be shucking out big bucks for EBay bargains on NWSL shays in the near future.
Thanks for your attention to detail and fine work! You'll be hearing from me if I have brass logging loco issues or projects in the future. Best wishes...”
***
Robert from Lake Havasu, Arizona...
”Robert from Az. here. I Just wanted to thank you for the awesome job you did repairing and restoring the B class 3-truck collection Shay from United/PFM that I acquired back in October.
You are the only one I would have trusted with it & I am very pleased & impressed with all you did for it especially the gear cover on the rear truck. The quality of your work is outstanding & your rates are more than fair as well as your turn around time. Hope all is well & I will definitely do business with you in the future.. Thanks again, you're friend on this end...Thanks...”
***
Thomas from Port Townsend, Washington...
”Greetings Philip !
Trust all is well. Sunny day here, though only 44 degrees, tops. Will take it. Wanted to let you know I received the Shay today, looks and runs great! Just as expected. I want to thank you for your work, professionalism, and communications. It was a fun experience. You may consider me a formal reference for your work, and I will truly get back to you with any future issues with my Shays! Hey, I may even call just to talk about Shays!”
”You do that Thomas”...Phil
***
Roy from Corpus Christi, Texas...
”She arrived yesterday and I wiped off the tracks and ran my track cleaning boxcar over the entire layout twice before the test run. Once again I couldn't take my eyes off of the slow smoothly running Shay. It cleared every frog and I began to play switching games with the dozen loaded and half a dozen empty log buggies. By the time I was calling it an evening I was too tired to send off a receipt to you. The same thing nearly happened tonight. That engine will move so slowly you can see each individual car begin to move in a chain reaction as you start it off- that's impressive! After more than six hours of running, the wheels are still spotless (I also had cleaned all the rolling stock wheels per your suggestion). The design of those contacts on the insulated wheels is a solution I had thought impossible; your work is well worth your charges (and that is coming from someone who hates to spend money). I'm now an even happier customer...Thanks for your work...”
***
Watch the 'You Tube' video below to see:
Roy's HO PFM/United B-2 Shay going through her paces before going home...
~*** ~
***
***
***
Craig from Charlottesville, Virginia...
”Dear Philip,
This 'high-stepping lady' arrived today and is everything you said she was.
Thanks”
***
Michael from Koenigsberger, Germany...
”Hi Phil...My Shay just arrived...what a piece of art. Thanks. Let's see what will be possible to get next. Regards...”
***
Mike from The Basin, Victoria, Australia...
”Hi Phil,
...Success! No idea where its been but awful pleased its arrived. Thanks for your help. It’s a great little machine.
Cheers...”
***
Jim from Birmingham, Alabama...
”Hi Philip,
”My Shay arrived today. She looks great AND works great AND runs like a timepiece...Thanks a lot!!!”
***
Watch the 'You Tube' video below to see:
Jim's HOn3 Westside-KTM Shay going through her paces before going home...
~*** ~
***
Matt from Edmond, Oklahoma...
”Phil
I am very happy with the quality of the repair work on my Feather River Shay. When I tested it I was amazed at how well it ran, smooth, no noise, the best running engine I have. I guess that Nano oil does work. I don't know how you were able to build a new u-joint but it looks like new! I am very glad that I have gotten to know you and look forward to conversations in the future...”
***
Bill from Eleva, Wisconsin...
”Hi Phil,
”I got the Shay today...it, she, really looks beautiful and she runs really smooth, just like clockwork...”
***
Sim from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada...
Hello Phil,
”Sim calling from Canada. I don't know if you remember me or not...( I do Sim!)...but you did that Iron Horse Models 42 Ton Shay for me a while back... It had electrical problems and you put in a Tsunami 750, lights, couplers and everything...even a Tune-up and all...anyway, got it back from you buddy a number of months ago. I just ran her for the first time today and she runs absolutely FLAWLESS!!!. Thank you so much...it is ABSOLUTELY GREAT! Bye bye...”
Watch the 'You Tube' video below to see:
Sim's HO PSC/Iron Horse Models 42 Ton Shay going through her paces before going home...
~*** ~
***
Josh from Capitola, California...
”The kids use the word "awesome" very loosely today, but this truly is! Worth every second of the (reasonable) wait for it. I no longer mourn my PFM 2-trucker of the 1960s. It is a fond memory, but this one is my new love. Thanks, Phil.”
Watch the 'You Tube' video below to see:
Josh's HO Spectrum Shay going through her paces before going home...
~*** ~
***
Anders from Slagtofta, Sweden...
”Hi Phil,
I´m speechless.......it´s magical how that little lady operates. A million thanks for your excellent performance and by the way I´m sending your 'You Tube' clip to a number of friends...
Talk to you soon,”
Watch the 'You Tube' video below to see:
Ander's Westside Models B-2 Shay going through her paces before going home...
~*** ~
***
Robert from Alliance, Ohio...
”
I did receive the Climax on Friday. I have tested it and she runs fine, really silent and smooth.
Sincerely,
***
William from Green, Ohio...
”
Hope you can help - Getting a nostalgia bug for a brass Shay I used to own...I believe it was a KTM import, in HOn30. I think they just took an HOn3 model and regauged the wheels; actually it looked a little large scale for HOn30. I had one in the box (marked HOn30) - not the finest model, but I have that bug to relive those early days...Probably dated from 1980's (?). Anyway, if you ever run onto one in a collection or whatever, I would be interested.
I like your approach - going over everything and making them right running, because I'm well aware of early problems. I'd rather pay more that way than buy a pig in the poke in an auction.
Thanks, William...”
***
Dave T. from Vienna, Virginia...
”
Shay arrived today. Runs great. Only problem is every flaw in my track is now exposed. Have to really clean every scale foot.
Nice job, I'm happy!
Many thanks.
Dave”
***
Rob from Loomis, California...
”
I just wanted to let you know that I picked up the Shays from the Post Office yesterday. You did a wonderful job of packaging! The Shays look GREAT!!! I haven't had a chance to run them yet so I will have to take them over to my buddies house to operate them. I don't have anything set-up and wired to run them on yet...but I am working on that!
Anyway, just wanted to let you know that I got them safe, they look good. I also got all the packing and programming paperwork you sent so thanks a lot.
I will let you know how they run when I get them over to my buddies layout. I am sure that they will run fine given the YouTube video you sent me.
Watch the 'You Tube' video below to see:
Rob's ‘Double Header Finale‘ going through her paces before going home...
~*** ~
***
Craig from Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada...
”
The truck you returned to me arrived today in excellent condition and runs exceptionally well.
Many thanks
***
Don from
”
Grandad Eldon, The Motorman
”
Want to thank you for your referral of your customer Barry. He called me today.
Your website is an outstanding piece of work!!
Happy trains!! Thank you
***
”
Shay arrived last night in the mail and tested it this morning. She runs really fine! Thank you so much!
”
The truck arrived yesterday. The repair is excellent. Fitted it back on , and runs just fine, thanks.
***
”
Your suggestion worked for my problem with the WSM 4-truck Gigantic Shay. I used two small square pieces of brass across the end of the trucks and pulled the trucks tighter against the side rods. This stopped the slipping that I was seeing under load.
Jim Hutchinson
”
It really looks good! Can't wait to see and hear it. See you Tuesday at 12:15 or there about.
Thanks so very much
”
Looks great from here, you are definitely a craftsman! Other than that, please ship it, I have a brother that will be green with envy at Christmas.
Thanks,
Smitty
Phil”
Paul from Endeavor, Pennsylvania...
Phil,
Excellent! You do very nice work!! Thanks also for the complementary items.
Notice the hat, #2 was the Salmon Creek Lumber Co. Shay that my great grandfather operated.
Talk to you soon.
Happy New Year,
Smitty
I have been meaning to tell you that it was nice to see your picture in the Model Railroad Hobbyist Magazine. Maybe you are going to get some of the credit you have earned.
It was good to meet you up in Seattle and I am glad I brought you my std. gauge shay to repair with my new HON3 you are working on for me.
Congratulations again,
Dave”
...and in parting...
***
