LGB Mikado

A loyal reader asked Yours Truly recently to talk about the Mikado and other Biggies from LGB. So, in the midst of one of the coldest winters on record in the USA here is some Winter Reading:

The Mikado was designed by LGB in 1999 and it took until 2002 to bring it onto the market. From the start it was meant to be an offer for the US market though it was sold in Germany and Europe as well. As with all big locomotives by LGB with the exception of the Mogul, the Mikado was made in small numbers. That said there were still   5,210   engines manufactured over the years. All engines until 2006 were manufactured in Nuremberg , Germany even though all other locos and stock was manufactured mostly in China from 2000 on. Today under Märklin,  most engines and stock is manufactured in Hungary. The Mikado suffered from some 'early childhood'- malfunction due to a design flaw in the body construction which was then redesigned in 2002. Please read our blog "Mikado 1,2,3" published on 11/6/12 for further detail on the subject.
The Mikado LGB numbers are LGB 20872 for the first engine type in 2001 to LGB# 22871 for the last engine in 2004. The numbers in-between are LGB# 21872, 22872,23872, 24872,25872. The numbers do NOT represent a continuous time frame when issued or offered.

LGB 212872

In addition to the pure LGB Mikado made in Germany there is a LGB authorized LGB Aster G 21832 Mikado White Pass in metal.

Value wise the Mikado has lost a bit of her steam in the last two years. You see offers anywhere between US$ 1,200 to $ 2,400.00 for the LGB versions and from US$ 1,800.00 to $ 4,000.00 for the Aster Mikado. That said, if you buy a Mikado that has had some run time at all you might need to take into consideration that a few parts need attention and might add to your 'final' purchasing costs. Gear wheels are at the core front as are motors. Operation of the earlier Mikados leads to developing play on the first drive shaft in the motor block which should NOT have play And since all Mikados came with sound except the SNCF (green French) Mikado 22871, the sound boards wont keep another 10 years either. Unfortunately, the Mikado was made under Rolf Richter's regime and there were no upgrades made to an already very outdated sound module used in the Mikado. On the other hand, with fantastic sounds available from either Phoenix or ESU you might just have saved enough on your purchase price to spend a little on a really great sound that is modern, update-able, and top-of-the-line.

The very rare LGB 22871 French Mikado

Repairs: For working on or replacing motors, checking the drive shaft, greasing the drive shaft connections or check for play on the first drive shaft  work on the motor blocks is required. It is best to separate the drive train from the loco body. To do this the generator should be removed first so you can place the Mikado on its back without damaging the generator (highly recommended from Yours Truly, too because due to a sparse spare parts situation, generators go for US$ 38.00 currently with a trend to increase in price). The drive train is attached to the locomotive with 3 screws only. Two in the rear on the left and right hand side of the motor and 1 screw all the way in the front, hidden behind the pilot. It is strongly recommended to use the correct screw driver ( for small screws) so you can re-attach the screws again and not damaging them or their thread for good with a wrong tool.
With these screws removed the drive train comes off the body in one piece. Watch for the cables: one red, one black to quick-disconnect cables for the chuff, bell+whistle; and one set of cables, black and brown, connecting the motor to the electronics inside the body. Please make notes which wire or connector goes where and make sure that the quick dis-connectors will be re-connected in the same direction - otherwise your sound will not work.
Sounds complicated? Yes, it can be. That's why you have Klaus. And Klaus can actually repair play on the drive train which is a complicated matter and needs parts made on his 3-D mill.
Parts: as for parts, Klaus carries the Mikado gear wheels, motors, generators, wheels, traction tires, push rods, and hand rails. Just call with your needs- he will find what you're looking for.