Hi Chris,
not all model trains are well built. Let me put this in context.
Once top models were made in brass and improted from Japan. The Koreans got into the act in the early 1970's, but their early attempts weren't well built and suffered from quality problems. By the 1980's the Koreans had gotten a lot better at building model trains and Korean brass from that period was as good as the Japanese stuff.
With plastic models, we are seeing a repeat of history. The Japanese (Kato) and European (Roco) drives in 1980's and 1990's models by Altas, uymm and Kato of course, were very good quality. In recent years most major importers have been sorucing their products from China. The quality of the Chinese models has been all over the place. Some seem OK but many seem to fall apart.
Athearn, BLI, MTH, Walthers P2K and even Atlas all get their stuff manufactured in China. So does Bachmann, but they are Chinese owned (Sanda Kan) so that should be no suprise.
If you want to avoid sending money on stuff with low quality control, try buying Kato or the older Atlas and Stewart with Kato or Roco drives. The older Proto stuff seems ok too. Admittedly those older models aren't always up to the current standard of detail. But at least nothing falls off. You could try the old school Athearn Blue Box. Very cheap, simple and ideal for learning how to maintain model engines.
Having said this, if history is anything to go by, we might expect Chinese models to improve in quality with time. Of course. like the Korean brass back in the day, it will increase with price too.
OK, I will let others come in a give you advice on rebuilding your Athearn units to a reliable standard.
