Mantua Decapod Revival. I've NEVER Had This Happen To Me Before... 

Half of the entertainment value of your videos is your comedic chops. The reading of the instructions at double speed had me in stitches. Great job, Ron!

I built a Mantua Mikado from a kit ca. 1956. I was about ten years old. In the kit the valve gear came in pieces to be fastened together with tiny rivets. I made a couple of mistakes which allowed the eccentric rod on one side to detach, bending it severally. After a couple of dives to the floor, the pilot broke off and the loco was retired. About five years ago I decided to repair my old trains and dug them out of the steamer trunk that they had shared with generations of mice! I repaired and restored everything to like new condition including much of the Mike. When I removed the valve gear from the Mike I found that due to lack of lubrication, some of the bushings were worn through. After purchasing used but serviceable valve gear and a new pilot and making other repairs the ancient Mike is mechanically as good as new. Plans for Mike include some body work on the shell and near super detailing, painting and decaling. The loco runs great after minor work on the motor and drive train, pulling all of my twenty freight cars and four passenger cars with ease. Check out my site for a few restoration videos. Note that the Mikado is still a work in progress. More videos to follow at some point in the moderate future. My only gripe is that the boiler is the same as the pacific, and lacks the increase in size at the back of the prototype. I'm toying with the idea of doing some bodywork to make the shell more prototypical but that would be a pretty big job. BTW - love your content! -dave

As far as “beginner” train set locomotives were concerned, Mantua, their predecessor Mantua/Tyco the steam locomotives showed more care in engineering than some other manufacturers. The use of lead alloys for the chassis was prevalent in most models, however Mantua/Tyco and later Mantua used brass axle bearings in the axil slots instead of running the steel axles directly on the alloy frame, ensuring a longer running life. I’m glad you were able to get this classic back on the rails. As a side note, I think Mantua/Tyco must have used that motor in every steam locomotive they made. I have a “General”, and three of the “Roger’s 4-6-0’s all with the same motor.

Really enjoy your videos. Teaching me a lot about different types of drive systems and electrical routes. Keep em coming!

Kit or RTR probably explains the difference between decapod and Mikado and the Pacific boiler. Decapod and Mikado were part of the Mantua resurgence in the 80s and 90s and the Pacific was a Mantua,Mantua/Tyco,back to Mantua evergreen. Never good to have a steam engine with an unintended momentary smoke unit. Oh yes the cheater headset had þo surrender to the ravages of age when I realized the eyesight I had painting dashboard detail at 20 something I didn't have anymore at 60. Am really glad the algorithm decided to drop your channel in my feed and become a tie with that young Canadian feller for my favorite model railroad RU-vidr.

Hi Classic Model Trains & it's is Randy and i like yours video is cool & Thanks Classic Model Trains & Friends Randy & Super Cool Classic Model Train & Friends Randy & I am Model Ho Scale Train

Denise Richards-Charlie Sheen’s ex and the mother of his kids. She’s a looker and a Bond girl! I have a number of Mantua steamers for my fictional railroad. I bought them over time retail and eBay. I also bought the various tenders to assure a “family” look among the locos. The big locos get the long haul tenders, the local locos get the shorter tenders and, of course, the switchers get the shortie switchers tenders. Then, I figured out how much coal the tender would carry and how much the various locos would burn and calculated how frequently I had to locate my water towers and coaling stations to simulate the stops the locos and trains had to make to add some “realism” to my train schedules. Like you, my 2-10-0 is my heavy drag loco for the coal mines to power plants. Great video, btw. I always enjoy watching you repair and restore Mantua locos!

Hey Ron, another great video. Hope you are well really enjoyed this one.

Now I will be looking for a Mantua Decapod. Thank you and do continue the inspired work Ron. Excellent video.

LOL!!! Thanks for the shoutout about the laundry room in the background!! Funny thing is, I havent worked back there is awhile because the bench is too high. Have to sit on a bar stool and its just not comfortable. Its the reason the repairs and other work are done at the kitchen table in the main layout area

Dang it watched to the end again. LOL Great video. Those old motors are a pain. Thanks for sharing.

Mantua was a hodge podge builder. Notice all three have the same undersized cab. The cab is from the 040 slopeback switcher....which was the anchor of their whole steam line. The P7 Heavy Pacific was their oldest larger engine from the 50s. The Heavy Mikado got added with a slightly different cast boiler but the Pacific tender, steam chest....and our good ole tiny cab.

Denise Richards?? Your roof repaint looks perfect. Sorry to see the motor was burnt out. 33%er

Thank You Ron, I'm thinking you have a mismatched tender! Great video I Say!

I don't even have to watch this to know that yes, it will run again. When it comes to getting old Mantuas running, I'm batting 1000. As long as all of the parts are there, it will run. It should be child's play for Ron.

My washer and dryer are in the same room as my staging yard :)

Middle of the week train video!…best way to spend the time…very enjoyable….

It was made the year I graduated High School. Ha. Another interesting video!

Mantua made the SD38, SD39 and SD40 in steam: same body, different number of wheels (instead of different number of fans, motors and HPs as on the SDs). Very impressive work Ron! Your mechanical skills are amazing!

What an excellent runner you have now!

I can't imagine the frustration you must have felt when you got her all back together and she wouldn't run! I figured you would have tested the motor on the bench before you reassembled everything, but like you said, you'd never seen a bad motor like that before. Live and learn I guess, huh?

Great job again. It's nice to hear someone pronounce the word wash correctly

33%'er here, and not trying to be a backseat driver (well, maybe I am). Two things surprised me. One: that you didn't test the motor before putting the engine back together the first time. Second: thought maybe you'd use those dental picks I sent you to clean out the holes in the cylinders. But glad to see you got'er running.

Hey Ron, I’m watching your video and I’m rooting for you to get the steam chest off, and you got it! Way to go! And now your throw out a picture of Denise Richard’s. She is beautiful! When I saw her in the movie “Wild Things”, I was mesmerized. Now back to your show. LOL

Well, at least we know we do wash. Take whatever space I can get!

Hey Ron, you really should get the axles out of the tender's trucks, clean them and the trucks, then add your favorite grease. Those areas get full of crud and cleaning them makes a huge difference. Those trucks can be gently bent to get the axles out. Just bend 'em back when you're done. I just did that to my sick Mantua ten-wheeler and the thing runs awesome now. I do the same to the long-haul tenders from the Mikados and Pacifics and get super results there too. You need to file or grind the pins off of those to get the axle retainers off, but a little CA will hold the retaining plate on when you're finished. Try it.

Lol yep washing machine, im guilty, great job ,im amazed you got that Loco going , regards 33% Marc

After a long day at work great to lay down and watch a vid, much appreciated ☺️

Looks like an old Liliput locomotive inside.

Well, at least you have a nice extra set of brushes. Great job.

No layout yet but work are is like Harry Potter’s room under the stairs. I have done the drive rods and steam chest dance with a mantua Pacific and a 2-6-2 prairie. I have multiple Mantua Pacifics, a Mikado, and the Prairie that have the full drive rods assemblies, both Decapid as yet. That’s a cool loco for sure. So far only had one dead Athearn motor so far wired. Great work Ron! Thanks!

Hi Ron. If you would like to learn what all the rods, piping, and appliances are see if you can find a copy of the "STEAM LOCOMOTIVE CYCLOPEDIA" by Model Railroader Magazine. Its full of photos and information. Well worth the investment. Also, if it were mine, I would try to find a tender from a 4-6-2 Pacific or 2-8-2 Mikado or similar for a more prototypical appearance. Your right about it seeming small for that size locomotive. Catch you later dude. Love your videos and sense of humor.

👍🏻thanks for taking us along with you on fixing this old girl lol. Hope u go back to fix the light 💡.

Great repair ron!! Had no idea Mantua even made decapods, i'll have to find one for myself at some point. Excellent video per usual!!

Once again another great and informative video. Looking forward to the next video. 33%

Great job as always Ron!!

Nice job restoring and repairing that mantua decapod. Oh if your motor from your engine like that had smoked and shortened out I think it might be the black gaps on the commutator that needs to be cleaned. To do that use a tooth pick to clean out some of the gaps of commutator plates. I do that to most of my trains and just giving you a suggestion here.

Denise Richards. I often wondered if she is kin to Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones. I think I have about 4 of those Mantua engines. I've replaced all the magnets with neodymium (rare earth) magnets and it made a HUGE difference in current draw and performance. Yep, I use 4 of the little ones I got from fleaBay just as you do. Now they will "creep" around the tracks. Cheers from eastern TN

Great video!

Amazing how good you are with these small parts . The smallest I can work with is S Scale. Glaucoma is making the eyes bad along with Diabetes meds making what I can see with blurry now. Old age sucks lol! Keep up the great work and entertaining videos! Chris, Cbtrainnut

Love your show and all your collection .

Ron your better than this,if given the chance bench test it saves a bunch of time, all these videos no one bench test them, your the best.

My layout is in the laundry room as well. My wine cellar is under the layout. Multi purpose room.

Great vid as always Ron ✌️

Super. I never owned the 2-10-0, but I do operate a number of Mantua/Tyco steam and diesel locomotives on my layout. Most of them have survived the last fifty years pretty well, but one 4-6-2 Heavy Pacific steam locomotive with long haul tender (Out of three) that I bought brand new has had a funny or cursed life. After about five years of operating fine, it just quit, and I found a burned motor coil when I checked. I buy a new motor at the train show, everything is fine for about three years, then it dies again. (While my other Mantua/Tyco locomotives are fine.) I'm thinking of using a different motor, but I buy another original motor at a train show, install it, and everything is fine. About fifteen years later, The motor coil burned up again. Older and smarter, I installed an after market motor in it, and not quite a year later, it gave up the ghost in a puff of smoke pulling a 21 car B&O "Royal Blue" heavyweight passenger train up a 2% grade on a friends layout, while the other two original Mantua/Tyco 4-6-2 Heavy Pacific steam locomotives have had no issues pulling that same heavyweight passenger train on the same layout. Finally about five years ago, I got tired of it being a roundhouse scenery queen. I dug the original motor, plus the two other dead original motors, out of my parts drawers, and following a books instructions, I rewound all three armatures, tightened the bronze motor bearings with a steel ball and a peen hammer, added additional magnets, and added a small homemade fan to the motor shaft. The motor is doing fine after five years, and now I have two more motors just in case any of my Mantua/Tyco steamers need one. The "Tale of the cursed Pacific" continues. Good video, might find a used 2-10-0 and decorate it up for my railroad. Hello from the Tracy Mountain Railway in Colorado. 💙 T.E.N.

Well you made my week Ron…well done…more patience than me, especially with that front end…cheers from Ontario…

This repair video brightened what was becoming a dull week. Good job, Ron!

Another great video, and a wonderful middle of the week surprise. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

Those Mantua Decapots are very cool. Well done. ¿What kind of magnets did you use for the motor?

You're a little like me Ron. If you can't get something done after so long you finally break down, admit defeat, and download some prints or instructions. Another great video. 👍

Thanks for the video!

Great work Ron. Thanks

Hi Ron. Good to see the old train running again. Turned out beautiful. Had a good chuckle about those instructions, takes me back to some training courses and that's what the instructor sounded like.. lmao 🤣. Great video as always, cheers.

Nice job as always on the restore.

I used to build these when they showed up on my doorstep as a kit for someone. That valve gearing & linkage was the hardest part to build, because all the rods & linkages came as little parts, including the rivets. You had to be careful not to set the rivet too hard, or it would bind up.

Great video! I’ll have to check and see if I have any extra motors laying around and make a channel donation. Won’t be for a while tho, got the life stuff going on. Have a great week!

Another good one thank you keep them coming brother

As always one your 33% great video

Ron that engine sounds just like my 040 shifter first train takes me back

Excellent job Ron👍. Those old Mantua locos have so much potential for customization. I ended up spending more on restoring one than it was worth. It had sentimental value, so that's how I rationalized it lol. But you can get real fancy putting brass parts on them to make them prototypical. There are a few guys on the interwebs that chronicled their customizations for the old Mantuas. Some amazing work.

Hey Ron again you have not disappointed thank you

Keep on Working On them Ron.👍👍👍👍.

lol you had me dying laughing when you started telling on everyone that had a washer in their layout room

Another great video Ron! I also have one of them decapods! Love those mantua steam locos! Good job on the repair! Thanks for all you do for us! Appreciate it!!

That motor may have a bad brush holder insulator. I've been having high amp draw a Athearn Hi F rubber band drive motor. Did a tear down and cleaned it up to get that to run. But have a blue arc that gets bigger & brighter the more voltage I give it. I'll be using a non-metallic paint on exposed bare metal frame to help reduce or hopefully eliminate it.

Excellent repair and runs like a dream now she’s a real beauty 👍

So the question is, how many helium filled balloons gave their lives to reading those instructions ?:P Great video.

Well here in Australia we rarely have basements.. my layout is in my old kitchen and you can see (if you take note carefully) my old oven, pantry cupboard, sink and the big kitchen floor-to-ceiling windows...This shows another reason why I do not put the bodies back on until I've track-tested them or at least run them on my rolling road. This has come up as a lovely runner now. And I believe it's Denise Richards in the pic. Ron, I've sent you a message on the flatbook... lol..

Ron, Great job as usual along with the comedy and sound effects for spraying paint and Dremel tool sound .

Another nice restoration, glad no zinc pest! You should invest in a re-magnetizer. I did and it changed my life. Restores motors performance to like new. My old Tri-ang loco's love a two second buzz! Those Neo magnets can be too powerful for some motors but i do use both methods. (What is really annoying? The penny in the dryer.....clang, pause, clang, pause, clang, pause etc etc.😬😵‍💫)

That was odd 😱 Not sure if it was the camera or lighting, but that armature sure looked smoked to me, it looked burnt blueish. But thanks for sharing. Ron

I'm glad you said something, I was trying to figure out what that was and settled on maybe a compressor or a fluid transfer pump working away. Yes, the washer and the dryer are with me in the train cellar, but the worst is the 1970's model oil burner. Being a DC train runner I'm all about listening to the actual function of my equipment with a few added noises from my head (yes like a little kid). Doesn't help that I also find myself often involved in listening to a complex jam from the stereo; and always wonder why the darn oil burner or dryer wrinkle free function starts and stops had to happen at exactly that moment! Thanks for another excellent video.

I've got a 2 car garage for my layout. I'm just starting at a 4x8 sheet of plywood. I told myself I was getting rid of most of my Ho and stick to O, but I couldn't help myself.

My brother and I really enjoy your videos. Keep it up buddy!

Wow...that was unusual..never seen a factory-defect motor in a Mantua before, usually their QC was pretty good. I wish Bachmann/Spectrum had the same low fail rate! Sure they look pretty copared with models from the 50's and 60's, but when gears crack, you dont have a locomotive anymore...you have a paperweight!!!

Thank you for sharing.👍

Another great video! Thanks

Great job! I started watching this a while back and just finished it today. I have a Tyco Mantua Mikado and a Pacific. They’ve been giving me fits to get them running. Keeping my 60’s era Tyco stuff running is a challenge. I’ve really enjoyed your videos!

I was just out in your area last week. I was driving down this street and looked to my left and lo and behold, there was your little shack with the big ol rv up front. It is nice to see in real life the location of one of the people that I follow on here. Now to make and sell maps to find a star of RU-vid!!!!! Thanks for the wonderful videos and they are very entertaining.

Very soon on the washing machine as I expand. Want to see you tackle a Stewart Century

Classic model train 🙂🚂😊😊👍.

Another great video Ron. I have never seen a motor do that, and it looked new or at least gently used. That was the first reference I have caught about downtown Davisville… I like it! Take care, Jeff.

Nice old Locomotive!! Great job again getting them running.

I'm very surprised, Ron, that you didn't bench test that motor before reassembly. Otherwise, nice job all around..

As usual, another interesting and entertaining video.

I could never make a video on these without some tough language. I always hated trying to put the rods back in the piston chambers. It came out great though. Love how it crept along. Keep them coming.

Another great video Ron. Many thanks, Gordon

I have a Mantua mikado. All die cast, I think this one came from the mid 50's but early as 1948. It appears to be identical to yours, except the different wheel arrangement, and different motor arrangement. These are very smooth operating engines. Do you make any money off your coin op washing machine?

You are doing great work! Thank you!

WOW, middle of the week video! Really like your videos, even helped me repair some of my old locos. Keep up the great work! Denise Richards is the cutie in the picture.

I heard the washer machine in a layout room

4:17 "27 screws to do it...." Been there. Right up there with "The Last Lugnut™". RHST=Right hand self-tapping.

You are a funny guy

Bravo Ron, totally enjoy your videos.

Her face looked familiar, couldn't place a name to the face! I'll forgetter (forget her) again! 😁

Dang Ron , my guess for the classic model was either Roseanne Barr or Brad Pitt ? but oh well video was on par like usual . Thank you for your effort to make them .

Do u do repairs i have a Noryher Pacific 2-6-6-2 from John bout 10 yr or do ago its sat all that time my hands shake rather bad think it just needs relube an oiled gladly pay u for ur time

"Carmen Ibanez"... ...my neighbor asked me, "why didn't he bench test the motor right outta the gate?" I said "I don't know"... ...then I knocked him down and we had a good old dust up

Great video 👍📸

Hey yah! Been a little curious about that washing machine. I noticed it has a coin operated mechanism. What’s with that?