Hi all, I just took off the shelf a BLI Brass Hybrid GN S2 4-8-4 that I have had stored for the past 6 years. It is loco #2579 that I vaguely remember some having running issues due to intermittent shorting of I think the trailing truck. Does anyone remember the details? Mine is affected with this problem. I should have tested this more thoroughly when purchased but I just was not set up. Thanks for any info.
I'd contact BLI. They had a run of the GN s2 that we're full of problems. I almost bought one some years back but my LHS steered me away, thank god! It saved me a headache!
JJF
Prototypically modeling the Great Northern in Minnesota with just a hint of freelancing.
Yesterday is History.
Tomorrow is a Mystery.
But today is a Gift, that is why it is called the Present.
I had a #2579 that ran well, but the sound would just stop and start, repeatedly, while the darn thing ran. It was actually very frustrating.
Beautiful loco. Crappiest sound, really. Engine ran very well.
Sold it on Ebay; it was my son's--gave him the money and he bought a nice big (for us) tv...
He still has 3 articulated steamers, but being 14.5, he doesn't use them that often.
John
If you don't like dealing with BLI directly or if the warranty has expired, Seneca at Train Service Depot is a former BLI repair tech and can fix just about anything, but it won't be free. He does get them done FAST, much faster than if you send it to BLI. So what matters is how quickly you want it fixed and/or how much the cost is worth it to you.
Sorry to hear about your engine. Sounds like it could be a wheel insulation problem? But that's just a guess on my part.
In my case, my son had wanted a big UP 4-6-6-4, so we bought one, a new P3 UP 3985, which failed in a few days. Seneca explained it was likely the P3 decoder AND the motor. He put a new (upgraded later P3 version) decoder in it first and tested the voltage and found the motor was still drawing way too much current and had to also be replaced (with later BLI motor). With all that and shipping back and forth, the engine was back in my hands and fully repaired in about 2 weeks flat. My cost was about $120 including shipping.
Your engine should be different, and I would expect not as expensive to fix assuming he can still get the parts he needs directly from BLI, or again, you can deal directly with them.
Best Wishes--
Hi OP, this is quite a simple diagnosis.
If its the trailing truck, simply remove the trailing truck and run the engine. If its still shorting, obviously the training truck isnt the issue.
Id check the pilot (as someone mentioned), trailing truck, leading truck (make sure its not touching the underside of the pilot nor pistons), and anything else you can easily take apart.
Good luck! Let use know what you find!
Charles
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Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
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I would do what Charles says: identify the source of the problem by eliminating possible causes. Also: what is the radius of your track? Shorts can also occur in overly tight curves.
If the truck is the offensive component, you can further diagnose the issue by putting the loco on its back, and see what touches what when you move the truck. An Ohm meter might be useful to see what happens if the truck touches the frame.
Some brass engines with this problem can be fixed by grinding the truck. I'm not saying that this is the solution, but it's part of our "fixer toolbox".
Simon
Insulating washer/spacers, judicious grinding down, smoothing, and then repainting, widening the curve if it happens on only one spot on the layout, or all of them... Often a multi-factor approach means doing many things, but no one thing so drastically that it kind of ruins the entire outcome.
Thanks all for your thoughtful replies. After contacting BLI support they graciously agreed to repair it for me as a one-time exclusion to their usual policy. I think they might be aware of a factory flaw with this particular model and I did mentionin my correspondence the large number of BLI locos on my roster so maybe they just wanted to keep me a happy customer. Aside from their generic sound, I think they look and perform well, especially the brass hybrids. I sent it back today hoping for the best both through the USPS and BLI. BLI did mention a possible 12 week process but I am not in a rush. This is such a handsome loco, I just want it running. Thanks again and suspect I will be hitting up Seneca for future problems -- BobR.