Happy with BLI

[mike33469]

Just thought I'd let you guys hear about my experience with BLI. When I first received my BLI Hudson I still had my old 4x8 layout, being anxious to try out my new loco I ran it a few laps around the mainline, of course on the final lap with increased speed it crashed to the floor [Thank God for wall to wall carpet] but I did manage to break off the front dummy coupler and throw the front truck out of alignment. I did not run the engine again until I had laid the mainline on my new around the room shelf layout. After 2 or 3 weeks it stopped running, it would short out my whole system {Lenz DCC] Anyway I sent it back to BLI with a check for $7.00 and settled in for the long wait. My LHS guys said I wouldn't see that engine for months. To my surprise it arrived home today after only 3.5 weeks which includes shipping to and from. They not only fixed the problem [replaced the main board] they repaired the front pilot and replaced the dummy coupler even though that damage was totally my fault. I feel thats pretty good service.

[Anonymous]

I just purchased a BLI SD40-2. This is my first sound-equipped loco. That alone was the reason I purchased it. I'm pleased with the overall performance but the front headlight just went out. I was wondering how long it would take to get it back, so thanks for your post.

[selector]

Wow, that makes me feel good. I, too, have the J1e from BLI, and have generally been pleased. No mishaps, yet, but probability is against me.

Would you do me a favour? Have a look at the Hudson from the side, at about two feet away, and tell me if you can notice a slight squatting, or settling, over the trailing truck. Mine seems to, ever so slightly, and I don't know if it's just me.

Yours may sit differently now that it has been repaired. (I'll bet you were..ah...steamed when it fell!?)

[mike33469]

Hi Selector, I just checked my Hudson and its sitting perfectly level. If i were you I'd email BLI, before I sent mine back I emailed them and they replied right away, good luck.

[selector]

Many thanks, willist. I'll remove the trailing truck and see if I can put a bit, repeat- 'bit', more resistance into the coil spring by putting a spacer behind it. I can always undo that slight mod if I need to.

Thanks, again, and may you enjoy your J1e many long days.

[Anonymous]

I bot the Athearn Challenger for DC operation and THEN the GG1. That sound, WOW! Makes me want
to consider more BLI models. I think the BLI sound is one of the reasons Walthers reduced their price
on the Riv FEF-3.

[simon1966]

I think BLI has very good service, especially if you take the trouble to call. My 2-8-2 was defective out of the box. I sent it back to BLI. Less than 3 weeks later I got it back. But, there was a mix up at the repair facility and I recieved an un-decorated one back instead of the CB&Q model I returned. When I called, they could not undertand what happened, and could not find my Q model. These were sold out, so they could not replace it, but were expecting more in a couple of months later. They told me to keep the un-dec and use it as much as I wanted and they would send me a Q when it came in. Sure enough 3 months later a new Q loco arrived and I returned the un-dec. Anyway, Ifelt that even though there was a screw up, they were able to resolve the problem and stuck to it, even if it took a few months.