I bought this loco new last spring, and have run it less than 2 hours since purchasing it. I pulled it out of the display case today to run it for the first time since summer (been busy with design and scenery work). It runs very erratically, stopping or slowing down without reason. Sometimes when it pauses and takes off again, the sounds and lights stay off then come back on after it has travelled several actual (not scale) feet. I cleaned the track (it's brand new MEC flex) with my bright boy followed by isopropyl alcohol. No difference. I run a Digitrax Super Chief Extra DCC system. Four other locos of various makes and designs, 3 DCC and 1 DC, run fine. It behaved this way when I tried to clean the wheels using my Woodland Scenics Tidy Track device. The wheels looked clean to begin with. On one of the first tests, it went dead (and stayed dead - no lights,sounds, or movement) as it ran along the track. A call to BLI resulted in my performing a hardware reset on the decoder board, which brought it back to life. It reminds me very much of poor power pickup design behavior like I've seen on my cranky Mantua steamer.
Any insights or opinions are appreciated, as my next considered move is to send it to BLI for repair.
Wilton.
Wilton,
I believe,you may have created,a problem,with your intent on cleaning the wheels.
My suggestion to you is to study your, BLI Operators Manual,starting, on page 43 and see,if that will help you out. I have two BLI RSD 15's run on DC, only and never had any problem's with them.
Cheers,
Frank
I don't think that cleaning the wheels brought on the problem.
And, I have to ask, do you really still have a problem if the reset "brought it back to life" ?
For whatever the reason, BLI locos are notorious for misbehaving after sitting idle for a period of time.
A reset to factory default most always seems to solve the problem.
Here is what BLI has to say about the reset function on the Paragon 2 series.
Q: How do I reset my Paragon 2 Series locomotive to factory defaults?
A: There are two ways to reset the Paragon2 locomotives. 1. Using your programming track, reset CV8 to 8. You will hear the coupler crash sound as confirmation the reset was successful.
2. Locate the manual reset button on the main circuit board. Place the model on unpowered track. Press and hold the button. While holding the button, apply power to the track. After you hear confirmation that the reset was successful, you can release the button and re-assemble your model. Loco address is now 03.
Rich
Alton Junction
Frank and Rich,
Thanks for your replies. My BLI operator's manual only has 27 pages, but I noticed that on page 23 there is a reference to factory default reset using the Lenz DCC system (mine is Digitrax). As I wrote in my original post (but it seems not very clearly), I performed a hardware reset at the suggestion of BLI's technical support, to correct the issue of the loco going and staying dead, a common problem according to BLI. What I perhaps did not make clear in my original post was that I did not discuss the larger issue of the loco's stalling and pausing behavior with BLI, as this behavior did not manifest itself more consistently until after I had done the hardware reset and attempted to run the loco for a more extended period of time. So, in the hope that I can clarify my earlier remarks, the stalling/pausing issue was present all along, and continues to be the issue I am dealing with. The hardware reset did resolve the issue of the loco becoming completely inoperable, and gave me the expected acknowledgment, but the pausing issue, complete with the frequent temporary loss of lights and sounds, remains. As amplifying information, let me also add that the behavior I am describing does not occur at a turnout or at the junction of track sections, but just anywhere along a piece of flex track. I have feeders every 4 feet or so, and all joiners are soldered, and other locos run normally. Your additional comments are welcomed.
Oh, you're a big help, David.
David,
I like your idea, and had a similar thought yesterday afternoon. I really enjoy the BLI Alco engine sounds (don't know how authentic they are), but a more reliable sound decoder is definitely a plus. Can you recommend one?
Loksound Select.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I have an earlier, I assume it's earlier,2005,that starting at page 43mid page is a trouble shooting guide, that lists all of the problem's you are describing and also the cleaning of the wheels issue, that's why I recommended it to you, the guide goes all the way to page 50. My two have been sitting for close to a year and I tried one and it works perfect. Like I said, I am DC only though, so I really can't say much about it. But I do read, a lot. BTW, the Manual, I have, has a copy date of 2004. Good Luck!
Do you have a Magnetic Wand with yours? It does state in one section,that if you tried to set it to factory defaults and had no results, use the wand to set it back,to factory default and make sure the engine has not been Muted with the F8 key.
having a similar problem once ,I always check first ...DO YOU HAVE a second cab or throttle with the loco address still active NOT dispatched ? ...Jerry
Frank and Jerry,
Thanks for the info. I think my manual is indeed a different version - there is no troubleshooting section in it (BLI saving trees). BLI's online FAQs did not provide any insight, either. My loco did not ship with a wand, although I have heard about them. I checked to make sure my (only) throttle had this loco's address selected properly and only once. F8 was not being activated during the tests, except to be sure it was in the proper mode. The loco is under warranty, so I will try to call BLI technical support on Monday (they are only in the office 15 hours per week), to see if it's worth the expense and hassle to repair it.
Wilton, if it is still under warranty, there is no expense, just hassle.
BLI will send you an RMA number so you can return it with postage paid by BLI.
They are in the office all day, Monday thru Friday, but they only take repair calls between 1 and 4 each day.
Send it back if problems persist, but call first for the RMA number.
P.S. There is no magnetic wand with Paragon 2 diesels which first came out in 2008.
Did you do the manual reset by holding down the reset button on the sound board with the track power turned off, then holding the button down while turning the power back on?
Rich,
I did the hardware reset procedure (manual reset) that you described, following my conversation with BLI's technical support yesterday. I was told this is preferred over the CV reset, which was described to me to be only a software reset, which would not resolve my dead-on-the-rails symptoms. The hardware reset did get the loco moving again, but the larger issue of stalling and pausing remains. My remark about their hours of availability was, as you noted, a reference to their technical support staff. Thanks for the RMA information.
It's a track problem. Check continuity between track sections and then check voltage readings.
That's his MO.
Gatrhumpy,
Thanks for the tip. I thought that as well at first, but have discounted it for now as I have run about ten of my other locomotives on this trackwork, and none display this symptom. Some of these other locos are known to me to enjoy less than stellar power pickup properties. The track joiners are soldered and the track is brand new MEC flex that I scrubbed clean with my bright boy and wiped down with isopropyl alcohol. The more I ponder this the more I am inclined to suspect a spastic decoder.
Randy, thanks for the decoder referral.
oregon shay The more I ponder this the more I am inclined to suspect a spastic decoder.
The more I ponder this the more I am inclined to suspect a spastic decoder.
Agreed.
Hi,
I have two of these - both really nice in all respects.
You indicated the problem is likely with decoder settings. And, that you run DCC and DC together.
I would guess that running them together may have somehow contributed to the problem. That's just a guess, but weirder things have happened trying to mix the two operating systems.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Mobilman,
I feel the need to clarify a few facts here. I suspect the trouble centers around a defective decoder. I've had no trouble setting CVs. The reference I made earlier to DC was to mention that I had tested DC locos as well as other DCC locos on my track (controlled by a Digitrax DCC system) as part of my efforts to diagnose the trouble I have with the BLI Paragon2 RSD-15. I tested one loco at a time, and never ran any two locos together, DC or otherwise. I have run DC locos on my system numerous times before, and they run well, of course making that familiar buzzing which is the hallmark of a DC motor in a DCC environment. I had a conversation with BLI's technical support yesterday in preparation to sending it in for repair (it mailed-out this morning at my expense, which is BLI's policy), and the tech mentioned a lack of conductive lubrication might be partly at fault, as a result of my comments about additional symptoms that include significant static sounding along with the horn, bell, or the prime mover revs. There was no documentation included with the RSD-15 explaining where or how to lubricate it. The decision was made to send it in nonetheless. In a couple of months I should have some answers. Thanks for your insight.
I received a new DCC sound SW7 BLI locomotive this past spring and it exhibited many of the same symptoms as your locomotive. After two failed warranty repairs I asked for and received an exchange. I suspect the problem was a bad order decoder. Don't know how many BLI locomotives might share the same type of decoder, but maybe there was a bad batch.
good luck and regards, Peter
Peter,
Thanks for sharing your experiences -good information to know going forward.
Respectfully,