I purchased a BLI Milwaukee S3 a few months ago and have had decoder issues with the locomotive. The decoder seems to be unstable and regularly loses its memory making it necessary to go back to "factory settings" and then reprogram the address, motor controls and sounds. Any advice other than sending it back to BLI? I have toyed with the idea of ripping out the Paragon 3 decoder and installing a Tsunami heavy steam decoder.
Split Reduction
Call the experts. Call BLI. Talk to one of their techs, he'll maybe coach you through a test, and if he can't get it to correct itself, he'll authorize a return.
I agree with Selector. I recently had a stuttering BLI PRR H10. BLI sent me a replacement decoder which was a simple swap.
That did not improve the condition so they authorized a return. A new lovomotive arrived in about two weeks and has been running fine ever since.
Call or email BLI, they are pretty helpful.
http://www.broadway-limited.com/customerservice.aspx
Good Luck, Ed
Call BLI - This is a known issue. When they send the replacement decoder, remind them to also send the bracket for the new decoder...
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Jim and all,
Thanks for the tips. I called BLI, descibed the problem and they are sending out a replacement decoder- no charge.
Split reduction - Modelling the Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
I have five BLI Quantum engines , all steam engines. If they set for more awhile unpowered or completely off the layout, they lose their memory.
I have to constantly reprogram them.
I have a Tony's Powr Pax which apparently doesn't work,so I added an MRC 8 amp power booster to my layout and now I can read CVs on thge main line with just one engine on the layout. But using BLI programming guide is useless!
Two T1 s, two 4-8-2s , andd 2 -10-2
As I mentioned all of them do this. It's a hassle to take the tender covers off to reset them, the magic wand magnet sent with them does nothing, and using the DCC programming guides provided by BLI does nothing.
I'll pretty much guarantee you aren't reading CVs on the main. You need Railcom or Digitrax Transponding to read CVs on the main, and the QSI Quantum decoders support neither.
The programming guide is far from useless. It lists detailed settings for every CV supported. The index settings really aren;t that hard if you step through it one step at a time, once you see how it works it's quyite easy to set a whole series of settings. They give some examples int he manual, don't skim through those, read what it says and you'll be able to understand the index CV notation.
There is a very specific process for the wand, you don;t just hold it over the tender. You need to turn the power on and off at the right time as well. Once you have had the tenders off a few times you should know where the magnetic reed switch is. And you can always use a different magnet, like a Kadee track magnet. The only real problem with the reed switch is that eventually it may stick closed wven when no magnet is around it, which means the loco will reset every time you take it off the rails or turn the power off. Plus you do not need the wand to reset, you can do it programmatically. From the manual, page 140:
Set CV49=128
Set CV50=255
Set CV56=113
Should sound the horn 3 times.
These are old locos now, 10+ years old. I have an Atlas with a QSI Quantum decooder and it works fine, no problems reading or writing CVs.
I guess you mean a C&O T1 - if you have a Reading T1 that's a PCM model (same company really) but it has a Loksound 3.5 decoder, not a QSI, so the procedures are completely different.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Split Reduction I purchased a BLI Milwaukee S3 a few months ago and have had decoder issues with the locomotive. The decoder seems to be unstable and regularly loses its memory making it necessary to go back to "factory settings" and then reprogram the address, motor controls and sounds. Any advice other than sending it back to BLI? I have toyed with the idea of ripping out the Paragon 3 decoder and installing a Tsunami heavy steam decoder. Split Reduction
I just received the same Milwaukee S3 for minor repairs after I bought it used from eBay. The work order from BLI mentions that they did replace the decoder. I ran it by itself for a few laps on my layout. Then, attached the cars it was pulling before i sent it for repair. Now, the locomotive will not move forward or backward anymore. All sound and light functions work, the locomotive will not move. Tried to reset the decoder on my programming track to no avail. I cannot read back the address after reset. This seems to be a problem with BLI decoders, specially for steam locomotives. I have 5 of their steam locomotives and 3 diesels, all Paragon3. A PRR S-2, a PRR T-1 that I bought refurbished from them, a Big Boy, a Challenger, the S-3, an AC6000 and a GE ES44AC. The steam locomotives all had issues with the decoder at one point or the other. The T1 had the same problem than my S3. It had been sitting on my layout for some time. I tried the other day to run it. The sound and the lights would come up but the locomotive would not move forward or backward. Resetting the decoder didn't help. BLI asked me to return it.
nemesys Split Reduction I purchased a BLI Milwaukee S3 a few months ago and have had decoder issues with the locomotive. The decoder seems to be unstable and regularly loses its memory making it necessary to go back to "factory settings" and then reprogram the address, motor controls and sounds. Any advice other than sending it back to BLI? I have toyed with the idea of ripping out the Paragon 3 decoder and installing a Tsunami heavy steam decoder. Split Reduction I just received the same Milwaukee S3 for minor repairs after I bought it used from eBay. The work order from BLI mentions that they did replace the decoder. I ran it by itself for a few laps on my layout. Then, attached the cars it was pulling before i sent it for repair. Now, the locomotive will not move forward or backward anymore. All sound and light functions work, the locomotive will not move. Tried to reset the decoder on my programming track to no avail. I cannot read back the address after reset. This seems to be a problem with BLI decoders, specially for steam locomotives. I have 5 of their steam locomotives and 3 diesels, all Paragon3. A PRR S-2, a PRR T-1 that I bought refurbished from them, a Big Boy, a Challenger, the S-3, an AC6000 and a GE ES44AC. The steam locomotives all had issues with the decoder at one point or the other. The T1 had the same problem than my S3. It had been sitting on my layout for some time. I tried the other day to run it. The sound and the lights would come up but the locomotive would not move forward or backward. Resetting the decoder didn't help. BLI asked me to return it.
the motherboard died so i called bli & they said if i sent in the loco it was a 10 week turn around so i said i will pull the motherboard & send it in , they said well that will only be a week turn around time !!!
i got the board back & it runs fine but now the headlight & the numberboards & the smoke unit dont work .
they all plug into the light board in the boiler so i have to replace that also . now my BLI blueline big boys work fine GO FIGURE
thomas81z now my BLI blueline big boys work fine GO FIGURE
now my BLI blueline big boys work fine GO FIGURE
Brian
My Layout Plan
Interesting new Plan Consideration
Another issue with the P2/3 decoders is that they don't work properly with the UP 4-12-2. The reason is that (apparently not realized at the time) the OEM put a 22:1 gearbox in, which can't be counted down from the flywheel pickup correctly.
I solved this by replacing the P3 with a WOW, and epoxying six tiny disk magnets on the inside of the front left driver, with a reed switch pickup.
Hal
I just got a T-1 p3 4-8-4 locomotive for Christmas. After reading this, I am thinking about sending it back. I understand BLI has great customer service by either sending a new item or new decoder or live contact with a technician. However BLI steam locomotives are not cheap and after spending all that money why would I want to be taking this brand new locomotive apart to replace a decoder. To me, it would like buying a new F-150 having the ECM fry and the dealer sending you a new on to install yourself. I have other diesel BLI items that runs great, but I wasn't aware of the steam locomotive problems, I am glad I read this topic.
willy6 I just got a T-1 p3 4-8-4 locomotive for Christmas. After reading this, I am thinking about sending it back. I understand BLI has great customer service by either sending a new item or new decoder or live contact with a technician. However BLI steam locomotives are not cheap and after spending all that money why would I want to be taking this brand new locomotive apart to replace a decoder. To me, it would like buying a new F-150 having the ECM fry and the dealer sending you a new on to install yourself. I have other diesel BLI items that runs great, but I wasn't aware of the steam locomotive problems, I am glad I read this topic.
I bought my wife a P3 Reading T1 in Chessie System. No issues other than it got a little warm pulling a heavy TOFC train a few years back.
BMMECNYC, Thanks for the comment. One thing is my fault for not looking at the date this topic was posted which was 3 years ago. I trust BLI has corrected this problem. I will keep what I got and try it out.
willy6my fault for not looking at the date this topic was posted which was 3 years ago.
I wish you luck, there are newer threads and the subject is the same.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley