So the other day I picked up a BLI PRR M1a from ebay. It's one of the first generations with a QSI decoder but has certain features disabled from a lawsuit. What I didn't realize was the gear issues these early models suffer from. So I get the loco and as soon as it comes out of the box I noticed it was damaged in shipping. Both steps on the pilot snapped off and the headlight snapped off at the mounting pegs to the smoke box. Nothing some cement can't fix. Put it on the test track and click click click it goes as it hobbled down the track. Pulled the shell off and both the idler gears and the gear on the axel are shredded and cracked. Contacted BLI and they don't carry replacement parts for it. Is there any hope to finding replacement gears for this anywhere?
I may be in the same boat. I have a pretty extensive roster of BLI steam and just a few days ago I was replacing a decoder on a pair of first-run New York Central Niagaras. After I finished the first one I noticed that it wasn't running as well as I thought it should and decided to check the gear lube.
There wasn't much grease left in the gear train so I cleaned things up and put some new PTFE grease in there but still had a growling sound. All I could trace that to was the gear "tower" which contains the gearing you mention.
I believe the gear we need is available from NWSL:
https://nwsl.com/collections/gears-replacement-upgrade?_=pf&pf_t_manufactured_for=Manufactured%20For%3A%20Broadway%20Limited
If your gear on the axle is bad too (usually the system is designed to have a "sacrificial" gear so they don't all get ruined) I'm not sure what will work. I did have Broadway press two new gears on my PRR I1s a few years ago but they may not have parts any more for these, either.
Perhaps NWSL will be able to help here, too.
So far, fingers crossed, My M1s are still OK.
Good Luck, Ed
h0ser81Is there any hope to finding replacement gears for this anywhere?
Hopefully NSWL is fully up and running again. As Ed said, they will probably be able to help.
Good luck.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Send it back to seller unless the listing specified it had gear problems. If seller unwilling to take it back, file a complaint with e-bay. If paid with PayPal file a complaint. If credit card was used file a complaint with them. Negative feedback usually helps. Do not accept another persons problems.
Also notify the seller that the broken pieces are being returned "as is", meaning broken from the locomotive. Insufficient packing or padding.
My business concept of this is called "problem transferance". It's not my (the buyer's)problem but the seller's. When enough entities start coming down on him, he should see the light.
Mark B.
Not kewl! I too suggest you send it back to the reseler and give the seller a horrendous review. I feel terrible for what happened.
You are making things too complicated. First file complaint with seller, they will either ignor or try to compermise. If you do not agree, then file complaint with ebay. If they piss off ebay, ebay will refund all $ to you and you might even get to keep item to boot.