Yes - another GG1 thread. :^)
I run my BLI GG1 strictly on a club Digitrax DCC layout (no 18' radius turns, so I don't have that problem), but notice that the lead trucks on the GG1 will jump off track for really no apparent reason. I've check the tracks, they're smooth and to NMRA specs. The lead trucks appear to NMRA specs as well when I check them with the guage. I've watched the GG1 roll past on a clear straight section of track (no switches, stray ballast) and the lead truck just pops off the rail.
I know the GG1s are touchy about track, cheap switches, and rail grime .... but if anyone has any ideas on how to keep the lead truck from jumping I'm open to them.
Now - BLI in general has raised my eyebrow though. So far, the last couple BLI locomotives I have purchased from BLI have arrived without Operator Manuals or part schematics. Most BLI diesels all function (DCC/Quantum-wise) the same, so the lack of an Ops Manual isn't a stop dead on your tracks kind of thing. But - usually when you hand over that much money you kind of expect not to have to call BLI up and beg for the manuals, schematics or couplers they were supposed to provide in the first place every time you purchase their product - and you certainly don't expect them to only send you poorly xeroxed copies of said manuals. Even Bachmann makes sure they stuff their exploded parts schematics in Spectrum loco boxes. :^)
And it appears a lot of BLI's DCC Decoders don't program correctly on Digitrax programming tracks. It'll read back the 4 digit road number you just programmed in following BLI instructions, but it lies to you. :^) As soon as you switch over from PROGRAM to RUN - the unit is right back at Loco 3. The only way I've found around this is to program using a PROGRAM Booster track that's not Digitrax. Crazy, but works. :^)
As for being solid, strong pulling locomotives - I love my BLIs. They've got the weight, they've got the 5 pole can motors, they're detailed enough to look great at a scale height of 100 feet, and they definitely have the sound that grabs peoples' attention. It's just that BLI quality control seems to be slipping a tad ... like forgetting to put jumpers on their circruity at the plant and missing manuals.
Hi. Place a straight edge of about 12" in length on top of the tracks, both rails, in the location(s) where the truck seems to dislike the tracks. Use a good backlight and get your eyes right down to the level of the rails. With the light on the other side of the straightedge, do you see any dips? I'd bet that they are there. Otherwise, I can't explain your GG's symptoms.
As for your programming issues, when you input the 4-digit address, my Digitrax SEB stops power to the tracks. You have to restore it. Then, what I do with all QSI decoders is to enter programming once more, but this time in Ops mode, and dial in CV 29. Enter a value of 38, and the decoder will now recognize your new name for it. No need for the booster at all.
CV 29 is one of the key inclusive indices that requires a certain value in order for the decoder to acknowledge the new 4-digit address. Try doing as I described without the booster, and you will find that the loco will no longer respond to address 03, but will respond to your newly imput one.
Check said truck for any weight/tension. I'd have to look at my father in law's to see if it has a spring to maintain pressure on the trucks, but I do know that I can run his at warp speed through supposedly 'inferior' Atlas Code 83 turnouts and it NEVER derails.
As for a manual - the manual they ship with is usually very limited, just some basics. the REAL manual for QSI decoders is on the QSI web site (and I think BLI has it for downlaod as well). It's over 120 pages long and describes EVERYTHING the decoder can do. I can see why they do not package it with every loco. And that's just the DCC manual - there is ANOTHER one that size for DC operation. If they provided hard copy of all this, you'd get a 2 pound loco in a box with 5 pounds of books.
As for programming - there is for some unknown reason (actually, I think it's the time the decoder would be 'speaking' the CV values if on the main and verbal readback were enabled) a long delay between the decoder accepting a CV value and it being able to accept another CV value. The 4-digit address prompt on the DT400 times out before this delay time expires, so CV29 never gets set even if you say Yes. Selector has the right answer - just program CV29 afterwards and it will be running on the desired 4-digit address you previously entered. You cna also program ont he main in Ops Mode - contrary to popular belief you CAN change the address CV's in Ops Mode. There are several calculators online to get the values for CV17 and CV18 based on the desired 4-digit address (Atlas was nice enough to include all combinations for the first run of the Trainmaster right in the manual), plus it is in the QSI DCC manual. Again you have to program CV29 manually after setting the values for CV17 ad CV18.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker wrote:As for a manual - the manual they ship with is usually very limited, just some basics. the REAL manual for QSI decoders is on the QSI web site (and I think BLI has it for downlaod as well). It's over 120 pages long and describes EVERYTHING the decoder can do.
No - I was just looking for the basics manual that BLI is supposed to ship with their engines - I figure, you paid for it and you should get it just like the couplers (you shouldn't have to go to your LHS to buy new kadees when BLI was supposed to supply them in the first place). I went to a local copy center and had them print out the real decoder manual from BLI's download section.
Thanks for your help. My guess is that it's the club's track. The whole GG1 unit doesn't derail, it's just the front trucks come off the track. There's a spring to hold the front trucks down, don't know how to adjust that spring to maintain pressure though.
I have the same problem with the lead truck. Oddly the derailments only happen in one direction. I tried putting lots of lead weight onto the truck but that hasn't helped.
The tech support people at BLI have been extremely helpful, both on the phone and by email. I managed to mess up the trucks twice, once in changing the couplers (which turned out not to be necessary) and once in adding the lead weights, and replacement parts came very quickly. They haven't solved my derailment problem, but at least they answer their emails.
I now have 3 BLI engines (which are wonderful), a bunch of hopper cars (which I think are beautiful) and my wife wants me to get the stock cars with sound (!!). So I really hope the company can address these issues and remain at the top of our lists. And if somebody could come up with a solution for wandering lead trucks that would be better still.