BLI Bad Engines

[Anonymous]

Howdy,
I was wondering if anyone else has had trouble with receiving bad or broken engines from BLI. I have had 3 so far. The first one is a hudson 4-6-4, i had to revamp the driver cover because it was causing the middle driver to not rest on the rail. The second one
is a Pasific 4-8-2. I had to reajust the wheels on the front truck of the tender, it would de-rail at the frog. I also got a N&W aux. tender from the that had a bad wiper that was broke and they said they would send me one, well that was a month ago. And now i just got in the mail a new N&W J class from them and the whole slide arm on the firemans side is missing, right out of the box. I called there tech support and the tech said they would send me out a returning label so they could either replace it or repair it. I wonder how long it will take to receive the return label??Or for that matter repair and send the engine back to me.

[scubaterry]

Wow! Talk about a black cloud. I have three BLI steamers including a Hudson and have had no problems with them. Actually I think I may have to adj the front truck on my 2-8-2 Lite because it does not like T/O's. Other than that no probs. I bought one of the original Hudsons and sent it in a year ago for the upgrade.
Terry[8D]

[Virginian]

While I am sorry to hear of your misfortunes, I am happy to report all mine have been great. It seems things tend to work out so that some people get most of the problems with certain things. I hope you get your issues taken care of, too.

[tstage]

Doug,

I'm sorry to hear about your misfortunes with BLI, but I am glad to hear that they are making good on your third locomotive. I've heard an occasional story, here and there, where a BLI locomotive was disappointing for someone. But I think you win the prize on consistency.

I only have one: A 2-8-2 Mike. It's needed some lubrication and breakin but they mentioned that in the manual that came with the locomotive. My Athearn Mike actually runs smoother but can't pull anything close to what the BLI Mike can.

Please let us know how thngs turn out with your newest steamer...

Tom

[simon1966]

I had a bad Mike, but BLI took care of it without any problem. It was a nasty short in the tender that was the problem.

[Anonymous]

We have 3 BLI's, and had a problem with the first one we bought - A Mike as well. The connector from the tender to the engine was no good. It took several weeks for them to repair it, but it was repaired with no problems.

However, that same loco has the derailment problems going through turnouts as well. I haven't been able to solve the problem yet, so the loco pretty much just sits on a shelf until I can figure out what adjustment I can make.

[selector]

My Bli's have been super, although the Outlet Direct Niagara I recieved had its pilot truck in upside down. Works better and better each run-in day I give it.

For those of you with Mikes that won't pass over turnouts easily, the problem is almost certainly an issue with the drivers, as a whole -since they constitute a long wheelbase by themselves - wanting to raise the front truck off the rails due to the CONSTRUCTION OF THE TURNOUT. If the turnout has a frog that is too high/low, or point rails that are too high/low, even if just at one end, for either case, you will necessarily have the drivers, rearward and rigid, suspending the front truck to the extent that the wheels finally pop up and return to a near neutral position, which is usually at odds with the rail angle below them.

First, place the loco on a mirror fragment, or a glass pane. Get right down to eye level on the same plane at the glass - driver flange interface. What can you see about the drivers? Do they all seem to meet the glass surface the same way? Now look at the front truck. Is is sitting flush on the glass? If not, then you have some fixing to do. If it is, then you KNOW the problem is the turnout, not the loco.

Take the turnout out of the track (a pain, but is it worse than a loco sitting idle?), and lay it on the same counter or glass. Place a very flat, opaque object that weighs very little so it does not distort the true physics of the rails and frog....doesn't press it down flat if the turnout is not flat....which is what you are wanting to determine. Shine a light all around the perimeter of this setup, directed toward the turnout. If you see a bright gleam near the frog, you have a height adjustment to do; the frog is low. Conversely, if the light shines throug everywhere BUT the frog, the frog is high, and the drivers are being lifted there.

This is long, but you have to be patient and methodical about this type of problem. Believe me, I was not too thrilled with my Niagara until it all clicked, and the rest is a pleasant history.

-Crandell

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by selector

My Bli's have been super, although the Outlet Direct Niagara I recieved had its pilot truck in upside down. Works better and better each run-in day I give it.


-Crandell

I think the Outlet direct models are returns that have been looked at and fixed in some cases when they find problems. The problem you had with the lead truck might have not been caught by them. Is that the assumption of the product when you purchased it direct from BLI??.

[Anonymous]

First off, I would say that I am sorry you are getting hit with problems with the BLI engines. I encourage you to return them to BLI to be either repaired or replaced. (You did send your warrenty cards in right?) Keep it on until you are satisfied with the product.

I had a T-1 come in from PCM (Same as BLI) that had issues, the Tech support with assistance from the LHS handled my issue very well.

I have nothing but good things to say about BLI because I own a number of thier engines and all of them are doing well.

My experience took a long 4 weeks. I was like a expectant father driving the LHS shop keeper nuts with:

"Is the...." I would start to ask.

"No, not yet... we will know soon." The patient LHS said.

which eventually became solid email information and phone calls with good information as the repair progressed.

Another customer had a problem with his SD40 and that took about a month as well.

So, peace and still, these high dollar engines are supported by BLI really well. And I think that what makes it all so worth the pain and the wait.

[Anonymous]

I only own one BLI and it is the AC6000 UP #7015 and it runs pretty good, but does not have any sound [:(]

[selector]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bangert1

QUOTE: Originally posted by selector

My Bli's have been super, although the Outlet Direct Niagara I recieved had its pilot truck in upside down. Works better and better each run-in day I give it.


-Crandell

I think the Outlet direct models are returns that have been looked at and fixed in some cases when they find problems. The problem you had with the lead truck might have not been caught by them. Is that the assumption of the product when you purchased it direct from BLI??.

Yes, I knew that I could be receiving anything from factory seconds to repaired items to items that were returned simply because the package or the box arrived damaged to the previous buyer. My heart sank when I notice immediately that the front truck was suspended when I sat it on my kitchen counter. I blame no one because these things happen..it was clearly human error, but not a major defect or deficiency and it was easily corrected. However, I can assert that it is now as if I had purchased it brand new. The wheel surfaces have no marring, there are no cosmetic defects, it is very reliable, looks and sounds great...so I lucked in with a keeper.

The interested reader should recall that there is a full warranty on these purchases, and my one experience with BLI, due to my own ham fisted error, was most pleasant.

-Crandell

[BRVRR]

I have two BLI locos. Both steamers. A 2-8-2 Heavy Mike and a 4-6-4 Hudson. The Mike has been running on the layout, almost constantly, for a year without problems. It passes through the snap-switches on the BRVRR without complaint. The Hudson is really nice! Runs good and sounds great. I haven't had any of the rumored pulling problems with it, but my layout is flat and my passenger trains rarely exceed 7-cars. I have pulled a mixed consist of 13-cars made up of Walthers and Athearn heavyweights and streamlined cars with it. I'm pleased with both of my BLIs and intend to pick up a Niagara when I can find one with the right price.

[Anonymous]

My local hobby store returned 47 of 53 BLI engines they ordered for sound board problems.

[Pruitt]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Safety Valve

First off, I would say that I am sorry you are getting hit with problems with the BLI engines. I encourage you to return them to BLI to be either repaired or replaced. (You did send your warrenty cards in right?)

A warranty is not dependent on whether or not you return the card.

Back in the 70s a lot of manufacturers required the cards to be returned or they would refuse to honor the warranty. A lot of folks were simply out the bucks they spent on defective merchandise because of that. Sometime in the 80s, I think it was, the Federal government changed the law, forcing manufacturers to honor their warranties.

[Anonymous]

The warranty card I sent in when I bought the T-1 was honored in full by BLI. In fact I have on my hard drive a email assurance from the support dept that my warranty is still in full effect after the repair was properly finished by BLI. They can elect to repair or replace outright the engine again in the future if they so choose.

I have a bunch of other BLI's that has finished thier first or second year or service with no problems. I probably put 10 hours on them per year each per year.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by selector

My Bli's have been super, although the Outlet Direct Niagara I recieved had its pilot truck in upside down. Works better and better each run-in day I give it.

For those of you with Mikes that won't pass over turnouts easily, the problem is almost certainly an issue with the drivers, as a whole -since they constitute a long wheelbase by themselves - wanting to raise the front truck off the rails due to the CONSTRUCTION OF THE TURNOUT. If the turnout has a frog that is too high/low, or point rails that are too high/low, even if just at one end, for either case, you will necessarily have the drivers, rearward and rigid, suspending the front truck to the extent that the wheels finally pop up and return to a near neutral position, which is usually at odds with the rail angle below them.

First, place the loco on a mirror fragment, or a glass pane. Get right down to eye level on the same plane at the glass - driver flange interface. What can you see about the drivers? Do they all seem to meet the glass surface the same way? Now look at the front truck. Is is sitting flush on the glass? If not, then you have some fixing to do. If it is, then you KNOW the problem is the turnout, not the loco.

Take the turnout out of the track (a pain, but is it worse than a loco sitting idle?), and lay it on the same counter or glass. Place a very flat, opaque object that weighs very little so it does not distort the true physics of the rails and frog....doesn't press it down flat if the turnout is not flat....which is what you are wanting to determine. Shine a light all around the perimeter of this setup, directed toward the turnout. If you see a bright gleam near the frog, you have a height adjustment to do; the frog is low. Conversely, if the light shines throug everywhere BUT the frog, the frog is high, and the drivers are being lifted there.

This is long, but you have to be patient and methodical about this type of problem. Believe me, I was not too thrilled with my Niagara until it all clicked, and the rest is a pleasant history.

-Crandell

Crandell - Thanks for the great troubleshooting advice! When I get some time, I'm going to give it a shot.

[Anonymous]

I've good luck with all my BLI steam engines, but both my sw's have been sent back for repairs. I should be getting them back any day they said about 3 weeks?

[bogp40]

I only have a few BLI engines, but there are hundreds in the club, both steam and diesel. The only problems have been w/ a couple of SD-40's having jerky or noisy drives. One member didn't receive the boiler front for a C&O T-1(but did get an extra set of drivers- sort of look the same in the plastic bag).
Bob K.

[hdtvnut]

Out of about 15 different BLI steamers and four diesels, I had two
bad runners, a Niagara and an MT-73. They were both jerky at low
speed, and the MT-73 unusually noisy. Replaced the Niagara and
got the MT-73 adjusted somewhat. I had an "A" arrive with bent rods
and several with broken off detail parts.

My first one (Hudson) had tender springs that stopped conducting
current, due to the type of metal. Replaced springs. But I later
replaced it with a new version Hudson, big improvement.

Slow running is not a long suit of BLI's but I like them overall.
Tsunami beats QSI tho, IMO.

Hal

[RedGrey62]

My Mike had no problems. However, I got home from Iraq to see my Christmas present, a BLI E-8 with a broken side step. I contacted them and they said they would have a part sent right out. My wife hasn't let me know if it arrived yet since I've returned to the sand box. I'm sure they will get me the part.

Rick

[selector]

QUOTE: Originally posted by swdave

I've good luck with all my BLI steam engines, but both my sw's have been sent back for repairs. I should be getting them back any day they said about 3 weeks?

I shipped my Hudson to them last spring, across the border from Canada, and they had it back to me in 22 days.