BLI 2-8-2 Problem/Remedy

[scubaterry]

I thought I would share this bit of info. I recently bought a BLI 2-8-2 w/sound and from the outset it would not take corners very well. The front truck would constantly pull to the right and derail. Prior to this my BLI Hudson was the benchmark loco for track quality. If the Hudson ran the track was good. I finally looked at it closely as it ran around the track and noticed the front Driver was floating just above the rail and on turns it would pull the loco to the outside and off the rail. I put the loco on a tile and noticed that the other drivers were making contact. I removed the bottom section holding in the wheels and noticed that there were springs above each driver. The springs for the offending driver were below the hole and not making contact with the axle. I removed each spring and stretched it about 25 percent making sure each were the same length. I put everything back together and gauged the wheels to make sure they were on. That did the trick. It now runs like a champ[:)] Of course I ended up loosing a spring in the process and remembered that it came with an extra set of non traction drivers. I found several springs in the bag. BLI was looking out for me!
This is probably old info for some of you folks but it was a learning experience for me and I would like to pass it on in hopes it will help someone.
Terry[8D]

[tstage]

That's great, Terry! I think I've actually heard some folks going as far as completely removing the troublesome springs from the front trucks altogether. I've had no issues with mine whatsoever.

Tom

[selector]

Way to go, Terry! Persistence paid off. And your fix was entirely reasonable, too.

I had a bizarre incident with my Outlet Direct Niagara recently. It suddenly set of the short alarm in my DB150. To keep it short (ahem), I ended up putting just the loco on the track, and no short was detected. Feeling uneasy, I place first the truck on the tender to the rails, and no indication. Then, in succession, each of the remaining axles. It was on the last pair that the DB150 beeped and shut down power to the track. Matthew at BLI agreed that it made sense to send in the tender. I mailed it yesterday. [:(]

[tstage]

Crandell,

You know, that sounds awfully similar to the problem that I was having with my BLI 2-8-2 Mike shorting over top the frog of my Atlas Snap turnouts and shutting down my new Power Cab. After some experimentation and troubleshooting, I specifically narrowed the problem down to the tender. Turned out to be the tender pickups were too loose. I tightened down the tension springs all the way then backed them off two complete turns. The problem mysteriously disappeared. I'm wondering if that isn't the same thing that was happening to your tender, as well. I wish you had mentioned it before sending it in...[:(]

Tom

[scubaterry]

Selector - I had the same exact problem with my Hudson shorting out and it turned out to be the tender also. In my case I had taken off the wheels and ended up putting one on backwards causing a short between one side of the tender and the other. Once I figured that out I flipped the offending wheel around and it solved the problem.

Tom - Actually I don't know about removing the springs all together. Before I realized I had spare springs I tried to use KD coupler springs. They compressed so much that every inch or so the loco would trip the system. If I picked up the loco ever so much to take pressure off of the Driver with the KD springs it went along fine. So apparently the springs are required to keep the axle from shorting to the frame???? I don't know and can't explain it. When I put in the correct springs stretched a little it worked fine??

Tom - I just re read your response. Yes I have heard of folks removing the springs on the lead and trailing trucks but my problem was with the springs under the FIrst set of Drivers. If every thing we ever bought worked 100% we wouldn't learn anything and that would get boring[:D]
Terry[8D]

[BRVRR]

Great stuff everyone. I have a BLI 2-8-2 and a Hudson. Neither one has ever given me any trouble. Both navigate the snap-switches on the BRVRR without trouble. If I start to have shorting problems in the future, I will know just where to look! Thanks for the great info, Terry, Tom & Crandell.

[selector]

Terry & Tom, I thought of the wheel switching, but then I recalled that the short had happened first, and it was due to that event that I ended up dismantling the tender in the first place. So, yes, I may have reversed an axle when I reassembled it, in which case they'll detect that [:I], but the shorting happened first. Also, Tom, I took off the axle carriage to look at the pickups, thinking that there was a problem there. The Niagara's are held in place by a small screw, and both were tight...not backed out at all. I cleaned off each axle as well as the tines on the pickups, but still got a beeping (bleeping) short.

In fact, the S1b has a weird trailing truck under the cab, It has an articulated mounting lug with a small spring. I thought, at first, that the lead axle in the truck was coming in contact with the elbow of that mounting lug and causing the short. Now, however, it is all moot because the tender is what set off the alarm. Go figure.

Gawd, though, that Niagara is a handsome beast. It just looks so cool. Can't wait to get the tender back.

[Tom Bryant_MR]

I have a BLI 2-8-2 w/sound coming in late April/May; my first steam. I hope my experience is like Allan's but if not, I have this article fave'd and I know where the experts are [bow]

[scubaterry]

Tom - I have four BLI's and this is the only one that has given me problems but on the good side I learned a lttle bit more about my Loco's.
Terry[8D]