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I hear a lot of praises for Broadway Limited. I own one of their junk locomotives. A C&O T1 which is one of their first attempts at quality locomotives. This is the most expensive power I own. This morning I attempted to run it again. As usual it was a lost cause. Am I the only one with BLI problems? And yes I have spoken with them and ever returned it to them.
What is the nature of the problem? What (if anything) did they do when you returned it?

Andrew
It refuses to run correctly. When I first got it I couldn't get it through a switch / turn out. It would start and stop continuously. I have cried about this before on various sites. I was told by BLI that I needed to go with DCC as it was actually made for DCC.I have been DCC now for several years. I have problems with some things but this beast still won't run right. No easy starts it is either stop or go. It will run for couple of feet then stop.It will then go when it decides to. I think it is a beautiful locomotive but I can't use it. I guess I just got frustrated again and needed to blow off some steam.
Sorry to hear that. Nice looking loco!

I assume that you have tried all the standard trouble shooting:

- wiring issues (although with PCBs on board, this can be impossible to figure out)
- DCC decoder issues
- binding siderods, etc
- track issues incl. wiring
- dirt/conductivity issues

Unfortunately, there are some things that just seem to defy diagnosis. I am a bit surprised they did not simply replace it for you. That was my experience with a P2K Heritage steamer. I sent it to them (pre-Walthers acquisition) and they simply shipped a new one.

Andrew
Steam is the way to go... Goldth
Seriously...I think you have major power pick-up problems, more so than the usual dirty wheels/track situation. My little 0-8-0 behaved the same way which is what prompted me to add power pick-ups to the tender trucks. Now it runs great..!!
I also have 0-8-0 which I had to add pickups also. I believe this is beyond that simple of a fix. But I haven't tried that and will.
Not knowing the specifics of that loco, I'd say that unless there is a detectable pattern that might lead you to a track location, you could have power pick-up issues. That narrows it (mostly Wink ) to the loco - either dirty wheels, dirty/oxidized pick-ups (e.g. if the wipers rub the back of the wheels or axels), or bad wiring in the loco.

One other possibility is damaged siderods - they can cause a loco to stall seemingly at random, but more often at low speed when there is no momentum to "power through" the tight spot.

Anyway, to trouble shoot the electrical, the first thing is to see if the motor turns consistently when not engaged to the drivetrain. If it works while disconnected with power leads contacting the motor, then work your way "back to the track" to see if you can spot a weak link - e.g. bad wiring or oxidized connections/contact points.

If the tender does not have pick-ups, it can be fairly simple to add them. The most straightforward way is to use any electrical that is already there (e.g. some tenders are wired for lights, but not power pick-up). There are also kits that can be had.

Similarly for the drivetrain, see if it rolls with no (not minor, NO) hesitation smoothly and easily. Also check the quartering of the drivers before you take it apart. If this is not the problem, start further disassembly in logical steps (e.g. one piece at a time, one side at a time) until you remove a piece that lets it run freely. That should then be your trouble part. I would hope that Broadway could supply replacements if it is not fixable.

Your digital camera is your best friend here - take lots and lots of pictures so you'll have a guide to reassembly!

Hope that helps. I know it's frustrating to have an expensive display piece. Good luck restoring her to "active duty". Thumbsup

Andrew
I have answered you elsewhere, Lester, but your problem could be that your tether is not properly seated. I have had problems with BLI?PCM engines, and I often cure them by firmly seating the plug into its receiver. This is best accomplished with the aggressive use of the spread tines on needle-nosed pliers.

-Crandell
I had one BLI/PCM unit that had a loose decoder plug.
Charlie
Charlie B Wrote:I had one BLI/PCM unit that had a loose decoder plug.
Selector Wrote:... your problem could be that your tether is not properly seated.

In my suggestion, I assumed that the loco/tender was properly assembled, and you would be looking for a fault. This is certainly something to check, especially given that both Charlie and Crandell have experienced this problem. Plus it is easier than taking the loco apart...! Wink Big Grin

Andrew
Selector Wrote:I have answered you elsewhere, Lester, but your problem could be that your tether is not properly seated. I have had problems with BLI?PCM engines, and I often cure them by firmly seating the plug into its receiver. This is best accomplished with the aggressive use of the spread tines on needle-nosed pliers.

-Crandell
Worship Worship Worship

Crandell I pushed that thing in with all I have. I even tried to wiggle it a little in the process. WOWwhat a difference. After years of hating a locomotive its running good. BLI didn't even suggest that. I think this is what these boards are good for. Now time will tell but as of now it is a cool locomotive. 2285_ 2285_ 2296_
2285_ 2285_
Yay! Thumbsup Thumbsup

Andrew
Wow, every once in a blue moon I win won! Misngth Seriously, I learned that lesson with my first engine, the NYC J1d Hudson. I seem to recall that it was finicky, and someone suggested snugging up the tether plug a bit more. That did it, and when I got my PCM Y6b, it was a nightmare. I had used the butt of thick bamboo kabob skewers to press it in well...or so I thought, and of course it would stop dead out of my reach in my 'highland' area way at the back of my yard module. Funny thing, though...if I racked in some throttle, the chuffs would go but the engine stayed put. What the...?!!!

Finally I got thoroughly PO'd and grabbed the long thin needle-nosed pliers. I really drove that thing home, but was amazed to see it move at least another 1/32" until it was flush with the lip around the receiver. Never since have I had a lick of a problem with that wonderful engine.

Well, until I dropped it just before Christmas. Confusedhock:

-Crandell
I operated for a couple of hours this evening. My T1 was not running the whole time but when called on it performed flawlessly. Now to fix an old double slip switch that has been giving me trouble. I suspect it will have to be replaced as it is kinda butchered up at this point. $$$$ ouch!
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