That’s a shame about the decoder failures! I only have 3 BLI locomotives, one Blueline, one Paragon2 and one Paragon3. The Paragon3 hasn’t given me any issues at least not yet. The Blueline was also fine for the last decade or so, but I pulled it out and replaced it with a TCS Wowsound because I wanted more sound options.
The Paragon2 equipped locomotive was purchased used recently and so far sounds okay, with two exceptions: The smoke unit squeaks. I thought it was the gears or motor or something but the squeak goes away when I remove the boiler and the subsequent light and smoke unit connections. Not a decoder issue but still something to note (and the smoke unit is off but it still squeaks).
The other issue is that when the locomotive is sitting idle, with or without sound, there is a very slight but audible ticking noise. I believe its the signal from the DCC controller to the decoder becoming audible for some reason but I don’t know how to stop it. It ticks as long as there is signal going through the rails, whether or not the locomotive is the one currently selected for operation.
That being said, I buy BLI locomotives because they have the look and details I want. I purchase them with the intention of replacing the decoders eventually anyway but I know that may not be in the cards for many others who just want something that runs and sounds good. All that said applies to steam for me - as for diesels I think there are many great manufacturers out there that I might look at first.
I love the looks of the BLI locos as well which is why I was getting them too. What I noticed with all of my locos is if I put them on a programming track that is when there was issues with the decoders and they would fail If I programmed them on the main then they would work fine. Unfortunately of course programming on the main you cannot see what the CV values are. I had a choice program on the main and hope I didn’t screw up or read the CVs on the programming track and risk having the decoders not work at all and have to wait 3 months to get the loco repaired. Not much of a choice so that’s why I am doing the ESU decoder swap
MOST of the early Paragon 3 decoders are absolute junk as well as some of the motors used with them, and they MUST be replaced with the NEW version of each.
Seneca at Train Service Depot (a former BLI technician located in close proximity to BLI) fixed my son’s new UP 3985 challenger and NOW it runs great.
The P3 early decoders draw over 2 amps from a crappy motor. This fries the motor control circuit of the decoder in a few hours of run time. BLI will replace it for free but then the motor is crap and may require replacement also, requiring a second trip back to BLI with their many weeks of turnaround time.
Seneca tested my motor, found it was bad, too, replaced it with NEW BLI motor, and had model back in my hands in 2 weeks flat. However, it costs more than $100 to do. Now the engine is easily the best running steamer we ever had in 45 years. It pulls 80 cars on my slight 0.4% grade with several being Tangent 9 ounce 86’ boxcars and also heavy autoracks.
I have alot of HO BLI locomotives, both diesel and steam, mostly Paragon2, some Blueline and a few Paragon3. There are a couple QSI equipped too.
Quite honestly, I don’t understand all the riff about BLI. In my experience they’ve stood behind their products 100%. They’ve even sent me replacement decoders for 10+ year old Blueline loco FOC.
That being said, there is one thing I’ve noticed, and I don’t have an answer as to “why”.
Initially (my first few BLI) I had trouble with. Then sometime later I replaced all track and turnouts with new essentially rebuilding all the track work to much better standards than I did 30 years ago. And once I had the new track thoroughly cleaned (using ACT-6006) I haven’t had any more issues with BLI verses any other brands.
The other thing I’ve observed, is while touring a number of layouts, I’ve often heard the same complaints about BLI. Interestingly, IMHO, the track work on these layouts was fairly poor. My track work, on the other hand, is more like jewelry.
So I have to wonder if for what ever reason, BLI decoders/locos are more sensitive to even the least amount of track contamination and/or less than perfect track work that cause/introduce some connectivity/conductivity issues. Now that I replaced all my track and turnouts, this time building to perfection, and keeping everything clean (that includes rolling stock wheels), I’ve had only one recent issue with a T-1 that was double headed pulling a long freight on my somewhat difficult layout."
What he said! I’m super anal about my trackage Kato Unitrack never fails! For me anyway. I have several BLI P3 locos and 2 Centipede P2s. Had 1 small issue with a P3 and it turned out to be cockpit eror BlI’s response was fast enough and put me on the right track. I love me some Rolling Thunder! Sounds like you
The decoder doesn’t draw curernt from the motor, the motor draws it from the decoder. If the motor is drawing 2 amps, then it sounds like the motor is the problem, not the decoder, although it will fry the decoder and both will need replacing.
I thought I’ve posted this enough times but I guess people still dont understand the issue with paragon 3.
Its indeed NOT the decoder’s fault, but a poor choice of their shotty 3 pole “High torque” (high current draw) motors used in paragon 3. They went OUT of their way modifying older tooling to accept these new motors.
Proper decoder manufacturers (soundtraxx, tcs, esu, etc) seem to have a artificial motor current draw limit, which prevent the high current draw motors from burning out their decoders…since some people might add their decoders into older locos with open frame motors or etc. BLI made an improper decoder for their inferior motors, and as a result, their reputation has plummeted even though their customer service has been excellent, offering fr
$30 difference, and the way just about everything has been going up lately I wouldn’t be surprised if most of that increase isn’t due to the change in decoder.
The Paragon2 SD40-2 was $269.99, but that was released over 7 years ago.
The N-scale models are even closer in price, in fact, the Paragon3 NW2 and Paragon4 NW2 are the same price at $229.99.
both examples, these locos were originally gonna be released in paragon 3 but then BLI decided last minute to switch it to paragon 4 and jacked up the msrp by $100.
Keep in mind the loco is nearly identical. Nothing was added to the details. a PCM I1sa = paragon 2 I1sa = paragon 3 I1sa = parag
No issues with the Paragon 2 series units I have. (2)
My one BlueLine is sitting off to the side, awaiting a proper sound decoder. Mechanically it’s great. The BlueLine sound decoder/seperate motor control decoder combo stinks.
As does the use of a reed switch for a chuff sensor. After it blew for the third time, it got entirely ripped out. The actual decoders in her will come out next.
But the Paragon 2 steam and diesel I have both run flawlessly.
I Just purchased a PRR BLI loco that had the electronics removed and replaced with Soundtraxx Tsunami 2. Runs fine, sounds fine but no Rolling Thunder Paid $125 for it so smiles equal out!
My sample size with BLI locomotives is only one unit, but here is what happened.
I bought an undecorated N&W Class A 2-6-6-4 with a “dual mode” decoder, I run DC.
From the get-go, it had problems. It would only run for a few seconds, then just sit there and make noise. If I took it off the track for 30 minutes, it would work for another few seconds again.
I would have been happy just removing the decoder. I contacted BLI for assistance in decoder removal and they got quite snippy with me and told me to send the locomotive in for “free” repair. They said the decoder could not be removed and that would never be authorized.
[%-)]
I sent in the locomotive, then they kept it, and refunded my money.
Now they have released the 2-6-6-4 again, almost twice what I paid for it the first time, and I still do not have one.
I should have just opened it up and removed the decoder myself.
I bought a used BLI Paragon Mikado and a Pacific. I really like them. They hold their value so many people must like them. Run well. Sound pretty good. Look great. Hard to see what’s wrong with them.
I can’t seem to find the discusion about BLI moters being 3 pole and causing problems with Paragon 3 decoders? I contacted BLI about P4 motors and got this back quite quickly;
Info
11:05 AM (2 hours ago)
to me
Hello Jack,
“Paragon 4 engines have a 5-pole varistor motor in them.”
What the heck is varistor you ask?
Bumpy, I read the Varistor Description you shared. I found it interesting, but it sounds like a possible solution to a problem that no one has.
I could be wrong, but it does not seem necessary from the description.
From my experience, any HO scale locomotive that is not cheap junk made in the past thirty years has a perfectly good motor from the factory. I am thinking, and I do not recall having had any motor failures in a very long time except on much older models I have bought used.
Maybe this device helps with DCC control. I do not know anything about that.
All my Stewart/Kato, Proto-2000, Walthers, and Bachmann locomotives have wonderful motors that I cannot complain about.
Gears… now that is an area we could use improvement.
smiles equal out!