I should have known that with such a good deal comes issues…but I thought I’d try. Got a BLI J new, for cheap…I now I think I know why. First itwas DOA. I found that one of the brake hangers between the drivers was on the OUTSIDE of the side rods. This means this unit was NEVER test run before it left the factory. Easy fix…remove the drive wheels cover and reseat the hanger and cover. Ran fine…for about 30 minutes. Now it is making a AWFUL grinding noise like it has striped the drive gear…and I can’t even get it open to see if there is a fix. Is there known issues with this model or did I just get a Monday one? Pretty bad when my OLD first gen Bachmann J runs better!!!
I have a BLI J type with no issues, it is one of my best runners. You must have gotten a bad egg, if you send it to BLI they will make it right.
Was this a private sale or from a discounter, or from a place that sells refurbished/returns? Not that it matters so much, but perhaps you really did get a lemon that someone else sent back.
Is it possible your reorienting of the brake hangers altered something else that took 30 minutes of bending “back” to come into play? Is something whacking the spokes inside one of the drivers?
HOnestly (I keep doing that!!!) [8)]), I have five different BLI engines. Two were from Outlet Direct, BLI’s own refurbished, factory seconds, returns-with-nothing-found-or-damaged-carton on-site retailer. Neither of those two has given me any problems, except that a decoder went south and BLI honoured their warranty. To an engine, when they move they move really well and reliably.
The J is a very nice looking engine, and I have not heard that others have had similar problems. If the engine is warrantable, and you just don’t have the stomach to take it apart, then ship it back and await a fix or a replacement. I have done that twice now, and each time I got an engine back that ran like it was supposed to. One of those times was my fault entirely, and they still fixed it and returned it only for the cost of shipping.
Not trying to bash BLI. I have two others that I got from them direct that are great. This was a dealer on that auction place that had a larger number of J’s for sale.
Part of my problem is 17 years ago I left HO scale for O. I now do not have the space for a O layout but do have a 4x8 22" oval to run some HO and have a small layout. These BLI locos looked so good that is what I have bought since coming ‘back’ to HO scale…but I did not know the history of these locos or company.
I know in O scale over the past few years we have had a batch of locos that had issues even if all other product from the same company was fine. I will go into the chassis again and double check what I can. It is such a good looked I hope I can get it running right. Thanks for the info!!
Remember, if you use self-help you tend to void alot of warrenties.
David B
Well fixing the brake hanger might have done that! Even if I can’t fix it…it was worth the $79!! I’m going to go back into it tonight…wish me luck.
Mine had what I thought was a gear problem. Sounded like a broken gear but wasn’t. I think it was piece of dirt on one of the gears, looked at it under a bright light. with that gone smoothed right out. Well at least I think that’s what it was. Does good now. Hope yours comes together ok.
I would call BLI and see about sending the engine in for repairs. They may or may not charge you. BLI was a outstanding example of how customer repairs or solving problems with engines to all the rest of the hobby.
If you dont feel confident running around inside the boiler of your engine, dont take it apart. Ship the thing down to BLI and let them see what can be done. Before you do so, communicate with them truthfully about everything you know about the problem including how you acquired it.
I have owned many of the BLI engines and found that lubricants are king. Sometimes they leave China or wherever without lube put on. Now any engine I recieve undergo light lubing as part of the initial acceptance inspection.
I recall one engine that had a loose top on it’s gear tower over the drivers. Once that was snapped in, the grinding went away. I cannot remember now which engine it was… remember that I had about 30 of these things in the last 8 years until I sold off most all but 8.
ditto what falls river rr says…I thought from your original post you feel comfy doing this or that. By all means, though, call BLI or email them and see what they say. I’ve done that and they’re great folks. Wouldn’t want you to void the warranty!
go ahead and contact BLI, I have had good luck with Techie stuff replacement, no matter where I bought it. It would be a manufacturing fault anyways so go for it. Otherwise you will be doing the fix. You proly would be trying to get gears and stuff from BLI anyways so ask them first.
Well…after a hour plus on the repair bench I have a perfect BLI N&W J!! I found that the bearings on the geared axle are different than all the others. When I pulled the gear/axle cover to fix the brake hanger isuue, that started all this, I may have rotated the bearing. The drive axle bearing has little ‘dog ears’ that have to face toward the gear cover. I corrected the bearing issue, lubed everything while I had the thing apart and put it back together. Once back on my little layout it ran like a watch. So now I have 3 great BLI locos and they have one due in Jan that I may look at now.
On a side note…while I had it apart I was suprised by some of the detail. You can see through the boiler running boards! There is also detail in areas I’d never seen if I had not taken it apart.
Thanks to all for the help!!!
yaaaahhhh! always happy to hear things came together ok! And that J is something. I’d like to see a pacific myself from BLI.
Good to hear you found the problem with the bearings. I have two of the BLI J’s and they both are great running engines. The detail is very good as you have said and well worth the money.
Cheers