I ordered a UP MT-73 from BLI/PCM…[banghead] IT does not run like the other two BLIs i own. It is all jerky and uncontrolled at low speed. The motor humms and grinds at low speed. Its broken out of the box. They are calling me back with a tech. I hope they exchange or fix. I do not want to spend more on it. [sigh]
Let us know how they handle this, this will be interesting…John
I remember my first poor running loco, It was an Athearn Genesis Ontario Northland SD75I. I payed 200 bucks for the thing and when I got it home it wouldn’t stay on the tracks. After a few weeks and reading a few peoples posts about these models I figured out what was wrong with it. Still though I wasn’t to happy with it.
SMG,
I shared this just this past Monday on another thread:
I recently bought a PCM F3 A-B from FDT during their big sale. The locomotive arrived a few days later. The F3 was beautiful looking and worked well…except the front truck of the A-unit derailed when making any right-hand turns.
I tinkered with it for a while until I figured out what the problem was. I then e-mailed FDT and attached a couple of pictures showing the front truck raising up as it began enter the right-hand turn. (See picture below)
Bob Armitage from BLI Customer Service e-mailed me back, explained what the probable issue was (i.e. not enough slack in the front truck pickup wires) and told me to return the locomotive and that BLI would repair it for FREE. They even e-mailed me a UPS sticker to print out and stick on the box to cover the cost of postage.
Just a handy word of advice…
Anytime you ever have a problem with something and can include a picture and/or a written description to someone else about the symptoms your [fill in the blank] is having and under what circumstance those symptoms occur, you’ll make the repair person’s diagnostic job a lot quicker and easier. And, it will probably be cheaper for you in the long run.
Example: I’ve gotten into a habit of doing this whenever I bring my car in for repairs - especially if it’s an arbitrary problem. I create a Word.doc that includes my:
-
Car info (Make, type, mileage, VIN, etc.)
-
Name and contact information
-
Description(s) of the problems and when they occur
I then hand this page to the repair desk when I bring the car in. The mechanics love it because everything is written down for them to read themselves and they aren’t relying on anyone else’s interpretation or shorth
Sounds like that loco has some gear issues. Let’s hope they exchange it.
I talked with FDT and they are sending me a new one. Once I send them a new one then I get to send the old one back. That was nice to send me a new one first. I hope this one works. The one that showed up defective looked really neat and would barely run[:(!]. Can’t wait for the new one. I hope it works correctly. I will post pics of the one if it works. Lets hope so.
SMG,
Glad to hear that your problem was quickly resolved. [:)][tup] Trusting your replacement locomotive works much better than your first. Keep us posted…
Tom
I know how you feel about getting a new loco that’s defective right out of the box. I Have an Athearn Genesis light pacific that’s the same way. The main drive gear was cracked. After that was replaced it came down with a cracked bearing seat on the frame. I’ve become tired of chasing down problems with it and am going to use it as a static display in a park scene.
[quote user=“tstage”]
SMG,
I shared this just this past Monday on another thread:
I recently bought a PCM F3 A-B from FDT during their big sale. The locomotive arrived a few days later. The F3 was beautiful looking and worked well…except the front truck of the A-unit derailed when making any right-hand turns.
I tinkered with it for a while until I figured out what the problem was. I then e-mailed FDT and attached a couple of pictures showing the front truck raising up as it began enter the right-hand turn. (See picture below)
Bob Armitage from BLI Customer Service e-mailed me back, explained what the probable issue was (i.e. not enough slack in the front truck pickup wires) and told me to return the locomotive and that BLI would repair it for FREE. They even e-mailed me a UPS sticker to print out and stick on the box to cover the cost of postage.
Just a handy word of advice…
Anytime you ever have a problem with something and can include a picture and/or a written description to someone else about the symptoms your [fill in the blank] is having and under what circumstance those symptoms occur, you’ll make the repair person’s diagnostic job a lot quicker and easier. And, it will probably be cheaper for you in the long run.
Example: I’ve gotten into a habit of doing this whenever I bring my car in for repairs - especially if it’s an arbitrary problem. I create a Word.doc that includes my:
-
Car info (Make, type, mileage, VIN, etc.)
-
Name and contact information
-
Description(s) of the problems and when they occur
I then hand this page to the repair desk when I bring the car in. The mechanics love it because everything is written down for them to read themselves and they aren’t relying on anyone else’s in
Well I go the new one, it runs better but it is a little stiff on the turns. I have some larger turns on my 5x9 beyond 18" but it is way better than the broken one. So far I am doing well on my dink layout. I have not bought a steam yet that does not run on my table. Later on when some special orders arrive I will test bigger engines and see what happens.[}:)]