I have a problem with a Broadway Limited Import M1B. When I plug in the tender and place both tender and locomotive on the track with a standard power pack, The locomotive does not move. I get sound from the tender. If I remove the tender from the track and leave it plugged into the locomotive, the locomotive will then run. The power pack Im using is a MRC Railpower 1400 transformer. Can this problem be solved? Thank you.
Could the leads from the tender to the locomotive be reversed? Are you geting a short when the tender is on the tracks?
Check your tender leads. I have a M1A that I had the same problem with. Turns out that the tender leads had backed up in the plastic box, and had to be pushed out a little to make full contact with the posts in the locomotive. For some strange reason, the female sockets on the tender leads are a little smaller than the male prongs, and can be pushed back out of contact. It’s the only BLI loco I’ve had that problem with, so it could just be that particular run of the model. Press them together gently, but firmly, and hold the wires steady at the back of the lead box.
Tom
Tony may have a solution on his website.
As Aggrojones pointed out Tony’s, it is on his website with pictures…
http://www.tonystrains.com/tonystips/2004/021204.htm
February 12, 2004
Broadway M1 A&B Shorting Resolution
Some of the new BLI M1 A&Bs just released exhibited intermittent shorting such that the DC or DCC power source would shut down. We initially determined that by disconnecting the draw bar the short would be eliminated and that in some way the tender was responsible.
Bob Liberman did some digging and determined that the volume control potentiometer was impinging on the top of the reset jumper assemply, thus causing a short. The remedy is to apply insulating tape to the bottom of the trim pot.
The pictures show how:
- Reset jumper plug is at lower left corner of circuit bd. near mounting screw, to the right of JP-1
- Shows bottom of trim pot assy inside upper tender shell.
- Shows Kapton Tape added to bottom of trim pot assy.
A simple alternative to returning the loco.
There are pictures to show you what to look for with this problem.
Outstanding responses!.
That’s too bad with the B. I have 2 of BLI’s M1-A’s, and one of their M1-B’s, and all of them are teriffic runners. These engines negotiate about any track I give them without complaint, including #4 turnouts at slow speed. I hope you get the problem corrected, because that is too nice of an engine to not have running on your layout.
I have not had this problem with my M1a. This engine is a trusted engine in my fleet regarding it’s ability to shoulder a train thru the worst track and tightest switches.
i hope you get it fixed as you are missing some real good fun, this is mine at work
Thank you all for you help. Greatly Appreciated.
Did you get it running?
Ken.
My father-on-law has one of the M1A’s, and it definitely is a great runner. Even banging through #6 crossovers at ludicrous speed, it just runs and runs. At more normal speeds with a long string of hoppers and an N8 cabin behind it…just beautiful. Now if only my landscape weren’t still pink…
I’ve noticed the potential connector issue, it hasn’t happened to me yet, but I can see where the sockets could push back out of the plastic housing. Always try to grip ALL the wires when plugging it in or pulling it out. I’m always afraid when disconnecting it to put it away, the plug is going to let go and I’m going to fling the tender off the layout.
–Randy
As an additional item, I had a similar problem with a tender causing problems when put on the track. One of the tender trucks got twisted around and thus the pickups were switched up. Maybe check the tender wheels for left and right pickups.
I been looking for the Kapton tape as mentioned to repair the short will ordinary electrical tape work or even liquid electrical tape?