These Protos BL 2’s are from the 80’s and run great. I just installed decoders in 2 of the 4 I have and so far pretty happy with them. I had one with me tonight when I went to my LHS to buy more decoders. While I was there I happened to show off my BL 2 and had Doug check my install.
We took it for a spin around the layout and it stalled a couple of times, that to be excepted, I had not cleaned the wheels for sometime and just installed the decoder at work that day. That is when he looked at the wheels and saw they where either Steel wheels or Nickel wheels and all the plating was worn off. ( I think it is both, some show copper color and some are all a dull gray).
Dough (is a customer like my self) thought they would run much better with new Proto wheels, but had no part numbers. Ken the owner of K-10 Model Trains all so had no part numbers, but did have a bag of the new wheels that where sent for a Customer Warranty but the bag had no numbers?
When the wheels are clean, I have no power pick up problems. What would if anything would the new wheels add?
All so, if I replaces the wheels what about the gears in the trucks them self?
I have replaced all the center gears with Athearns when I got them off E-Bay.
Few pictures of what a BL 2 looks like. I hate it when some one says they have a GP what ever and I have no idea what it looks like.
Cuda Ken
Input and part numbers will be welcome.