Hi Bear,
I tested the switcher on a 3’ piece of flex track which was sitting on my workbench. The workbench is smooth so I don’t believe that there were any irregularities in the track.
As far as removing the traction tires goes, there will still be a groove in the middle axle wheels which may affect power pickup, assuming that the middle axle does pick up power. I’ll have to take the wee beastie apart to determine that.
Stay tuned. Thanks for your input as always.
Cheers!!
Dave
With regard to perfect trackwork, I did say the above, earlier. But note that I used the word “odds”, not “guarantee”.
However.
To get that fourth wheel to actually ALSO pick up (beyond the “tripod” ones), it also has to touch the track.
So you need trackwork HOW perfect to work? And the loco? HOW perfectly aligned must its wheels be to take advantage of that perfect trackwork? +/- a thousandths of an inch? Two? How big a gap before the electricity stops flowing?
Most of us are now familiar with the Walthers mini-switcher, and that it has a “keep alive”. And that the BLI one does not.
A test: how far does each go, unassisted and at a very slow speed, on a piece of flex track?
Is it irritating to have a loco stall?
Ed
All viable theories aside, what I find hard to believe is that a manufacturer who has taken the trouble to make a small locomotive with a die cast body, and traction tyres for the best possible “pulling power”, then slips up by not allowing enough “play” in the drive chain to allow the other four wheels to maintain electrical contact with the rails. (As we know, 12 volts isn’t enough to create a spark to “leap” across thin air. [swg] )
To be fair, I only have a Kato six wheel, all driven, power truck as an example of a short wheel base, but it does appear to have the suitable “play” to allow for good contact.
What is really disappointing to me, is that Dave, having paid good coin, is having a bad experience. Whether he has received a bad example from the first on Monday or last thing on Friday manufacturing batches is a moot point. It would be ideal if Dave could compare his with another example but…!
The thing is while Dave may be “happy” to have to remove the traction tyres to achieve his goals of moving one or two boxcars, the Bear would be spewing, and contacting BLI to voice his displeasure, hopefully in a polite manner!!
Hi again Bear,
To be honest I had forgotten about the Walthers switcher when I ordered the BLI unit. I am tempted to get my hands on one of the Walthers switchers to see how well they work.
I had the same thought. I wonder if I could increase the vertical axle play by judiciously filing a bit off of the upper surface of the axle bearings. When I get it apart I will have a look at that possibility.
Cheers!!
Dave
I need your help. I have spent the better part of an hour trying to find a listing for the Walthers mini switcher and I have drawn a blank. Can anyone find the Walthers listing? It would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Dave
This one?
https://www.walthers.com/plymouth-ml-8-dcc-only-red
An old thread:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/p/284898/3289051.aspx
Regards, Ed
Hi Ed,
That would be the one! Thank you so much for your help!
Unfortunately it is listed as ‘discontinued’. I guess that either I will have to watch eBay or wait until they produce it again.
Cheers!!
Dave
Edit: There is one listed on eBay currently. They want $225.00 + $51.00 shipping. I’ll pass.
Some comments on the Walthers and the BLI:
I’ve got one of each.
I ran each through a 2 foot long #10 crossover, out and back, at their slowest speed step (5-6). Didn’t clean the track.
The Walthers never stopped.
The BLI did, maybe 6 times in each direction. Coming back, where the headlight was lit, sometimes it would stall, but the headlight would stay on. Turn up the power, and it moved. But not every time. Very curious. All in all, it ran about as I would expect for a non-keep alive loco of its type. Maybe a bit better.
The Walthers weighs 3 5/8 oz, with no traction tire. The cab is filled up with the keep alive caps, plus stuff. It really doesn’t show that much, and doesn’t bother me. Has a headlight.
The BLI weighs 4 3/4 oz, with a traction tire on each center wheel. The cab is empty, except for the engineer. It looks like a couple of caps could be fit in the cab, but below window level–you wouldn’t see them. Has a headlight. Has non-working class lights, too–whatever for?
The BLI, from end beam to end beam, is about a 1/4" longer than the Walthers. The BLI has ENORMOUS footboards.
They are roughly equivalent, though the BLI is going to have to have more TE.
The biggy for me is the lack of a keep alive in the BLI. If/when I actually operate it, it will HAVE to have keep alive.
It would be fun to have sound in either. Or both.
All in all, a couple of nice little critters, and I don’t regret their purchase.
Ed
I agree with 7j43k. I have both engines and I definitely like the operation of the ML-8 better. There are still a couple of them out there that can be had.
Sigh, guess I’ll share my little secret. Found a little stash of the walthers ones on Trainworld. They have like 10 of the walthers plymouths left in various schemes for $75 each or $99 for the dcc ones.
I only ask of you to not hoard them all then sell them for ridiculous prices on ebay. Thanks.
Charles