I'm definitely looking into it regarding the speed control. I wonder if they even have the capability to fix the driver hang issue as it's even present on the BLI webinar photos.
Thanks. Great video. Thanks for posting it. Please let us know what you find out about both issues. Mine was a bit cantankerous (derailed occasionally fwd or rev) through one turnout in particular at home (more so than my BLI FEF-3 as you noted). I have yet to test its load response speed control on our club layout with helixes. I did find that by adding a very thin (0.012" thick) plastic washer under the pilot it became less prone to derailing in that turnout. The pilot truck has no spring (at least mind does not, does yours?) and it did not slide very easily side to side when on the tracks (die cast metal on die cast metal, some paint on the top of the pilot truck was even starting to wear off). The thin washer lets it slide laterally more easily and perhaps better guide the engine?
Ive found all Paragon 4 engines violently lurch when recovering from a short. Yes it is very annoying, yes it causes derailments, yes I wish they would put out a decoder update that would fix this.
I picked up a gs4 and I got the modern excursion of 4449, so far mine runs great. Had a slight issue out of the box where the one axle in the tender wasn’t seated fully, once I popped that back in place, runs perfect. I’ve seen from some Broadway models it’s hit or miss with the QC 🤷♂️
Seems like you're the only one having issues so far. Have you contacted BLI? With the amount of issues, I'd imagine they'd send you a new unit rather than try to repair that one.
Unfortunate. It seems for whatever reason BLI's gs4's are cursed with mechanical issues. The 4 or 5 Paragon 2 gs4's I have serviced in the past have had very similar mechanical issues. Springs in the sprung drivers being far too stiff, out of gauge drivers, and pretty bad drive slip issues. Somehow it seems BLI somehow added more problems in this run. I would send it back to BLI, they are usually 10/10 on the customer service side of things.
I found the springs in the first gen GS4s to be way to soft and collapsed under weight. I replaced the springs with solid styrene rod and turned a mediocre loco into a solid performer.
Thanks for sharing this because I was thinking about getting one. I noticed the BLI 4-6-2 i have Derailed because of the traction tires. After removing the traction tires the derailment stopped.
Why does the thing need traction tires anyways. For 500+ you expect there to be enough metal for not to have Traction tires. Bachmann's GS4's do just fine without them.
Traction tires are widely available everywhere and pretty easy to change. No idea what the rating would be without them, the GS4 is pretty heavy so its probably not too bad but BLIs articulated SP cars are pretty darn heavy so I'm sure they were shooting for something that could pull them. @@trainfan998
I think those issues are not wide spread, I bought two of them and they are both near flawless. I haven't had a single derailing and I'm pretty sure my #3 driver doesn't float but Ill look closer when I get home. I ran both of mine a lot this past weekend with zero issues. I would send it back if I were you.
@@DietPizza1 Neither one of mine are “floating” but there is obviously more pressure on the driver with traction tires. Not a single derailment or short yet.
@zza1 That might be possible with mine as well. Ill check when I get home but like I said no derailing issues at all. If you look at 00:40 on the video that's a heck of a gap. Mine are in no way even close to that. They are literally touching the rails but not by much.
@@MikesProjectsandHobbiesMC BLI CS said they are designed to be this way. Im running on Kato 21 5/8ths but have some 24 radius coming tomorrow to see if it’s a radius issue.
Id read the comments if I were you. These seems pretty isolated. I also have a first run and have no problems with it other than its low on pulling power. These new ones are better in every way though.
@@MikesProjectsandHobbiesMC my wallet wants you to SHHHHHHHH. lol if they release a Stealth version.....maybe My first run GS4 is mostly an absolute lemon of a runner. Much improved after ripping out the Paragon2 in favor of ESU, and adding some weight to the front. Still wont take any curves less then 30" without binding/locking up.
@@drewzdrew27 I have one. It was so unbalanced the springs couldn’t deal with the weight and the rear driver would collapse which made it spin. I removed the rear springs and turned it into a hard tail with round styrene to replace the springs. LOL. It doubled the pulling power and the front pilot stopped derailing. It’s been a perfect runner ever since.
I wouldn't worry to much as it's more than likely model specific. The last time I experienced a defect on delivery was back with the last release of y6b's. (Chipped boiler paint) I have had plenty locos since then with no trouble. My brother did purchase an n scale big boy with excessive front engine hop right out of the box.
You should absolutely send it back. Warranty should cover it
I'm definitely looking into it regarding the speed control. I wonder if they even have the capability to fix the driver hang issue as it's even present on the BLI webinar photos.
@@TheRailroadConnection I would say absolutely. Ive seen a lot of reviews of the model, and your problem definitely isn't normal.
Thanks. Great video. Thanks for posting it. Please let us know what you find out about both issues. Mine was a bit cantankerous (derailed occasionally fwd or rev) through one turnout in particular at home (more so than my BLI FEF-3 as you noted). I have yet to test its load response speed control on our club layout with helixes. I did find that by adding a very thin (0.012" thick) plastic washer under the pilot it became less prone to derailing in that turnout. The pilot truck has no spring (at least mind does not, does yours?) and it did not slide very easily side to side when on the tracks (die cast metal on die cast metal, some paint on the top of the pilot truck was even starting to wear off). The thin washer lets it slide laterally more easily and perhaps better guide the engine?
Ive found all Paragon 4 engines violently lurch when recovering from a short. Yes it is very annoying, yes it causes derailments, yes I wish they would put out a decoder update that would fix this.
Every BLI I've owned was junk. I sold every one of them and went back to brass.
I picked up a gs4 and I got the modern excursion of 4449, so far mine runs great. Had a slight issue out of the box where the one axle in the tender wasn’t seated fully, once I popped that back in place, runs perfect. I’ve seen from some Broadway models it’s hit or miss with the QC 🤷♂️
BLI should be able to resolve your issue. I have gotten duds from them, and they do fix the issues within a year warranty from the purchase.
Yes we I have gotten three duds that had to be sent back.
I wouldn’t mind the price if it worked great, but mine has the same issues. Emailed CS, waiting to hear what they say back or it’s going back
Turns out it just didn’t like the Kato 21 5:8ths. Really needs 24 or greater and runs fine then
Seems like you're the only one having issues so far. Have you contacted BLI? With the amount of issues, I'd imagine they'd send you a new unit rather than try to repair that one.
I just got one of these and it runs just fine and doesn't have any of these issues. I'd return it to BLI and use your warranty
Unfortunate. It seems for whatever reason BLI's gs4's are cursed with mechanical issues. The 4 or 5 Paragon 2 gs4's I have serviced in the past have had very similar mechanical issues. Springs in the sprung drivers being far too stiff, out of gauge drivers, and pretty bad drive slip issues. Somehow it seems BLI somehow added more problems in this run. I would send it back to BLI, they are usually 10/10 on the customer service side of things.
I found the springs in the first gen GS4s to be way to soft and collapsed under weight. I replaced the springs with solid styrene rod and turned a mediocre loco into a solid performer.
@@MikesProjectsandHobbiesMC Yeah good fix. If I remember correctly I was using some sort of shim until I could buy some stiffer springs
Thanks for sharing this because I was thinking about getting one. I noticed the BLI 4-6-2 i have Derailed because of the traction tires. After removing the traction tires the derailment stopped.
Why does the thing need traction tires anyways. For 500+ you expect there to be enough metal for not to have Traction tires. Bachmann's GS4's do just fine without them.
I disagree with that, the Bachmann GS4s might have 2 or 3 oz of pulling power on a good day. These have upwards of 12 oz. @@trainfan998
@@MikesProjectsandHobbiesMC what the rating without the tires though, better yet what are you going to do when those tires wear out.
Traction tires are widely available everywhere and pretty easy to change. No idea what the rating would be without them, the GS4 is pretty heavy so its probably not too bad but BLIs articulated SP cars are pretty darn heavy so I'm sure they were shooting for something that could pull them. @@trainfan998
@@trainfan998 Traction tires are pretty common and very cheap.
I haven’t had problems with my AFT version on turns or with the speed control. Haven’t tried it on a turnout though.
I think those issues are not wide spread, I bought two of them and they are both near flawless. I haven't had a single derailing and I'm pretty sure my #3 driver doesn't float but Ill look closer when I get home. I ran both of mine a lot this past weekend with zero issues. I would send it back if I were you.
I got 4449 modern excursion and My driver 3 is floating. It’s causing derailments and shorting
@@DietPizza1 Neither one of mine are “floating” but there is obviously more pressure on the driver with traction tires. Not a single derailment or short yet.
@@MikesProjectsandHobbiesMC I can slip a piece of paper between the wheel and the track, they won’t stay seated
@zza1 That might be possible with mine as well. Ill check when I get home but like I said no derailing issues at all. If you look at 00:40 on the video that's a heck of a gap. Mine are in no way even close to that. They are literally touching the rails but not by much.
@@MikesProjectsandHobbiesMC BLI CS said they are designed to be this way. Im running on Kato 21 5/8ths but have some 24 radius coming tomorrow to see if it’s a radius issue.
so same stuff is their first run of GS4s, looks pretty - that's it. darn.
Id read the comments if I were you. These seems pretty isolated. I also have a first run and have no problems with it other than its low on pulling power. These new ones are better in every way though.
@@MikesProjectsandHobbiesMC my wallet wants you to SHHHHHHHH. lol
if they release a Stealth version.....maybe
My first run GS4 is mostly an absolute lemon of a runner. Much improved after ripping out the Paragon2 in favor of ESU, and adding some weight to the front. Still wont take any curves less then 30" without binding/locking up.
@@drewzdrew27 I have one. It was so unbalanced the springs couldn’t deal with the weight and the rear driver would collapse which made it spin. I removed the rear springs and turned it into a hard tail with round styrene to replace the springs. LOL. It doubled the pulling power and the front pilot stopped derailing. It’s been a perfect runner ever since.
Hey curious question. the switch the locomotive is sitting on what brand is that? at 1:46
That is a Peco #8 left hand code 83 insulfrog switch.
I have an n scale reading t1 on pre order do you think it will have thos issue
I wouldn't worry to much as it's more than likely model specific. The last time I experienced a defect on delivery was back with the last release of y6b's. (Chipped boiler paint) I have had plenty locos since then with no trouble. My brother did purchase an n scale big boy with excessive front engine hop right out of the box.
My n scale y6b came with the valve gear misaligned so it screwed itself up over time so I got it repaired