Replacement axle/wheels for BLI traction-tired ones? Anybody?

[OldEastRR]

I probably should just ask BLI but some people here may have already switched these out and know what part I need. Their first version of an E7 seemed to be a transition mixing '70s N scale to post-KATO. They had needle-point axles but a wire soldered to the pickup shoes, traction tires, and lots of wires to and from the speakers and DCC board -- wires way longer than they needed to be. Instead of soldering the wired to the board, they used sockets and plugs to make the connections. I should probably remove them and solder the wires right to the board. Anybody done an upgrade to a first run BLI loco?

[peteski]

Those pins and sockets are nice tightly-fitting gold-plated units - very reliable. At least in the BLI models I own. No need to eliminate them. But I have noticed some sloppy soldering work on the metal bearing/pickup plates. Also, the wire-harness rat's nest could use some trimming and rearranging.   Not a fan of the truck design either, but at least it is not the high-friction inside-bearing and wheel-wipers type.

[OldEastRR]

still looking