Narrowminded N scale BLI P5a inserts

[sizemore]

…But it lost excessive amounts of power. I'm talking struggling to pull 4 micro-trains heavyweights around my layout. Not giving my Corners aren't super wide, if I remember correctly they are 12 inch radius.

I have two with the Narrow-Lemo spacers, and switched out only the traction tire wheel set with non-tire spares from BL. A single unit pulls ~30 car mixed freight on the flat and level with 18”R curves (no super elevation), and only slips (but fights through) when the head of the train is in one curve with the tail in another. Based on the performance I’ve gotten, wondering if something is amiss if you’re only getting 5 MT heavyweights.

The S.

[delamaize]

I have two with the Narrow-Lemo spacers, and switched out only the traction tire wheel set with non-tire spares from BL. A single unit pulls ~30 car mixed freight on the flat and level with 18”R curves (no super elevation), and only slips (but fights through) when the head of the train is in one curve with the tail in another. Based on the performance I’ve gotten, wondering if something is amiss if you’re only getting 5 MT heavyweights.

The S.

Hmmm.... maybe I will swap axles around again and see if it improves...

[sizemore]

A few things I noticed:
   - The faces of the wheelsets are different. 1 & 3 are opposite axle 2.
   - The bearings have races (a slot) which mate in the frame.
   - With coverplate off, Axles 1 & 3 have a lot of lateral play. Axle 2 has little if any lateral play.
   - The coverplate for the gear train is not symmetric to each side of the locomotive. The bumpouts for the gears goto the engineers side (front).

Don't know if any of that helps, just hoping you get a little more umph out of it.

The S.

[peteski]

A few things I noticed:
   - The faces of the wheelsets are different. 1 & 3 are opposite axle 2.
   - The bearings have races (a slot) which mate in the frame.
   - With coverplate off, Axles 1 & 3 have a lot of lateral play. Axle 2 has little if any lateral play.
   - The coverplate for the gear train is not symmetric to each side of the locomotive. The bumpouts for the gears goto the engineers side (front).

Don't know if any of that helps, just hoping you get a little more umph out of it.

The S.

As I understand, the faces are different to simulate the way the prototype electric motor drive was coupled to the wheels.  Cosmetic only.
Axle 2 has little play to be able to at least partially mate with the off-center idler gear when then mates with the worm gear on top side of the chassis. That to me is a poor design on BLIs part.

This was likely done to enable the loco to negotiate tighter curves. However this design where #1 and #3 axles have lateral play, with the center #2 axle having little lateral play, enables the loco to yaw (for a lack of a better term) when running.  Better design would have been to lave the outer axles with little lateral play and the center axle with lots of lateral play. The outer axles would then assure the model's proper aligned with the curve, while the middle axle would be able to shift a little to follow the sharp curve. But that was not possible with the center axle's gear only partially engaging the off-center idler driving it.

[Stolen Moment]

Did the P5 use the same Quill drive as the GG1?  Yeah, strange, but it seemed to work: https://www.steamlocomotive.com/GG1/quill.php

[peteski]

Did the P5 use the same Quill drive as the GG1?  Yeah, strange, but it seemed to work: https://www.steamlocomotive.com/GG1/quill.php

Thanks for that link - I always wondered how exactly that drive worked and this website does a very good job clearly explaining how it worked and how it was implemented.

Quill drive was also used in European electric locos (like Swiss and German Railways).

Going strictly by the visual appearance of the P5 model (the wheel on each side looks different) it is not the same as GG1 (or maybe it was a variation of that type of drive).

[oxdriver]

I have a BLI N scale P5a and was directed here for inserts. Could someone please point me in the right direction?
Apparently, BLI does not embarrass easily.

[Mark5]

I have a BLI N scale P5a and was directed here for inserts. Could someone please point me in the right direction?

See here (Keystone is offering them - look on the Keystone Customs tab of the google spreadsheet):
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=59564.0