Yes - there has been - sorry,

Yes - there has been - sorry, but I can't tell you where because I don't remember, but it involved epoxy-ing a coupler box with Kadee,  on top of the non-working coupler, Theory also says it should be possible to epoxy a Kadee NEM-coupler on top of the fixed one and there should be enough swing in the unit to  allow it to operate.

For those that don't want to mess with the trackmobile, there is an item on a simple method of rotating the unit on Carls Scrapbook # 78  http://www.carendt.com/small-layout-scrapbook/page-75-july-2008/  down near the bottom

Front Coupler

Dear NW,

Dead easy conversion to do...

- grab a fresh #58 scale knuckle coupler
- cut the shank off _just_ ahead of the flared mounting section
(you're looking to create a completely straight "shaft" shank protruding from the rear of the knuckle head)
- remove the FDT dummy coupler from the loco
- Drill a 1/32" (??? may have been 1/16", can't recall exactly and the Trackmobile is not readily to-hand...)
hole on centreline, directly below the dummy coupler mounting pad. The hole needs to be _just_ big enough to accept the trimmed coupler shank.
(only needs to be maybe 1/8 - 1/4" deep)
- use strong slow-setting gap filling epoxy to glue the coupler shank in the hole
(I've used Thick Gap-filling Zap-a-Gap too)

et voila, a working coupler on the front of your FDT trackmobile...

Yes, this technique does not give coupler-swing,
but given the ultra-short coupler overhang to the nearest axle,
the coupler can't help but stay very-close to centreline on all but the most crazy-sharp curves,
and with a properly-adjusted-and-mounted coupler on the mating car will still give very reliable coupling/uncoupling/delayed (magnetic) uncoupling...

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

Thanks Professor

Dear Prof Klyzlr

Thanks for the clear explanation and photographs.  Now need some No 58's and I have a small project to complete.

NW

Tractive Capability

I see quite a bit of postings by you, Prof Klyzir, so I thought you would be the go-to person to ask a question of.
 

With only a little research thus far I've seen quite a bit of negative comments on the traction capabilities of these BLI trackmobiles. What are your personal experiences, and what do you know of  others??

I'm quite interested in getting one of these, if it can work reliable on 2-4 cars? And I don't need sound,...just DCC and keep alive.

As I understand it the BLI model also has only one of its axels driven? Is that axel next to the coupler end??

History & Industries Served

https://trackmobile.com/about-us/history/

https://trackmobile.com/industries-served/

I have the BLI trackmobile...

Brian, I have the BLI trackmobile and I did pull, rather slowly 5 well cars. I won't chance more than 5. It's DCC and works just fine.

I'm sure they're no longer made, so EBay or train shows are your best bet...

Neal

In Stock, it appears

I still see a full inventory on their website, so may not be all that difficult to get one?

Do you have any problems running over dead spots...plastic frogs, etc?

I'm still trying to get a definitive answer about adding keep-alive to these little monsters.
 

I'd like to find a used one that someone is discouraged with, so I could do some poking around and experimenting with.

On my layout....

I don't have any of those issues that you mention on my railroad and goes thru the Atlas and Peco Insulfrog switches with no problems

That's good to hear Neal. I'm

That's good to hear Neal.

I'm kind of hesitating placing more post of this subject thread as I discovered its a 'BLOG' rather than topic. In the past I've been accused of hi-jacking blogs.
 

I wrote the OP a private email asking his thoughts, but no reply yet.