Big Boy Short

Look at the electro coupler mounting plate.

It often comes loose from the truck frame. If you can wiggle it you have a problem and it can short both halves of the truck frame together if it gets loose enough.

See link for repair info:

http://www.tuveson.com/bigboy/..._big_boy_coupler.htm

 

 

If that is not it unplug the railsounds boards and see if that fixes the short.

 

Carl

Carl,

 

I was hoping you'd see my plea for help. Even though the coupler mounting didn't seem loose, I tightened it anyway. That didn't do it. Removed both boards. Still a short.

 

With the boards removed, I'm tempted to install a slow-blow fuse and do a spark test to try and find the problem. Your thoughts?

Well is will either the front truck the rear truck or internal wiring of the lighting or sound.

You can isolate all of these and try to pin it down that way.

It will require some dissasembly though..

 

Carl

Thanks. I'll work on it as time allows. I'll let you know how I make out.

Check to make certain all of your tender wheel sets are arranged similarly.  One wheel is insulated from the axle the other is not.  Put all of the insulated wheels on one side (e.g. engineer's side) and all of the non-insluated wheels on the other (i.e. fireman's side).  

That is true with the trailing truck of the loco but the BB tender wheels are all insulated at the axle They all pick up power so you can't get them in backwards..

 

Carl 

Good news and not so good news: I no longer have a short, but don't know exactly what was the cause; since I could never pinpoint it, I made sure I had clearances, and no pinched wires. There is a piece of insulation tape on one horn of the centipede wheel frame by the coil coupler that appeared to be worn, so I put two layers of electrical tape over it. I also put electrical tape over the two screws that terminate two wires and hold the centipede frame (they show in Carls pictures).

 

I was aware that the tender axles are not "one sided".

 

However, I no longer have chuffs, crew talk (don't care), coupler opening sound, or brake sounds. I have bell, whistle, and the sound when changing directions. I tried reset a couple of times to no avail. Sorry to be a pain, but now what?

 

And thanks for all the help so far?

I wouldn't use Loctite on these screws. loctite is too powerful for screws this small - even the blue Loctite. I use clear nail polish. It does the job well, the screws can be removed later, and it's easy to find.

Be sure the railsound/signalsounds switch is in the railsounds position.

Duh! That did it. I don't know how it got changed. Thanks for all your help. I'm also having a problem with the rear motor on the Challenger, but I'll start a new thread after I shovel out from this blizzard.

 

Thanks again.

Sorry bout that on the wheels and axles.  Tested fast with m-meter on way out the door but tested wrong.  Rim to axle one side then the other but kept probe on same end of axle.  Been awhile since had mine apart to move last set forward one slot.  All the wheels conduct to the axle but the axle halves are separated.