Lionel Legacy Big Boy 6-11437

Power the big boy first make sure PGM/ run switch is set to run.

Place your hand over handrails and push eng button now push the # 1 key does engine respond now to startup sounds?

If so remove hand over handrails and see if whistle will blow, if it doesn't place hand over handrails and try blowing the whistle if it works you have a signal issue.

Look under engines cab roof both handrails should be attached to a wire if you see one hanging unattached that's your issue.

Let us know results of this test.

Wires are connected.  As soon as I apply power to the track, the big boy comes on, idle sounds, Lights are on, smoke units are on (even though I have them turned off on the panel in the engine.  It does not respond to any commands from the hand held.  Also, the part where I place hands over rails, seems to do nothing, and no numbers appear on handheld.  Engine had been setting for a few months not in use.

thanks, Robert

Sounds like the TMCC receiver on the RCMC is loose, that's not that uncommon.  It's an easy fix, but you do have to pop the top.

How do I pop the top?

There are, I believe, six screws under the boiler that release the top.  Alex M posted the complete teardown, he may have a diagram of the screw locations.  Here it is, page 30 of the manual.  Be careful lifting it off, it comes right off, but there are a bunch of connections.  You shouldn't have to disconnect anything to check the TMCC receiver seating.

John,  many of the radio receiver boards look seated good and the pins have broken free from the RCMC and radio board.  The only way to find this out is by lifting the radio board off the RCMC.   The radio  board has four pins on one side and three on the other.   I am sure you have also hit this one.    I agree with you on the radio board.  

Whenever I am in doubt about this, before opening the locomotive,  I first hit the handrails on the locomotive and ground with the continuity meter.  Hit the bare end of the handrail for good contact ,                             If I have continuity I know the antenna is finding ground somewhere.   I then remove the body  and chase where the antenna is saying hello to ground.  The Big Boy is well done and it should be easy to chase down.  

One other one to look at is that the wires are properly in place on the bottom of the run/program switch.   I have worked on many of these engines and they are easy to get  around inside.  All the guys gave good information and you should hit on it.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

There are, I believe, six screws under the boiler that release the top.  Alex M posted the complete teardown, he may have a diagram of the screw locations. 

Not to impose  . But there are only 4 screws. Two up front under the smoke box and Two under the cab. The set in the middle do not remove the shell top but they remove the rear drive. But that's for the JLC version which I believe is no different the VL version.  I found typically there are only 3-4 screws for all steam locomotives from Lionel.

I will add that I have seen the pins solder recently.  So you need to inspect.  I am with Marty,  Check the switch for continuity first, than check the handrails not grounded.  Than look at the RCMC Receiver ensuring seated, and antenna wire connected with continuity to handrails, BUT not shell.

If all good, you can swap one, but be careful about pins and make sure not soldered.  If soldered you have to desolder first.  G

Bruk posted:

gunrunnerjohn posted:

There are, I believe, six screws under the boiler that release the top.  Alex M posted the complete teardown, he may have a diagram of the screw locations. 

Not to impose  . But there are only 4 screws. Two up front under the smoke box and Two under the cab. The set in the middle do not remove the shell top but they remove the rear drive. But that's for the JLC version which I believe is no different the VL version.  I found typically there are only 3-4 screws for all steam locomotives from Lionel.

I just looked in the VL-BB manual for the screw locations.  I know I took mine off, and I initially wrote 4 screws in my reply, but when I looked in the manual, I figured I was remembering wrong.   You're probably right about the 4 screws, I thought that's what I remembered as well.

Wholly Cow "Batman"..... sri, sri... first look under the hood of one of these tehnical marvels....

wow, just wow. .... i missed the leap in technology train. 

Thanks for posting..

For as busy as it is under the hood, this is one of the nicer layouts I've seen.  There was obviously some good engineering expended in making this all fit and still be pretty easy to service.  This is a welcome departure from some of the products.

It is well done.

Well, I took the receiver board out, reseated and it changed nothing.  One question, the two black wires coming from the top, where do they plug back in? You can laugh now, seems I feel asleep at the wheel.

It appears I am going to have to send it off, any suggestions to where?  I live in Greeneville, TN

thanks for all the help, but my skills may have been exceeded.

thanks Robert

maybe your kidding?

if not the reviewer board is where the white connector with 2 black wires go. that is the antenna wires from handrails

Legacy Big Boy locos did not have an RCMC; only the Vision Big Boy has this tech.  The reset Sequence in Program mode is

ENG, ##, SET, AUX1, 1.

See if reprogramming helps.  If not, try running conventionally and see if the loco will move.

SANTAFEFAN, the original post by RKRICKO is a vision line legacy BB item # 6-11437

I reread his first post to make sure I wasn't in error in my reply or he gave us the wrong item number?

Jon, I have no # key

Well, after pushing many buttons, nothing happened.  I am using a z4000, and I pushed the direction button, and it reset.  Cut it off, cut power back on, same issues, till I pushed the direction button.  Never had to do that before, but it worked.

Thanks for all the help guys.  Back to building my layout. Crisis averted.

I have a big boy that runs on 031 track. Dont know if its same as one your talking about.

i have intermittent problems of non responses to command or it running away at full speed.

i noticed a wire connecting the frame of the first set of wheels to the wheel axils apparently tying the frame to track ground. The wire broke off. Does this matter or can it be the source of my problem.

tony

rkricko posted:

Well, I took the receiver board out, reseated and it changed nothing.  One question, the two black wires coming from the top, where do they plug back in? You can laugh now, seems I feel asleep at the wheel.

It appears I am going to have to send it off, any suggestions to where?  I live in Greeneville, TN

thanks for all the help, but my skills may have been exceeded.

thanks Robert

 

I called LIONEL about the big boy problem i have and they said they would repair it

tony

TONY_BBC posted:

I have a big boy that runs on 031 track. Dont know if its same as one your talking about.

Not the same one, the VL-BB runs on 072 minimum, you clearly have a semi-scale model.

I am no authority on repairing these Hi tech wonderful Locomotives, but, before I would send this VL BB to Lionel, I would consider taking it to a local Lionel  Authorized Train Repair store. If it's in Warranty, that's different. 

This is a Heavy Engine, packaged in a not so user friendly styrofoam container. This engine can shift in transit. It's easy for the number boards to get bent, etc. Now if you only live a short distance to Lionel go there. I really feel a local service center to be your best solution .

I to have this VL BB, it is amazing when it works properly. Good Luck and hopefully you will get this Locomotive up and running .