Need forum help-williams big boy circuit board bad

i talked to my friend and repair man theory is the williams dyna chuff board also had reversing unit built in the board and the board is totally dried up-would it be possible to place a reverse unit only and sacrifice the cheap sound unit williams had orginally so engine runs.this engine does not have traction tires on-rotted off-would that effecthow the steamer would run-who sells a good reversing board.

If you go to their website, Williams lists reversing boards and sound board units there. The reversing unit should operate the same. While it may not be the exact sound that your loco had, the new sound board will have a whistle sound.

If you have another Samhongsa/Williams brass loco - even a MIke or Pacific - that runs

well, plug that tender into the loco and see how it runs. The wiring was typically identical.There should be no electonics in the loco itself. If it runs poorly, it is probably mechanical. (Take off the boiler and turn the flywheel by hand a few revs; smooth?) A $50 reversing will get it running again. Sound - try ERR for that and maybe command.

That engine should have a QSI DCRU reverse unit (bottom board) in it. The top board is the sound board. Try contacting QSI for advice. I do not think they do any repairs on their own stuff, but have out sourced it to a dealer. The boards were actually pretty good in their day. I think they are worth repairing. The new Command Control stuff has pretty much taken over, but there are those who still prefer to run conventional.

Chris

LVHR

Can you post a picture of the electronic unit?  G

GUYS-THANKS FOR YOUR REPLYS-SHE MANAGED TO GET A OLD williams reverse board-she3 emailed me it was a easy job-problem is the steam gallops-what is that-run slow then gallop-this woman is really savy-what causes a engine to galop then slow down then gallop-joe

I have two suggestions, as follows: FIRST, something in the drive train (motor to driving axles) or in the running gear (drivers and rods) is binding. Before removing the boiler, check the running gear to see if any rods are binding. Another possiblity is that a driving wheel may be loose on the axle, or it is not be properly "quartered." Drivers on one side should be 90 degrees ahead of or behind the drivers on the other side. If the rods on the engineer's side are down at the bottom, the rods on the fireman's side should be in the front middle position ("engineer's lead"). Now and then the rods on the fireman's side are leading those on the engineer's side ("fireman's lead"). If so, they would be in the REAR middle position, toward the cab. "Lead" in this case refers to the position of the rods when a locomotive is moving forward. The rods and drivers on one side are 90 degrees ahead of (or behind) the rods on the other side. Check rods and drivers on both sides ofr both engines. See whether there is any binding at the cross heads or where the rods enter the cylinder and steam chest.

If the running gear moves smoothly, remove the boiler and cab CAREFULLY. Turn the flywheel by hand, as D500 posted.

If everything turns smoothly, my SECOND suggestion is that the old Williams reverse unit isn't fully compatible with the Big Boy and/or with the transformer. It may be that the Big Boy is drawing too much current. I'll recommend two Websites. Some QSIndustries DCRU (DC Reverse Units) and sound systems are available at www.the-scaled-tin-rail.com. Go there and look around. Send an email and ask for help identifying the problem. A Dallee reverse unit and sound system may work, too. That Website is www.dallee.com

The Train Doctor (Luke in Port Clinton, PA) knows a thing or two about all this. I hope he will see this topic and reply. 

I just noticed that you posted that the traction tires have rotted off. Maybe the empty grooves for them are causing the "galloping." A Big Boy may be putting enough weight on them to cause the grooves to bind the rail occasionally. I haven't heard of this happening, but it may be a factor.

READING-I CANNOT THANK YOU GUYS ENOUGH-SHE had a REPAIRMAN place  A OLD WILLIAMS REVERSE UNIT he had laying around and found-I KNOW THIS ENGINE NEEDS TRACTION TIRE-THE drivers where the traction tire goes has a very narrow groove for the traction tire.reading-i emailed her all your solutions to the problem-thank you.