Never run Vision Big Boy: Is there anything I should do from the very beginning?

rick s posted:

Hi Everyone,

I hope to obtain a never been run/never been powered on Lionel Visionline Big Boy at some point.  You all helped me learn a lot about this engine in another thread of mine.  Thank you.

Since it will have never even been powered on, and sitting to 4 years:  Are there things I should do, or not do, from day 1, to treat this right and get the best smoke out of it?

I know to: Oil all the designated points, and to open the shell and make sure the drive gears were greased.  However, I will hold off on opening the shell until I've run it . . .

I've only ever run Postwar and MPC analog equipment.  I appreciate your help and knowledge as I get into the digital age!

Thanks,

Am I right in thinking based on your last comment that you are new to command control? Whether or not that is the case, I’d strongly recommend reading the manual for this model, which is available online here:

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...VISIONLINEBigBoy.pdf

As the manual makes very clear (see pp. 4-6) a number of the operating features of this model are simply not available using conventional transformer control or indeed TMCC; you really need Legacy control to access them.

There is also a video by the venerable Mike Reagan describing comprehensively how to set up this model, available here:

https://www.lionelsupport.com/....cfm?documentID=6960

As he points out, and I have found myself, this engine uses up smoke fluid, especially in the main stack, very quickly - I don’t run mine more than 12-15 minutes without topping it up but I do run mine on the high setting all the time. GRJ’s comment in the next post below corresponds to my experience too; 20 drops is not really enough when the smoke units are first filled but if you add more do it SLOWLY i.e. not all in one go and let it soak in between applications.

From the other thread you have already got some other tips about the smoke unit operation. I do not think that these models were tested at the factory before being boxed and shipped although the smoke units may have been given enough of a filling to prevent burning the smoke wadding on first start up. Nevertheless after this length of time I’d agree they’ll all need refilling and, again, it’s best to do this slowly, giving each application of smoke fluid time to soak in.

Last point; you don’t need to open the shell to lube the main drive gears, which are accessed on the underside of the loco through two removable covers screwed to the chassis. If you are interested in knowing what’s inside the shell go here for Alex M’s really interesting thread on that:

https://ogrforum.com/...boy-tons-of-pictures

P.S. Good luck in finding one of these!

Boy, from conventional right into the VL-BB, that's a big leap!

Welcome to the digital age...

First off, if it's truly a virgin, 20 drops of fluid ain't going to cut it.  I had to add considerably more to get everything smoking decently.  You have to add smoke fluid to all for places, each stack, the whistle, and the blowdown fill under the switch cover sand dome.

Put it on the track load it with smoke fluid - Hit ENG-1 and run the He77 out of it. Nick

The RCMC is under the fill for the blow down smoke unit.

Rick, you're going to love the Big Boy.

There are two red valves in the box that get screwed into the engine.  There is also a magnetized Hood for the smoke stack.  When it is on the engine, it eliminates the front stack puff and sends it out the back stack.  Sometimes my engine sticks in this mode and does not alternate puffs. Resetting the engine brings back the alternating puffs from the front and rear stacks.

My blowdown smoke is non existent.  The lowering coal may have detached from the mechanism on my first #4014.  That is why I bought duplicates of the Vision Line Big Boy.

Hancock52 posted:

rick s posted:

Hi Everyone,

I hope to obtain a never been run/never been powered on Lionel Visionline Big Boy at some point.  You all helped me learn a lot about this engine in another thread of mine.  Thank you.

Since it will have never even been powered on, and sitting to 4 years:  Are there things I should do, or not do, from day 1, to treat this right and get the best smoke out of it?

I know to: Oil all the designated points, and to open the shell and make sure the drive gears were greased.  However, I will hold off on opening the shell until I've run it . . .

I've only ever run Postwar and MPC analog equipment.  I appreciate your help and knowledge as I get into the digital age!

Thanks,

Am I right in thinking based on your last comment that you are new to command control? Whether or not that is the case, I’d strongly recommend reading the manual for this model, which is available online here:

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...VISIONLINEBigBoy.pdf

As the manual makes very clear (see pp. 4-6) a number of the operating features of this model are simply not available using conventional transformer control or indeed TMCC; you really need Legacy control to access them.

There is also a video by the venerable Mike Reagan describing comprehensively how to set up this model, available here:

https://www.lionelsupport.com/....cfm?documentID=6960

As he points out, and I have found myself, this engine uses up smoke fluid, especially in the main stack, very quickly - I don’t run mine more than 12-15 minutes without topping it up but I do run mine on the high setting all the time. GRJ’s comment in the next post below corresponds to my experience too; 20 drops is not really enough when the smoke units are first filled but if you add more do it SLOWLY i.e. not all in one go and let it soak in between applications.

From the other thread you have already got some other tips about the smoke unit operation. I do not think that these models were tested at the factory before being boxed and shipped although the smoke units may have been given enough of a filling to prevent burning the smoke wadding on first start up. Nevertheless after this length of time I’d agree they’ll all need refilling and, again, it’s best to do this slowly, giving each application of smoke fluid time to soak in.

Last point; you don’t need to open the shell to lube the main drive gears, which are accessed on the underside of the loco through two removable covers screwed to the chassis. If you are interested in knowing what’s inside the shell go here for Alex M’s really interesting thread on that:

https://ogrforum.com/...boy-tons-of-pictures

P.S. Good luck in finding one of these!

 

Thank you! 

I had already read the entire manual and watched a few videos, including an informative review by Eric's Trains.  This video was great because I am also brand new to digital controls, and the Cab-2.  

Thank you for all your help.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Boy, from conventional right into the VL-BB, that's a big leap!

Welcome to the digital age...

First off, if it's truly a virgin, 20 drops of fluid ain't going to cut it.  I had to add considerably more to get everything smoking decently.  You have to add smoke fluid to all for places, each stack, the whistle, and the blowdown fill under the switch cover sand dome.

Thank you John.  Yes.  A big jump, and a great jump!  But I'm 60, so I can handle it!  

Thanks for the replies everyone. 

Do you all ID your engines by the last 2 digits of the cab number?  Is that the standard practice?

It appears that some people prefer certain cab numbers over others.  Is there any particular reason?

All I can say is Your going to love it, the sounds, the smoking is phenomenal, the Control and handling on Track is Fantastic.  Read the instructions very good before operating this fun to run Locomotive. Check all corner clearances for cab swing as it will destroy structures in its paths.  Cab 2 operaration is so much fun. Enjoy your new Lionel VL Big Boy...Happy Railroading...

What Larry said about overhang clearance on curves; the front pilot area - cow catcher - swings out a bunch on curves; good idea to go real slow the first time on curves to make it doesn't crash into something that is too close.  I usually make sure there is about 3 inches of clearance on my carpet layout - the track moves.

Rick, a few more suggestions:

A foam cradle to support locos during maintenance; the foam protects all the brickabrack on an engine whether it is right side up or down.  The one I got is from Bowser Mfg, cradle #24 O Gauge, bowser-trains.com.

A set of JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) phillips head screw drivers for the screws used on our locos and cars.

At a show last month I saw a 30" (or 36"?) foam cradle. Expensive but big enough for most articulateds.

Train depot in mt airy Maryland has 2 - new vision big boys in box. Call them 301-607-8155

You should not even attempt to run such a beast.  Immediately ship it to my address in my profile, please.

Chris S.

Dmaxdeere87 posted:

Train depot in mt airy Maryland has 2 - new vision big boys in box. Call them 301-607-8155

Thanks.  I had seen that info in an different thread that poped-up while doing my research.  I called and talked to Herb and Jim.  Their ad says "New in the Box," but their photo shows one "Out" of the box.  They were both very nice and I feel they were very sincere.  Here is what they told me.  

The one in the photo: They pre-ordered it, put it on their store layout, ran it a very short time, and put it on the shelf.  They said it has been there, for sale, ever since.  So, technically (I believe) it is not New in the Box.  I think it would be Like New.  However, please don't focus on that.  They say it is New.  And I really can't argue the price.   It comes with a UP Commemorative caboose and a DVD.

The other one is a consignment:  The customer has run it.  More than just a test run.  

RickM46 posted:

Rick, a few more suggestions:

A foam cradle to support locos during maintenance; the foam protects all the brickabrack on an engine whether it is right side up or down.  The one I got is from Bowser Mfg, cradle #24 O Gauge, bowser-trains.com.

A set of JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) phillips head screw drivers for the screws used on our locos and cars.

 

Thanks Rick. 

I have been thinking about a foam cradle for years.  I was researching them again the other day and I saw 2 different manufacturers are now making them for the articulateds.  

I did not know that about the screws.  I didn't know there was such a thing.  Thanks!

Rick, here is a thread on the JIS screw drivers:

https://ogrforum.com/...r-set-recommendation

I would not be fixated on a NIB model. You’d want to have it unpacked and test-run to see if it had any issues.

Anyway maybe you nabbed it as I can’t see it (or the consignment model) on their website! Maybe it wasn’t there to begin with. 

There were two vision big boys at hotels this past York, each one was 1600 obo. One sold I know of.  These aren't high dollar like some people try to get for them on ebay