Visionline GG1 - Control Issues

Hi Chris 

first thing I would do is put the engine in Program mode and reprogram it. See if that works , if the engine starts up in program mode while you apply power then it’s a signal or control board issue. 

Alex 

Alex M posted:

Hi Chris 

first thing I would do is put the engine in Program mode and reprogram it. See if that works , if the engine starts up in program mode while you apply power then it’s a signal or control board issue. 

Alex 

Just tested. It starts right up in program mode. I guess I'll be contacting lionel. This thing has been sent to them twice already for stallilng and pantograph issues. Ugh.

Cmontagna posted:

Alex M posted:

Hi Chris 

first thing I would do is put the engine in Program mode and reprogram it. See if that works , if the engine starts up in program mode while you apply power then it’s a signal or control board issue. 

Alex 

Just tested. It starts right up in program mode. I guess I'll be contacting lionel. This thing has been sent to them twice already for stallilng and pantograph issues. Ugh.

Yep that’s a board issue. Are you still under warranty? 

Alex M posted:

Cmontagna posted:

Alex M posted:

Hi Chris 

first thing I would do is put the engine in Program mode and reprogram it. See if that works , if the engine starts up in program mode while you apply power then it’s a signal or control board issue. 

Alex 

Just tested. It starts right up in program mode. I guess I'll be contacting lionel. This thing has been sent to them twice already for stallilng and pantograph issues. Ugh.

Yep that’s a board issue. Are you still under warranty? 

 

I assume they aren't standing by these, even though they have so many issues. I bought it in Jan of 17, so I guess I'm out of luck.

I think vision line warranty is two years though I might be wrong.  RICH

These VL engines have 2 Year warranties and I have always had good luck with Lionel fixing any VL issues.  Call them, explain the symptoms, they will take care of you. Keep us informed...

Marty, thanks for asking. I just heard back from Lionel. They asked what track I was using. I followed up and haven’t heard anything back yet! I’ll try to keep you all posted!

Alright, well it's been quite some time. I finally was able to get an RA from Lionel and send the VL GG1 back for service. They replaced the control board as well as the panto board (3rd time for this one). FedEx dropped it off yesterday and I just opened the box to inspect it and get it back on the track.

The excitement was short lived as once I opened the box a noticed a part from the pantograph had broken off. I removed the loco to get some photos which I have already sent to Lionel for another RA. Eventually I'll get to enjoy this locomotive on my layout, at least I hope! 

Well that stinks. I think one of the issues with this locomotive is the packing. I wish the foam was split top/bottom and not trying to slide the engine in from the side. 

MartyE posted:

Well that stinks. I think one of the issues with this locomotive is the packing. I wish the foam was split top/bottom and not trying to slide the engine in from the side. 

Marty I agree 100%. Why this went with a lay in packing design for a loco with so much fragile detail I’ll never understand. 

I have worked on many Vision Line GG-1 locomotives at Charles Ro and have never seen a pan broken as you showed in your photo.    They will fix it for you.   I always felt the Lionel GG-1 had a well made pan.    

Marty Fitzhenry posted:

I have worked on many Vision Line GG-1 locomotives at Charles Ro. 

Many?

Also have been seeing some JLC G motors.  The last two were easy.  Dump the R2LC code C11 and replace with a C13.  

Well I hope it works out for you because it is beautiful running engine...

I have the Amtrak GG1.  The rear pantograph won’t go down.  If I push the botton to lower the panto it stops “sparking” but just stays in the up position.  I have reset the engine without success.  

I also have the 4800 and it works perfectly.  I know some people didn’t love the sparking panto, but it is definitely a fun feature for our family. 

Any recommendations on how to address the panto issue?  I would hate to have to ship it, but if that is the only option then so be it... 

Thanks!

Ben 

Ben,

after multiple trips to Lionel mine is finally working. I hated shipping it too because he engine was damaged from a return trip with FedEx. Luckily Lionel took it back and repaired that issue. Once I got mine running I locked the pantos down since my layout has tunnels. I couldn’t honestly tell you if they are still working appropriately. 

Got mine in mail today and works. The one pantograph seems a touch higher. Anyway to adjust?

I just received my new Vision Line GG1 and when I first started the engine both pantographs worked but then few minutes of playing with the options testing the lowering and opening the pantos one stopped working and now I can no longer close it. I reset engine still no go. I shined a flashlight down both shaft holes (not sure which one is the mechanism that brings the panto up and down) I could not see anything dislodged or anything moving when I cycled through the open close for that panto. Is this a simple fix or will have to go back to Lionel? I hope nothing burnt out and that it's something that just came disconnected or off track.

Anyone have any suggestions would be greatly appreciated and I am very disappointed to hear that Lionel does not have these parts why is that makes no sense to me.

Thanks!

Matt

The pans are raised and lowered by a motor driving a worm shaft.  There are blocks on the worm which push against tabs on the pan legs, moving it up and down.  There are limit switches on either end to control max high and low.  Signals to the motors come a circuit board.  Since one pan is working the problem could be a loose wire but it could also be the circuit board.  If this locomotive is new, I would send it back.  Considering the cost of the locomotive it is, probably, not worth risk of possibly making it worse or discovering that it is the circuit and have to send it back anyway.

@Danr posted:

The pans are raised and lowered by a motor driving a worm shaft.  There are blocks on the worm which push against tabs on the pan legs, moving it up and down.  There are limit switches on either end to control max high and low.  Signals to the motors come a circuit board.  Since one pan is working the problem could be a loose wire but it could also be the circuit board.  If this locomotive is new, I would send it back.  Considering the cost of the locomotive it is, probably, not worth risk of possibly making it worse or discovering that it is the circuit and have to send it back anyway.

Thanks Dan for explaining the mechanism and how it operates. Makes total sense not to open it up at this point. I will call Lionel in the morning and see if they will give me an RA. Just unfortunate I have to ship it out and will probably not see it for a while. Such a great engine. I hope someday these will not be made in the big C.