VL Big Boy 2331270 Sound Problem

Popping in late I’m intrigued by Lionel’s offer for a RMA considering I did the same thing and they just offered to buy it back from me. Then again I feel like I’m on some sort of list 😅.

I Jerry rigged the old baffle onto the new run and it definitely make an improvement but even then when it’s next to the 2014 run it’s still pretty wimpy

I think I’m just going to return it to the seller. This a reply I received today after telling them that the other VL BB I just got from the same 2023 run has the same issue.

They told me it would be a 6-8 week turnaround once they receive it  

“Hello, per our service manager, please see below.

Which side are the experiencing the sound issue, the loco or the tender? The come with enclosures on them. The loco has one speaker and the tender has two speakers If they want they add baffling material to the enclosures and see what comes out that way

Thank you”

I’m just going to buy one from an earlier run.

@Raven87 posted:

I’m just going to buy one from an earlier run.

I will say, the 2014 VL-BB has amazing sound!  The sound was what pushed me over the edge, that was the best sound I ever heard come from an O-gauge train!  Of course, I also wanted an oil burner in the current configuration, so I'll have to work on fixing the sound in the locomotive.

I suspect that a baffle, and if necessary, an aux audio amp, should be sufficient to bring the sound level up to a decent level.

I agree John. I had an earlier VL BB and other that a small side light it issue it sounded amazing. I should have kept it but I sold it to buy these newer ones thinking their sound might at least be as good or better.
I’ll keep my oil burner new 4014 but I’m going to buy another prior run model.  

I have 4014 and 4012 from the 2014 run, and the 4014 from the 2023 run.  I wanted a coal and oil burner to show the then vs now contrast, that's why the 2023 model.  I'll beat it into submission, AFAIK, the low sound is the only issue I have.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I have 4014 and 4012 from the 2014 run, and the 4014 from the 2023 run.  I wanted a coal and oil burner to show the then vs now contrast, that's why the 2023 model.  I'll beat it into submission, AFAIK, the low sound is the only issue I have.

Speaking for everyone here(kidding) we are all waiting for you to make the most best baffle of all time that we can then shoe horn into this puppy! BTW how hard is it to pop the boiler off this thing, I'm too scared ATM to try on such an expensive beast.

The 2014 version is just four screws. I have no reason to believe that the mechanical design has changed.  It has the same number of smoke units, but their functions have changed.  This version doesn't have the alternating stack chuffs, but it has the pop-off steam feature.  In the 2014 version, all the smoke units are on the chassis.

Once you have the top off, there are a few 1.5mm connectors that you have to be careful unplugging as they are easy to pull the wires out instead of the connector.  I bought these Pennington forceps specifically for making it easier to grip that type of connectors and remove them.

On my 2014, I had to pop the top to fix the cab light, that was it's only flaw, and I wasn't about to ship it for that!

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I will say, the 2014 VL-BB has amazing sound!  The sound was what pushed me over the edge, that was the best sound I ever heard come from an O-gauge train!  Of course, I also wanted an oil burner in the current configuration, so I'll have to work on fixing the sound in the locomotive.

I suspect that a baffle, and if necessary, an aux audio amp, should be sufficient to bring the sound level up to a decent level.

Personally I think a baffle isn’t enough to get it in par with the 2014 or 2019 models. So I’ll definitely be watching if you come up with another approach 😉

@DaddyChooChoo posted:

Speaking for everyone here(kidding) we are all waiting for you to make the most best baffle of all time that we can then shoe horn into this puppy! BTW how hard is it to pop the boiler off this thing, I'm too scared ATM to try on such an expensive beast.

The 2023 version I’d say is the easiest to remove. 1 large connector goes to the function switch PCB that handles all the lights. 1 harness for the pop off smoke unit as it’s mounted to the shell. And the antenna wire and that’s the trickiest since the 4 digit BL radio is right in front of the connector.

@zhubl posted:

Personally I think a baffle isn’t enough to get it in par with the 2014 or 2019 models. So I’ll definitely be watching if you come up with another approach 😉

Well, it can only improve the situation!

The 2023 version I’d say is the easiest to remove. 1 large connector goes to the function switch PCB that handles all the lights. 1 harness for the pop off smoke unit as it’s mounted to the shell. And the antenna wire and that’s the trickiest since the 4 digit BL radio is right in front of the connector.

I suspected it would be pretty similar to the 2014 version, they obviously didn't change the major castings between models, too expensive to do that!

So an update - I did send #4019 back to the seller and bought a New In the Box 6-11438 VL BB #4017 that should be here Monday.

I like my oil Burner #4014 2331250 but the engine has the same ‘quiet’ sounds yet the tender seems maybe a little louder than #4019. Either way I’m keeping it and hope for a baffle option someday  

And I do like the gloss black finish. It matches my VL N&W Class A  🤷‍♂️

@Raven87 posted:

So an update - I did send #4019 back to the seller and bought a New In the Box 6-11438 VL BB #4017 that should be here Monday.

I like my oil Burner #4014 2331250 but the engine has the same ‘quiet’ sounds yet the tender seems maybe a little louder than #4019. Either way I’m keeping it and hope for a baffle option someday  

And I do like the gloss black finish. It matches my VL N&W Class A  🤷‍♂️

I have the 2331250, no problem with the tender volume, just the locomotive.

Thanks John. Mine is the same way.

Update - received my NIB VL BB 6-11438 #4017 yesterday and it’s sounds are as expected, both the whistle and the steam sounds. Great unit.

@Raven87 posted:

Update - received my NIB VL BB 6-11438 #4017 yesterday and it’s sounds are as expected, both the whistle and the steam sounds. Great unit.

I have two of the 2014 models, both of them have exemplary sound.