VL Bigboy Help requested

Try posting your question on the TMCC/Legacy Forum. 

When you programmed the BB, what number did you assign to it? ie: 14, 40 , 12 ??

 

Then did you punch in the right address after you hit the ENG button when trying to start her up?

 

I know sounds simple, but I've done it before... programmed the engine to a certain number, but addressed the wrong number with the remote

Mine did something similar the other day when I was programming it. I put mine back to program then typed in the last two numbers of the engine and hit set on the bottom of the legacy remote and it linked and ran fine.

ya it sound like the new number did not take.

 

try 99 and see if you get a response.

Folks, I have tried all the above with no luck, it seems like the BB is not receiving a signal from the legacy system, to see if legacy was working, I put my VK Hudson on the same track and it ran great.

 

I did notice that on the cab 2 remote, the reading was cab 1, don't know what I did wrong but this may be the problem.  I did reread the manual as well as listen to Mike Reagan video but have not resolved my problem and I am certain it is operator error.

 

Thanks for your help

 

Brent

When you reprogram the engine to a different number, once you hit SET.... does the whistle blow to confirm programming? 

 

If you are running with the Legacy system, powering up the track should not make the big boy make any noise until you address it with the remote. If you power up the track and it starts making noise immediately, it's not getting the Legacy signal. It shouldn't do anything until you tell it to using the remote.

Did you by chance reload the orange module after re-assigning the engine number?

Had a similar problem, but reloading the module fixed it.

YES  !! The engine smokes and makes engine noise and the lights work as soon as the track has power, now that you mention it, my VL Hudson does not make a sound until addressed by the remote...The whistle does not blow when trying to program the number.

 

Laidoffsick, you are on to something, please tell me in simple words what I need to do to correct my mistake (an tell me what my mistake is).

Thanks

Brent

Yes I did and still have the problem

 

Brent

Maybe the receiver board or the antenna is not plugged in.

Well the problem is your BB is not getting the Legacy signal through the track as it should. Applying power to the track shouldn't get any reaction from it, just like your Hudson. It should sit there quietly, NOT smoking, until you "turn it on" so to speak with the remote.

 

Sounds to me like it's the engine, NOT you or your track. Like CPBill says, receiver or antenna issue is what it sounds like.

 

I would isolate the problem being Legacy, or the entire engine. Run the engine in conventional if you can.

 

If you have a regular transformer like a Z4000 or ZW, unhook the Legacy base from the track, and unplug it. Run the engine in conventional mode with a transformer like the old post war stuff. At least that will tell you if the engine is completely dead, or it's just a Legacy issue.

 

 

The BB will light the number boards when you apply track power, but nothing else happens.

 

 

As others have stated, that's suggesting it's not seeing the Legacy base and thinks it's coming up in conventional mode.  I'd be a bit careful as the older TMCC stuff takes off like a rocket the second power cycle in conventional mode, haven't tried the BB.

 

I had to try it, I don't think the BB is meant for conventional operation!

 

Without a track signal, mine comes up with sounds and smoke, and the tender fills if it's not already at the top.  Then, after about 10 seconds, it starts the whistle and never stops!  This is running with a PH180 through the TIU.  However, the second power cycle, it didn't take off like TMCC stuff, so at least that's a bit fail-safe.

 

I tried to run conventional and it did run, I did not try with the PW180 but with a Z1000 and it ran OK, derailed on a 072 curve don't know why but the whistle /horn and smoke worked OK.

 

I read if you  to run conventional, all legacy equipment needs to be off. I did this and the train ran but like I said derailed at one point (no switches all track)

 

Don't know when I will get this resolved but the problem will be corrected because i want the engine to be run with legacy.

 

thanks for all the help

 

Brent

Well that definitely means it's some sort of Legacy signal issue, either the receiver or antenna. Unless your b*lls are as big as Alex M's, I'd just call Lionel for an RA #, or return it to your local dealer if that's where you got it.

I will not touch this engine with a screwdriver or any other tool. I bought the engine from Nassau Hobbies, so it will go back to Lionel when I get the RGA

Thanks for the help

 

Brent

Aww come you guys.... these things are assembled by " unskilled labor" over in china for pennies an hour.

 

"Unless your b*lls are as big as Alex M's, I'd just call Lionel for an RA #, or return it to your local dealer if that's where you got it."

 

Maybe the b*lls are the problem

 

Scroll to control type...then choose LEG instead of CAB1 ?

 

Bruce

It should pick that up automatically, especially since he installed the engine data module. If hes getting lights, sound, and smoke when he powers the track up, the engine isn't getting the Legacy signal. Something is wrong with the engine.

Yes, it should load automatically.   A few misplaced key strokes could kick it into CAB1 mode which is what he is reporting.  I've had that kill an engine although I must admit it wasn't Legacy equipped nor did the sounds or smoke work while disabled.  Just sayin', if the remote is reading CAB1 then it surely won't address the engine.

 

Bruce

Actually, it will address the engine in CAB1 just fine, but you won't be able to trigger all the Legacy specific goodies.

 

Thanks everyone for the constructive comments, Lionel has also gave some good advice; most was the same as the forum comments. Today Lionel told me to check to see if the engine would respond to eng 99, so I tried it and no luck, then I remembered the cab-1 indicator that was mentioned earlier, so I tried to change it. Took about 3 tries but finally it changed to Legacy, I then entered eng 99 and their she goes. After the engine 99 was working ,I tried engine 18 and their she goes smoking, talking, bell ringing, engine roaring.

 

 Bottom line it was OPERATOR ERROR.

THANKS

Brent