New Release Big Boy Issues?

[sizemore]

Have you run the loco for a break-in period at faster than normal speed? I only say this because every so often I pick up a loco and it runs sputters, stammers like a drunk sailor, I crank it up to where it runs reliably for an 45-60 minutes or so in each direction then slowly turn the speed down in notches in 5-10 minute cycles until I get to "slow speed". This usually knocks the blackening and residue off the wheels, polishing the treads so to speak.

The above process I find helps with N scale steam and anything "new" Bachmann. Wonder if it might help here.

Humbly Submitted,
The S.

 

[jereising]

Have you run the loco for a break-in period at faster than normal speed? I only say this because every so often I pick up a loco and it runs sputters, stammers like a drunk sailor, I crank it up to where it runs reliably for an 45-60 minutes or so in each direction then slowly turn the speed down in notches in 5-10 minute cycles until I get to "slow speed". This usually knocks the blackening and residue off the wheels, polishing the treads so to speak.

The above process I find helps with N scale steam and anything "new" Bachmann. Wonder if it might help here.

Humbly Submitted,
The S.

I surely did @sizemore - after the second cleaning - and there was essentially no improvement.  It acts like there's a loose wire that every now and again loses contact - like over a rail joint or switch.  With all those pickup wheels that simply shouldn't happen.

Bottom line is there IS a problem, and the part time Athearn tech appears to agree with me - the loco will be going to him.  I'll keep you all updated on progress - or lack thereof.

[sizemore]

I surely did @sizemore - after the second cleaning - and there was essentially no improvement.  It acts like there's a loose wire that every now and again loses contact - like over a rail joint or switch.  With all those pickup wheels that simply shouldn't happen.

Bottom line is there IS a problem, and the part time Athearn tech appears to agree with me - the loco will be going to him.  I'll keep you all updated on progress - or lack thereof.

Dang it! I didn't notice if you performed a break-in period, apologies if you did. Was hoping there was a simple solution to get your loco up and running. Sounds like Athearn/Horizon is going to make everything right, which is good on them.

The S.

[atsf3751]

Sent off an email 7-17 to Athearn asking for assistance.  Received a reply this morning (7/18) asking me why I had included my address in the email (I had included name, address, email, and phone - no such thing as too much info when asking for help).  Apparently nothing else but the name and address got through I was told in the second email, but this time there was the rest of the email describing my issues.  I was told the email would be forwarded to their part time technician to see if he could help.

And so we go.

I was able to access the other screw in the tender top via the toolbox and oil cover thanks to @sundowner but the shell still didn't want to move and I'm not about to force it, even a little.  I've got a feeling the loco will be taking a trip - either to Athearn or even back to MBK - and don't want to mess it up.  I'd rather do without than have a poor runner.

Did you remove the coupler on the tender? That screw will hold the shell prisoner. Once you can slide the shell a little back and forth, you are almost there. At the rear of the tender are a couple small tabs on the tender frame that you can't slide the shell past. What I did was to pry the rear of the tender shell open a very small amount to get past those tabs then it slides easily off.

[jereising]

Did you remove the coupler on the tender? That screw will hold the shell prisoner. Once you can slide the shell a little back and forth, you are almost there. At the rear of the tender are a couple small tabs on the tender frame that you can't slide the shell past. What I did was to pry the rear of the tender shell open a very small amount to get past those tabs then it slides easily off.

Good to know for the future, Marty! 

I know the loco arrived at Athearn Monday but I'm not nagging them - yet.

Glad you had better luck than I.  Judging from what I hear, their QC must be pretty good.  I know of only one other modeler with serious issues.

[jereising]

Received the loco back today via Fedex.  I think they used the same box MBK shipped it to me in, and I sent it along for the fix.  That box has been from coast to coast now...

Anyway, deboxed, put it on the track, powered up - nothing.  Had sound, you could hear the compressor, but nothing would operate, no bell, whistle, or headlight.

Took it to the programming track, reset it, wrote the basic page to renumber, and returned to the layout.

Perfect.  Everything works.  More importantly, it runs, and runs well.  once reprogrammed, it never hesitated once - even between booster sections.

Thank you Athearn.  (Breathes big sigh of relief.)

[Cajonpassfan]

Umm, okay, that is great news, but what was the problem??. Any clue what they did? Replace decoder, what?
Still, happy for you. It's a bummer to spend this kind of money and get a dog...
Otto K.

[atsf3751]

My Big Boy which I had written about in another thread ran beautifully for about two hours, one hour before modifying it and one hour after modifying it. Now it has issues.

Intermittent stopping and restarting as reported here. Their first question was, if I lift the tender does the engine still run and vice versa. Because of my other two problems, that is hard to test.

The next issue is that the rear driver in the second engine is frozen, it will not turn. There are three things that can do that, picking something up from the track and getting it in the gear, not likely because the truck unit is nearly sealed. The next two could be the driver has slipped out of its' bearings or a broken tooth. Very hard to check because the bottom of the truck gear box is filled with wire and other power pickup brass that I cannot move it out of the way to examine the truck. I have discovered that if I only fasten the first screw in the truck bottom, the stuck driver will move.

Last problem, possibly caused by the previous problem is that the valve gear has fallen out of the third driver on the fireman's side. When I try to push it back in, it will not go.

I have three Challengers and two Big Boys already and this is the first one to give me problems. Eventually I will get their blessing to return it.

[jereising]

what was the problem??. Any clue what they did?

Sorry, my bad to not indicate what was done.  The shipping ticket indicated they adjusted the loco driver pickups, adjusted the fixed tender pickups, and adjusted the connection between the loco and tender.

No particular smoking gun, just a bunch of little stuff. 

Why this one?  Why me?  ***** happens, so they say.

But they did the right thing, and in very good time.