Athearn Big Boy #4014

[Mark W]

From Athearn's website:
http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH22908

Factory installed Tsunami onboard sound DCC decoder

[peteski]

From Athearn's website:
http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH22908

Thanks!

[atsf3751]

That's why mine went back to Athearn - intermittent power disruptions.  The track and wheels were squeaky clean.  Something costs that much, I'm not gonna do Athearn's work for them.  Almost acts like there's no Keep-alive cap connected.

Unfortunately, I put nearly an hour's runtime on the engine before making any changes and it ran perfectly. It also ran perfectly for about an hour after making my changes. I have voided the warranty by replacing the speaker with a sugar cube and close coupling the tender. There is room in the tender for a keep-alive if I remove the weight, I may try that.

[peteski]

I still say: try cleaning the wheels.
It is easy and worth a try.

[Mark W]

My fathers Challenger recently started doing the same.  Come to find it wasn't dirty track or wheels, but a short happening in the tender pickups.  I'll see if I can get more details from him, but might be something else worth checking on yours, especially if wires and parts have been nudged around during upgrades. 

[atsf3751]

Hmmm, good idea I will check that when I open the tender up again.

[Nato]

                      I sent one of my Bigger Boys back to Athearn (second gen loco) for siderod repair and it had a close coupled tender, they never said it voided my Waurantee. Strangely I like the whistle sound on my old MRC decoder equipped locos the best, but the rest of the Tsunami (spell check this name) sounds like siderod clank etc are far better,also the decoders are far more dependable then MRC which I have never replaced on my two gen 1 locomotives. Ya got to love or hate that little RC remote control, as an RC boater I thought that was kind of cool. Thanks Bob for digging out all your great information. Nate Goodman (Nato). 

[drbnc]

My new 4014 had the same issue - random sound drops/stalls on the decoder.  Spray degreased the entire mechanism just in case, and tweaked all the wipers on the tender's rigid truck.  That seems to have fixed the issue; I think some of the tender wipers were not making good contact. 

[drbnc]

My new 4014 had the same issue - random sound drops/stalls on the decoder.  Spray degreased the entire mechanism just in case, and tweaked all the wipers on the tender's rigid truck.  That seems to have fixed the issue; I think some of the tender wipers were not making good contact.

Ooooh - that was my first post, btw.  Long time lurker.   

[atsf3751]

An update.

After running with no trouble for over an hour, it now has several problems. The reported random stopping/restarting is now happening. The last driver in the rear engine is now frozen and will not move, because of all the extra wiring in the truck I am unable to remove the truck bottom to examine the driver. Finally, the valve gear has come off the third driver on the fireman's side (that might have been caused by the frozen driver). I cannot get it to seat and don't want to push too hard for fear of bending or breaking something.

The last thing Athearn asked me is if both the loco and tender is picking up power, test this by lifting first one then the other off the track. I can feel the motor vibrating inside the shell so I know it is getting power. I lifted the tender off the track and the motor stopped, so the loco is not picking up power.

Athearn asked for it back and I mailed it Friday. They are about 100 miles away so should have it by Monday.

[jereising]

They will move it right along for you, Marty.

Mine was returned in less than a week.  He adjusted the loco wipers, the tender wipers, and the loco-tender connector.

There are now no issues, running sweet and true.  Like it should

[atsf3751]

Thanks Jim, Athearn and Intermountain (among others) have really incredible support policies. I am still blown away at Intermountain sending me a brand new cab forward for one I sent them and told them I had messed up all the wiring in the tender, it is completely my fault. I expected to pay for repair but they told me it was not repairable and they would send me a new one at no charge, even asked me what road number I wanted.

[atsf3751]

An update on my engine. Got it back from Athearn today. I had sent it in primarily for two reasons. It was stopping and restarting again at random for no discernable external reason. But eventually the rear driver froze up in the last driver set. They replaced the rear driver set and that fixed both those problems, but now I have new issues. Before I get to them, this is what I did. I reset the decoder to factory with CV8=8 and then I confirmed that CV's 2-6 were all 0 and that DC was turned off in CV29.

When I give the engine power I hear all the sounds that steam engines make but the loco does not move until at step 28 and then only after sitting for 30+ seconds. Once it does start moving the top speed is less than 20mph. After the engine slowly moves a scale mile I find that my NCE Power Cab starts getting warm at the bottom of the controller where the cable plugs in. I can feel the motor in the loco through the shell and it is VERY warm, almost hot.

When I go to the program track and return to normal the engine sits there making clicking noises. I don't get control of it again until I recycle the controller.

Sent Athearn an email about this and I expect it will be going back again. It is a good thing this is not my first Athearn articulated so I know they can do better than this.