Kato BigBoy pic - large screen cap for detail

[peteski]

Referring to this post in my comment above. Thanks for any replies.

Mine is still in pieces (yet another of half-started projects), so I haven to run mine  beyond the initial test drive.
Each complete engine is self-contained 0-8-0 locomotive, but electrically they are interconnected, and also connected electrically to the tender.

If you want to do  some troubleshooting, place the locomotive upside down, take couple of test clips connected to the cranked up throttle (assuming you have a DC operated model) and touch them to just the pair of  front engine's wheels, just the rear engine's wheels, and just to the tender wheels.  I suspect that the front engine will be running when the test leads touch the front engine's wheels, rear engine's wheels, and tender wheels. Is that what you observe?

If that is the case then the problem is with either the rear engine's contacts which connect the rear motor to the rear engine's split frame, or some sort of mechanical bind in the rear engine.

[Vaderta]

Thanks Pete. It is a DCC with ESU Loksound decoder. The gentleman that installed this for me said send it in and he will get it sorted out. I just hate putting stuff on people if it is something that I can remedy on my own. I have seen a couple mentions on the internet, but have not seen an answer or remedy. I know how my luck will go. I will ship it to the installer and the package handler will bounce it around a little and when the installer gets it the thing will work good. Just confused how it was put in storage running good and come out of storage with an issue. Unfortunately this model is way above my skill level.

[Vaderta]

[peteski]

DCC totally changes the scenario since the motor leads are rerouted from the frame halves to the decoder. There is likely a disconnected wire(s) from the rear engine's motor to the decoder. 

[Vaderta]

Thank you Pete. I guess I will send it in as that sounds above my skill level. Too many fragile pieces that my gorilla fingers will break

[Vaderta]

So, had to go to Kato today to pick up couplers for a train I recently purchased. I asked if any installers where around. Spoke to one of them. I asked if they are seeing any binding in the front or rear engines on the Big Boy. He said they have seen some interference on the front engines with the frame causing them to bind. After doing an internet search I see a few people mentioning the rear engine binding, one of those being in this thread. 

As for mine, I took it to Des Plaines hobby and talked with Lyle an installer there. I asked if we could take a look and see if I am overlooking something.  Put it on his track and the locomotive ran as smooth as silk. All I did was take it out of the box. I have no explanations as to what caused it other than it might be a gremlin in some of the Big Boys. I guess time will tell for me, but as of now it decided to heal itself.

[peteski]

That's a great news!  I have some models mysteriously "heal" themselves, so you're not alone.

[Vaderta]

Thanks Pete, now i can try to accomplish what I originally set out to do before this gremlin started. But I will start another thread for that.

[Dwight in Toronto]

So frustrating - just like when your car is making “that noise”, except when you want the mechanic to hear it!