SantaFeFan, thank you I went to cab2 remote changed from legacy control for the Big Boy to cab1 control and with module loaded it worked as you said.
you can understand or maybe not my confusion as instructions with big boy do not mention changing smoke stack default sync mode cab-2 has too be in cab-1 mode.
so I added the wording so next time I have a visual to read that is correct.
I just didn't realize when instructions said to push aux1 and 9 key they meant cab 2 should be in cab-1 mode.
so I assumed cab-2 in legacy mode that would still be the 9th position with or without a numeral key showing apparently my mistake!
at any rate thanks again for the heads up.