Legacy big boy

Does it blink in a particular pattern? Certain patterns of cab blinks can indicate certain problems with the engine. Have a service snack with Dean, Lionel's director of customer service, to find out what these may mean.

Now, if your cab light is green, then I'm not quite sure what that may mean. Perhaps Gunrunner John, Dave Olson, or someone else would know better. It would also help to know which version of the Legacy Big Boy you have, as there are multiple versions.

First things first, what's the EXACT model of the locomotive?

visionline big boy

OK, what pattern is it blinking?

It has continuous flashing never stops.

Can you reassign or reset?  If not,something might have jarred when stored.  For grins, check the ir’s on the engine and tender.  Are they blocked?

Open up (if you’re comfortable) and check plug connections.  Maybe a loose screw.  That’s where I would go if not answered directly.  

You could reach out to the Big L.  They may respond by New Years.

These are pretty obvious, but, may help you.  Please post the answer when you find it.  Someone will have the same issue down the road.

It's the locomotive Bryant, the tender doesn't communicate to the locomotive, it's a one-way IR link.

I think we need to see a video of what he's seeing.

Thanks for the reply . I will try your all of your suggestions. One other question what happens if I clear the cab-2 controller? 

irish1 posted:

Thanks for the reply . I will try your all of your suggestions. One other question what happens if I clear the cab-2 controller? 

It will do just that, clear the Cab-2 no effect to the engine. Now if your hit the “R” in the “0” placement on the Cab-2 that should reset the RCMC and clear the code. But please DO NOT do that until the code is identified, while it could be a fluke it is most likely and actual issue. From your description of everything I believe you are getting “1” blink or in short the motor is stalled. While there are many reasons for this it’s very possible that the RCMC has gone bad but now the question is why? John will have to chime in to help direct you. As I am by no means an expert. 

just as a reminder DO NOT reset the RCMC as if I am correct it will try again to move the stalled motor and make things worse. 

zhubl posted:

irish1 posted:

Thanks for the reply . I will try your all of your suggestions. One other question what happens if I clear the cab-2 controller? 

It will do just that, clear the Cab-2 no effect to the engine. Now if your hit the “R” in the “0” placement on the Cab-2 that should reset the RCMC and clear the code. But please DO NOT do that until the code is identified, while it could be a fluke it is most likely and actual issue. From your description of everything I believe you are getting “1” blink or in short the motor is stalled. While there are many reasons for this it’s very possible that the RCMC has gone bad but now the question is why? John will have to chime in to help direct you. As I am by no means an expert. 

just as a reminder DO NOT reset the RCMC as if I am correct it will try again to move the stalled motor and make things worse. 

Just to clarify.  Above, he said he was getting non-stop continuous blinks.  Nothing in our operator manuals refers to that.

Bryant Dunivan 111417 posted:

zhubl posted:

irish1 posted:

Thanks for the reply . I will try your all of your suggestions. One other question what happens if I clear the cab-2 controller? 

It will do just that, clear the Cab-2 no effect to the engine. Now if your hit the “R” in the “0” placement on the Cab-2 that should reset the RCMC and clear the code. But please DO NOT do that until the code is identified, while it could be a fluke it is most likely and actual issue. From your description of everything I believe you are getting “1” blink or in short the motor is stalled. While there are many reasons for this it’s very possible that the RCMC has gone bad but now the question is why? John will have to chime in to help direct you. As I am by no means an expert. 

just as a reminder DO NOT reset the RCMC as if I am correct it will try again to move the stalled motor and make things worse. 

Just to clarify.  Above, he said he was getting non-stop continuous blinks.  Nothing in our operator manuals refers to that.

Yes that is true, I am thinking and I could be wrong that a single blink can be misidentified as a slow continuous blink. Plus with how the OP mentioned it only moved 2ft before stoping. It sounds like the motor may have stalled or there was such a amp draw that the RCMC believed it stalled. Again I can be wrong, just my observations 

OK! problem solved. Beleve it or not there was a bell stuck in the engine somewhere. Now I certainly don't know where this came from because the bell is still on the front of the engine! It must have been there ever since I purchased it and somehow it worked its way into the linkage. I can't tell you how many times I've examined the engine carefully and was frustrated. After taking a break and examining it again I carefully turned the engine on its side and the bell dropped out. I want to thank all of you for your advice.

I'd also check for obstructions in the drive train, traction tires off, or anything else that could bind the drive train.  The continuous 1 blink definitely smells like a drive issue.

I know this sounds odd but when I turned the engine back on and increase the throttle everything worked fine including no blinking from the cab

That rings a bell.   Glad you got to it before any damage was done.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

That rings a bell.   

...   ... 

Mark in Oregon