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I was "refilling" the coal load in my Vision Line Big Boy when the coal load stopped rising at about half filled, yet the coal loading sounds continued.  I turned off the track voltage, restarted the Big Boy and everything appeared normal.  I initiated a new coal refill and the coal membrane remained steady while the coal loading sounds continued on until I again turned off the voltage.   My Big Boy has performed great until this incident.  Any ideas?

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I just noticed that mine doesn't work now.  I usually run with it in the low position but today noticed that it was up.  I tried the refill and then the demo mode and the load didn't change.  I turned the sounds off and I hear the motor working in both directions.  I flip the switch under the tender hatch and the motor sound stops.

 

Did you send it back to Lionel Dave and get it fixed?  How quick was it and had any issues with the repair?

 

Being a mechanical engineer I want to open it up and fix it, but it does have a two year warranty so I might as well make use of it, and see if I can get them to service the smoke units too as only the front stack is a solid smoker.

Originally Posted by Dave in Surprise:

I have not sent the tender back because I am having too much fun with my Big Boy and am reluctant to give it up for a month jut doe the coal load problem.  I am also a Mechanical Engineer, I have looked at he photos of the components and decided not to temp fate. 

 

 Some time this fall I will send the tender unit back; just not sure when.

Dave, you may have a longer return time by waiting until fall. Fall is when the train repairs picks up, right before Christmas is the heaviest volume of repairs.

 

Originally Posted by Dave in Surprise:

       

Sinclair, I have two fellow members / friends in the Scottsdale P&P railroad club that have the Vision Big Boys. They have not experienced any tender problems to date. They will probably be over at the McCormick Stillman park with me this Sunday (tomorrow).  If you are not doing anything else, stop by.


       


I'll be there tomorrow with the kiddo's in the morning before the AZ bake cycle gets too hot!

Lionel has trained repair Technicians, with the correct parts, if needed, tools, test equipment and there would be no charge for repairs/replacements if the item is under warranty.  

You would have to call them to find out what, if any, are the shipping charges and which shipment way is covered.

Ralph

Dave, my BB tender just failed identically to yours!  This was different than the hiccup I told you about at P&P. The coal ran down and I started refil to reload it which it did but the sound would not cut off. I got the sound to stop by hitting (R) reset but it will not run the load down any more, even in demo mode. Additionally, now every time I start (power up) the engine I get coal loading sound unti I do a reset. Tried all the reprogramming codes And other tricks with no success. One other note, when in program mode after hitting set it starts the coal loading sound after the engine acknowledges with a whistle; makes me think it's a card issue and not mechanical. Guess it's back to Lionel for repair; hope it goes better than the Mark Twain did!

Dave, sounds like a good plan. I'm supposed to receive the water tender with flag today (figures since without it's coal tender the BB is down for the count) if it will fit I'll use it's box to send the tender to Megan (Lionel). Guess Wild Bill we be the only one running his at the park for a while. Since our two failures are identical I am real curious if this is a known problem with the depleting coal tenders. Still, even with the blow down issues we had to work thru I have to say I love this engine! It is the pride of my collection and everyone who's come to the layout loves it.

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