Need some help with Lionel Visionline GS-4

@LisaL_O_Gauge posted:

Hey,

Today the Lionel Visionline locomotive arrived on the porch. I took it over to my grandsons house, made sure to carefully unbox it, put it on the track, programmed it, and all seemed well. I then tried pulling the locomotive forward but out of nowhere, the cab light started flashing and the motor stopped after a second pulling out. I tried again, same thing happened. I tried reprogramming it, same thing happened.

Perhaps I’m doing something wrong, does anyone have any idea on what I’m doing wrong or how to fix this?

A bit worried I’ll have to send this locomotive back to Lionel.

- Lisa

Send it back for warranty repair/replacement!!!!!

That's a shame.

Forgot to mention; it’s a single blink which I’ve read indicates a motor issue.

Check for any obstructions in the drive wheels. A loose traction tire, decorative break rubbing, loose screw on side rods. The flashing cab light is indicating a motor issue or drive issue. I suspect a binding in the drive.

By all means look it over. But I would call Lionel and ask for a repair or replacement.

I really hope the issue with yours isn’t going to be a common problem with the GS series. I have 4 of these coming from Trainworld and Charles Ro. I’m really hoping everything works properly

This does sound like there is some binding in the drive gear mechanism or the drive rods. GS4 models tend to have a number of brake shoes than can catch on the drive wheel traction tires and I’d check those first, then the drive rods to see if any are bent. You can then reset the engine on the CAB2 or cycle the power off/on to stop the cab blinking, then try getting it to start up going forward (or back) again.

@Dave Olson maybe can help.

@Hancock52 posted:

This does sound like there is some binding in the drive gear mechanism or the drive rods. GS4 models tend to have a number of brake shoes than can catch on the drive wheel traction tires and I’d check those first, then the drive rods to see if any are bent. You can then reset the engine on the CAB2 or cycle the power off/on to stop the cab blinking, then try getting it to start up going forward (or back) again.

Unfortunately I couldn’t find any brake shoes or bent drive rods that could be causing this issue.

But what I have noticed is when the cab light starts to blink, so does the transformers light. I’ve tried 2 CW-80 transformers that run other engines perfectly fine (these transformers have only ran LionChief products) but come out with the blinking cab light and the blinking transformer light.

- Lisa

Lisa, sounds like you’ve got a short in the motor circuit. The blinking transformer light is the circuit breaker tripping. Since it only does this when you try to throttle the engine, the short must be in the motor leads.
possible culprits are a pinched wire when the shell was insalled or when they soldered the leads to the motor terminals, one of the tinned wire ends is touching the motor case.

You're powering at least 3 other smoke units as well as the motor.  The CW-80 may not be up to the task.  Try turning off the smoke units with the switches.

@MartyE posted:

You're powering at least 3 other smoke units as well as the motor.  The CW-80 may not be up to the task.  Try turning off the smoke units with the switches.

I haven’t tried using the smoke units yet (all switches are turned off) but this issue still persists.

@Ryan Selvius posted:

Lisa, sounds like you’ve got a short in the motor circuit. The blinking transformer light is the circuit breaker tripping. Since it only does this when you try to throttle the engine, the short must be in the motor leads.
possible culprits are a pinched wire when the shell was insalled or when they soldered the leads to the motor terminals, one of the tinned wire ends is touching the motor case.

Yikes, that doesn’t sound good. I guess I’ll send it back to Lionel since I don’t want to risk voiding the warranty by taking the shell off.

I'd have to agree with Ryan then that something seems amiss under the hood if there is no physical binding of the drive train.

Update:

Yesterday I brought the GS-4 over to my house and tried running it around the layout, but no luck. This morning I got up and got on hold with Lionel customer support. While I was waiting, the train jolted, my transformer light stopped flashing, I started pushing the train a little and like magic, the train started moving like butter across the tracks (forward and backwards).

Glad this wasn’t a wiring issue and all it needed was a little push to spread the oil around inside of the motor.

This was such a relief and thank you for all of your suggestions.

- Lisa

I don't think i would keep running you know there is always possibility that a wire inside it very close and shorting sometimes and if you don't take it apart or have someone look at it   to find out for sure why you were having that issue you could eventually have another short possibly and cause an electronic board failure !

Alan

I'd get that locomotive checked out. There is no "oil to spread around the motor" to make it work correctly. There is obviously some problem with the locomotive, as it should run fine out of the box.

This is where a little video would help. So far, just a few guesses, based on the text Lisa provided. A short video to accompany these types of questions would go a long way to help not only the original poster, but also other members who may be having the same or similar issue.

Charlie

Very interesting dialogue. Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts and trying to help.

Also, I have great empathy for the OP, who has spent so much money for an expensive brand new Vision Line locomotive and is having problems with it.

Tonight Bruk posted a new topic in the Lionel products forum with a look at the inside of a GS-1. His locomotive had pinched wire leads. They may not have been shorting out....yet. After seeing these, I’d make a strong wager that Lisa’s engine will look very similar inside.
Fortunately this is an easy fix. I believe I will be opening my engines up to inspect the wiring once I receive them.