Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boy #4014 PS 3.0 30-1840-1

Check the drawbar connection between the locomotive and tender. If the wireless drawbar comes loose the locomotive will randomly stall. MTH parts sells a retainer to help keep the drawbar in place.

FB0000037 WIRELESS DRAWBAR / RETAINER / HOLDS DRAWBAR IN PLACE / BLACK PLASTIC

MTH Electric Trains (mthpartsandsales.com)

More importantly, did you check the drawbar connection between engine and tender?

2 ways this can be a problem:

#1 just not seated fully at the tender side. This can uncouple over time and running so there are options for a drawbar lock- just something slid over the tender drawar post to hold the drawbar PCB in place. In fact, MTH has a part for this. https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...wbar-issues-solution

FB0000037

https://www.mthpartsandsales.com/shop/search

Alternate tubing method

#2 In quite a few steam engines, I have seen the wiring harness was pulled tight from the factory and ziptied and this can cause the connector at the engine side of the drawbar to unplug as the drawbar swings and with usage. Opening the engine shell and cutting the ziptie (or in rare circumstance), just slide a little more wire for a loop and free slack.

Again, at the engine side of this, I have seen the drawbar wiring harness pulled too tight from the factory with no slack and it unplugs into the drawbar.

Thanks for the advice.  I placed the retainer on the drawbar.  I hope this works.  I thought that the retainer was used locomotives that climbed or descended sloped track.  My layout is flat.

Hi Bo:

Recently took delivery of my new RailKing "Big Boy" and it also suffered the same fate as yours. I traced the problem to a poor solder joint on the "earth" pin on the tender end of the drawbar.

Carefully re-soldered this pin to the drawbar board and reestablished continuity of the earth (black wire) to the boiler board, and everything works well now.

Also had a devil of a time with no smoke what-so-ever to start with!!!

Traced the problem (with the help of Don Lockwood at MTH) to an incorrectly positioned smoke fan wire in the harness to the boiler board. The wire (green) was in position #5 and it needed to be moved one position into position#3 to supply power to run the fan motor.

Now it "chuffs" and "puffs" in sync, and smokes the place out!!!

Peter.....Buco Australia

@Bo posted:

Thanks for the advice.  I placed the retainer on the drawbar.  I hope this works.  I thought that the retainer was used locomotives that climbed or descended sloped track.  My layout is flat.

The drawbar retainer Lou1985 and Vernon explained so well should fix your problem. I have the same big boy and have yet to have this issue but I am sure it's coming. Always does with these.

You are correct that the original intent of these retainers (according to some older PS3 steamer manuals) was for layouts with elevations but I think they are eventually needed regardless as my layout is flat as well.

I have a Railking Berkshire that will only make it a lap around the layout before it pops halfway loose and stalls without reconnecting it. Nice that MTH includes these with their steamers.

I did notice my big boy (same model as yours) would slow down or stop mainly coming out of an o31 "S" curve. Upon further review it was just some wheel slippage. Traction tires are in place and fine and the track is clean. It appeared the driving truck was just slightly binding. I ran it at a higher speed for a few minutes and it broke in fine with no issues now.

Brad

@Buco thanks for that info. Nice to know yours is running well now. Out of curiosity is the boiler shell easy to remove? Any hidden secrets to know about? Would like to know incase I need to open mine at some point.

Brad

@B rad posted:

@Buco thanks for that info. Nice to know yours is running well now. Out of curiosity is the boiler shell easy to remove? Any hidden secrets to know about? Would like to know incase I need to open mine at some point.

Brad

It's 5 screws- yes, 5 not 6.

https://www.mthpartsandsales.c...lists/186?type=lists

all the #78 screws in this photo.

2 at the rear, 2 in the middle, 1 up front

Again, nothing trick. 4 of the screws are blatantly obvious, one is slightly blocked under the front drive block.

Thanks Vernon. Great to know.

Brad

I placed the retainer on the drawbar and ran the engine.  It ran fine for about 10 minutes with no stalling.  Then at 20 scale mph the engine hesitated for about a second and kept running.  Then at 21 scale mph it did it again.  So I went to 22 scale mph and ran it for about 5 minutes with no hesitation or stalling.  It appears that maybe running at higher speeds eliminates or at least minimizes this problem.

@Bo posted:

I placed the retainer on the drawbar and ran the engine.  It ran fine for about 10 minutes with no stalling.  Then at 20 scale mph the engine hesitated for about a second and kept running.  Then at 21 scale mph it did it again.  So I went to 22 scale mph and ran it for about 5 minutes with no hesitation or stalling.  It appears that maybe running at higher speeds eliminates or at least minimizes this problem.

Is it actually stalling out or are the wheels slipping? Mine did this in some curved areas but stopped after I ran at high speed for a few laps. I've had it crawling slow speeds after that with no issues. It was almost like the trucks were binding some and worked itself out. If not maybe you have the same problem Buco had. I haven't run mine alot so it's possible I may develop the same issue. Please keep us posted on your issue. Hopefully more folks can chime in and help.

Brad

Hi Brad:

Removing the boiler shell is exactly as Vernon has described it.......but be very careful when you put the shell back on!!!!

The two screws in the middle of the boiler are right where the shell has small semi-circular extensions in the mounting points, and this is directly above where the wires to the front motor run on the base frame.

Make sure the motor wires are kept well back from this point when you drop the shell back on, because they are soooo easy to pinch!!! Don't ask me how I know.

Peter......Buco Australia

I am having the same issue.  My Rail King Big Boy ran for several week perfectly fine but no ied the last two time I put it on the track it runs for awhile then stutters.  It will do this for awhile then just stop.  Sound is still going and lights come on and off but no movement.  I tried stopping the train and pressing the bar up higher but nothing moved and when running it stuttered again.  Would this likely be an engine issue with the tether?

It's best to do what Vernon Barry stated use tygon tubing and a tight fit will hold the drawbar all the time! you can purchase tubing at !

Ace ProLine 3/16 in. D X 5/16 in. D X 10 ft. L PVC Vinyl Tubing - Ace Hardware

Alan

I'm starting to wonder now if the usual drawbar connection problem is the issue. @Buco had a weak solder joint it sounds like and @Bo installed the drawbar retainer with no luck fixing his issue. I've only run mine a small amount so I'm wondering if I won't develop the same issue after more running. When mine started stopping and starting it appeared to be from wheel slippage. Hoping thats all mine was. Curious to hear if @Bo has found his issue.

Brad

@Alan Mancus posted:

It's best to do what Vernon Barry stated use tygon tubing and a tight fit will hold the drawbar all the time! you can purchase tubing at !

Ace ProLine 3/16 in. D X 5/16 in. D X 10 ft. L PVC Vinyl Tubing - Ace Hardware

Alan

Alan, are you saying the tubing is a better solution than the drawbar retainer? The retainer comes in the box with the locomotive but if the tubing is a better fix I will go that route. Thanks

Brad

yes the plastic piece is not elastic whereas the hose is and will not come loose a much better fix and you can easily remove the tubing when you need to separate the drawbar from the engine!

Alan

Since the engine just came out is there an option to contact MTH about a warranty?  I am not confident enough to take the engine apart as some suggested.

Morning Yellowtruck75 what is the problem with your engine? It could be you don't have the drawbar fully locked and installed! what's the main issue MTH Asc techs for repairs I'm in new jersey!

Alan

@yellowtruck75 posted:

Since the engine just came out is there an option to contact MTH about a warranty?  I am not confident enough to take the engine apart as some suggested.

First step- contact the dealer you bought it from. They should be providing initial support and advise you on the current warranty policy.

Further, while I saw an update to the MTH policy, again, contact your dealer first.

Latest update :   https://mthtrains.com/news/005

Previous update to the warranty as I understood it. https://mthtrains.com/news/002

Warranty Terms On Products Produced After June 1, 2021

Items shipped after May 31, 2021, will carry a one-year warranty from the date of manufacture for the MTH Authorized Retailer who sold the product. Any defective items should be returned to the dealer where purchased.  If the dealer has trained service techs, they can offer to repair the locomotive (MTH will supply warranty parts as needed free of charge. If parts are not available a refund will be given to the dealer).  MTH will no longer provide repair service on any products at its corporate headquarters.  If an item is defective and cannot be repaired, it needs to be returned to the original purchasing dealer and the end-user can obtain a refund from the retailer. The original purchasing dealer will then return the item to MTH for credit.  Customers may want to request that their items are tested by the retailer prior to taking the item home. All items are tested by M.T.H. Electric Trains prior to shipment from our production facilities.

M.T.H. products purchased within one year from the date of manufacture are warrantied against defects in material or workmanship, excluding wear items such as light bulbs, pick-up rollers, batteries, smoke unit wicks, and traction tires. M.T.H. Authorized Retailers will replace, refund, or credit the defective item if:

• The item was manufactured within the previous year
• It was purchased from M.T.H. or an M.T.H. Distributor by an M.T.H. Authorized Retailer

IMPORTANT NOTE: Transportation costs incurred by the customer are not covered under this warranty.

Purchases from eBay or other online auction or selling sites will NOT be covered under warranty unless the seller is an M.T.H. Authorized Retailer.

What happens when your dealer is going out of business in 2 weeks and stopped taking repairs a week ago?

thanks for posting. I had not previously known about that mth drawbar retainer, a good tidbit to know for my many mth pieces. Gary

I have a very difficult time believing that all the engines from MTH or Lionel are tested in the US, I think when they go in the box in China, that's the last daylight they see until you get them or your local shop happens to test them.

I agree.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I have a very difficult time believing that all the engines from MTH or Lionel are tested in the US, I think when they go in the box in China, that's the last daylight they see until you get them or your local shop happens to test them.

I agree, I bet all they are inspecting are pallets of brown boxes for proper quantity and shipping damage. No way they are unboxing these and testing them. I don't think they are doing this at the hobby shops either unless it is personally requested.

Brad

I know that Henning's will do that if you ask, but I've picked up stuff sealed int the box and just took it home.  Opening the box it's clearly never been unpacked since the factory packet it.  My last pickup was the UP Rocket Booster Train, those boxes and the packing were factory pristine!

Since the boxes I've opened don't have any sign of dual taping, there's no way they opened them after they were factory packed!

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I have a very difficult time believing that all the engines from MTH or Lionel are tested in the US, I think when they go in the box in China, that's the last daylight they see until you get them or your local shop happens to test them.

Unless by testing they mean “yup it’s in the box”

Weighting them in the box doesn't count!

Thought about adding to this thread for a while, but have decided to share my "Warranty" experience with my new "Big Boy".

Bought my new MTH RailKing "Big Boy" from TrainWorld, and got them to unpack it and test it before sending it all the way to me here in Australia. I didn't want it to have any "issues", as returning it back to America for a warranty claim was going to be a big PIA!!!

When it arrived it did everything it was supposed to do.....except smoke!!!

Under instructions from the MTH tech here in Australia, I opened it up to see what was going on with the smoke unit. In my haste and inattention (yeh I goofed-up big time!!!!) I pinched one of the front motor wires, and "cooked" both boards!!!

Got new boards from Don Lockwood at MTH Spares, and with his help, found the problem to be an incorrectly positioned fan motor wire in the harness to the "boiler board"....right from the factory!!!! I fixed their mistake, and everything was back to normal, and working properly.

I then informed Ken Jnr at TrainWorld about my dilemma, and he immediately got in contact with Rich Foster at MTH warranty about what had happened. Between the two of them, Ken Jnr responded with a "store credit" for the amount it cost me to buy the two new PS3 boards I had stuffed-up.

He was also very apologetic about not picking up the fact that my loco was not smoking as it should, when they "tested it", and he has now put in place a new testing procedure to ensure transparency in how they go about their testing process for clients who want this service, prior to shipping their purchase.

I cannot speak highly enough about TrainWorld, and Ken Jnr in particular, and the way he has looked after me, even though I was the one that had caused the damage to the circuit boards, in my effort to find the problem with the smoke unit.

Thumbs up to Ken Jnr and TrainWorld, they will remain my "go to" store for any of my future MTH purchases.

Peter....Buco Australia.