Visionline Bigboy

@Pierre M posted:

... cant shut down with remote, so cant reset.Sent out for repair at local shop because lionel wasn't doing visonline repair anymore.Repair guy changed both boards did not fix problem. Back on layout.

Pierre,

A few questions first:

     Which VL Big Boy?  What product number?

     Which remote (Cab1, Cab1L, Cab2, Smartphone, etc. )?

     Is it fitted with Bluetooth?  If so does control via Bluetooth work?

It appears that the changed boards weren't really bad.

Mike

It sounds like it's in conventional mode, that would indicate an antenna issue if the boards were replaced.  Question, did you get the "bad" boards?  Since that didn't fix it, I'd certainly want those as they're likely still good and worth something.

The Vision Line Big Boy doesn't have Bluetooth.  All the Vision Line Big Boys were in the 2014 Catalog and the only difference between stock numbers was cosmetic (road numbers) and the programming for specific crew-talk and LCS sensor data.

Thanks guys.how easy is it to fix the antenna

The antenna is the handrails, if you remove the boiler top shell (4 screws), it pretty clear where the antenna connects.

This show shows the connector where the antenna goes on the RCMC TMCC receiver.  The wire should lead you to the antenna connections to the handrails.

Make sure those handrails do NOT have connectivity to the shell/frame.  You can actually do the connectivity test without removing the boiler top.  If that is good, you'll probably have to remove the boiler top to see why it's not getting to the TMCC board.

If its in conventional mode shouldn't it still chuff, smoke, horn work? none of that works.just sounds like its sitting idle hissing and bellowing. And the boards aren't in the box.

just seen your post, four screws shouldn't be to bad.and ill check for continuity Thanks,keep you posted.

First off, if you don't have any command motor control, the antenna is still suspect if it's not the RCMC.

OK, if the sound remains in idle, that's a bit different, you didn't mention no chuffing or whistle.  FWIW, we just had a conversation about the VL-BB with a similar sound issue.

2014 Lionel Vision Line Big Boy no Whistle, Chuff, or Tender Function

The repair guy apparently didn't look at the wiring diagram for the VL-BB, there's a lot more going on than those two boards to get the serial data to the tender.

I'd like to know what "two boards" the repair guy replaced since there are three boards in the path to supply serial data to the tender, follow the red lines.  If he charged you for the boards, I'd certainly demand they be returned to you!

The first thing to do is to clearly identify all the anomalous behavior so we can try to figure out what is broken.

Here's a PDF of the VL-BB wiring diagram, it'll give you a clearer diagram to work from.

Lionel Vision Line Big Boy Locomotive Wiring Diagram.pdf

I don't know which he changed.I can find that out,also he didn't charge me.   Sound likes were getting some where .      Thanks for your help.   Henning's trains  they do repairs? 

Henning's trains does repairs.

I guess the fact that he didn't charge you makes it better, I'd still like to hear what he actually did.