VL 700E Hudson (6-11209) Cab light blinks 5 times...

5? I have never seen 5 blinks... can you call Lionel and have them walk you through a reset on the phone?

You may have to get an RA number and send it to them for repair.

(5) is typically the AUX smoke (whistle steam) unit fan error.  That fact that it stop is a little concerning and I would of expecting (1) blink for the motor stall.

Thanks for the info on 5 blinks being a whistle fan error, which makes sense. I'll follow up with Lionel as suggested. 

Well, after letting it sit for 6 hrs., I fired it  up, did the reset and now, it's OK. Smoke output from the whistle is at times, excellent and at times anemic, but I'm happy.  Didn't look forward to the prospect of boxing it up and sending it to Lionel.

ToledoEd posted:

Well, after letting it sit for 6 hrs., I fired it  up, did the reset and now, it's OK. Smoke output from the whistle is at times, excellent and at times anemic, but I'm happy.  Didn't look forward to the prospect of boxing it up and sending it to Lionel.

Lionel most likely wont repair it anyway if it is out of warranty

Blink code is for the secondary smoke unit fan, should be a fairly easy repair.

ToledoEd posted:

Well, after letting it sit for 6 hrs., I fired it  up, did the reset and now, it's OK. Smoke output from the whistle is at times, excellent and at times anemic, but I'm happy.  Didn't look forward to the prospect of boxing it up and sending it to Lionel.

My VL Hudson acts exactly like yours, when it starts blinking, I shut it down for a while then reset and all is well

Brent

ToledoEd posted:

Well, after letting it sit for 6 hrs., I fired it  up, did the reset and now, it's OK. Smoke output from the whistle is at times, excellent and at times anemic, but I'm happy.  Didn't look forward to the prospect of boxing it up and sending it to Lionel.

keep an eye on this issue as this is how my bad boy vl from 2014 started doing next thing I knew it stopped dead then would jerk move forward and whistle sounds started up and would no longer respond to cab-2 commands turns out the RCMC board was bad. not saying your issue but better to watch it for awhile.

according to lionel smoke fluid on pcb boards is main creator of this issue hope all works out for you and your vl hudson.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Blink code is for the secondary smoke unit fan, should be a fairly easy repair.

John, I'm finally getting around to this problem. i hoped with age,  the Hudson would fix itself.  Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.  Put it on the track today, same 5 blinks. I have motors, and new wadding but for the life of my I can't find all the screws holding the shell on. The owner's manual was no help and I've searched here and the web with as many permutations of words possible.  Still can't find a diagram or even text explaining which screws to remove. I did find the Forum  discussion about the small lubricator linkage that needs to be removed...many thanks for that, but no help on simply removing the shell.  Can you point me to a diagram or youtube or here on the forum or somewhere, anywhere that has a diagram?  thanks

My guess is it'll be three screws, see illustration.  Without looking at the actual locomotive, I may have the wrong hole for the front screw.  There's only three or four screws on most steamers to remove the boiler shell.  The front screw is frequently under the lead truck, I frequently have to take those off to get to it.

The VL Hudson is a Bucket List loco for me.

Or - is it, after reading this? Small sample, but a bad pattern looks possible.

I'm not an "all the options" kind of guy, but the not running part would be unacceptable. The occasional Reset is fine, but as a way of life, I think not. A nice, old, "cheap" scale PS1 Hudson -  you throw an ERR kit into it; these things - ah, no.

The price of these things, as I have said elsewhere, is in used-car territory, so they will have to come down from that, perhaps now, even more than I was thinking.

Not impressed. But, that's OK. Even I can have enough NYC Hudsons, it seems. 

Well, I've removed 2 under the front truck and 2 under the rear truck and the shell doesn't budge...not even a lull loose.  hmph.

Being that this is one Super Nice Steamer, if you live near a Legacy Repair Station, I would certainly take it there for Expert Repair. I own one, it had a smoke unit replacement and it's Great. This is a really special VisionLine Locomotive. Good thread.

Like I said, I'd have to see it in person I suspect.  Of course, a couple of close up pictures of the bottom would help, make sure they're clear.  Trust me, the boiler shell does come off.  I've actually found that several of the other Vision Line steamers are pretty well done as far as maintenance.  The VL-BB is a piece of cake to remote the boiler shell.

Agree, it's a beauty for sure, but, unfortunately, I had a very bad experience with the only authorized  repair dealer near me and I will not  go back there, so I'll check around.  

D500 posted:

The VL Hudson is a Bucket List loco for me.

Or - is it, after reading this? Small sample, but a bad pattern looks possible.

I'm not an "all the options" kind of guy, but the not running part would be unacceptable. The occasional Reset is fine, but as a way of life, I think not. A nice, old, "cheap" scale PS1 Hudson -  you throw an ERR kit into it; these things - ah, no.

The price of these things, as I have said elsewhere, is in used-car territory, so they will have to come down from that, perhaps now, even more than I was thinking.

Not impressed. But, that's OK. Even I can have enough NYC Hudsons, it seems. 

I love it. My grandson loves it, and most important, my WIFE loves it. I'm stuck...I have to get it fixed.  It ran flawlessly for  years, so I can't complain, but  I do understand your comment.  it runs fine but for this one annoying smoke unit. I can  turn it off and ignore it, but.....it's like that pebble in your shoe, you can still walk but it's a PITA.

That frame looks very similar to the Pullmor Hudson frame forward of the rear drivers. The single screw up front on those is the one that holds the front steering bar on the lead truck. The two behind it only hold the steam chest on. You may have to remove the rear screw on the lead truck to be able to see the forward screw.

Pete

It should have the same shell as the scale TMCC model, and the screws are right about where I suspected they should be.  The rear ones are farther back, I thought they'd be a bit forward.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Like I said, I'd have to see it in person I suspect.  Of course, a couple of close up pictures of the bottom would help, make sure they're clear.  Trust me, the boiler shell does come off.  I've actually found that several of the other Vision Line steamers are pretty well done as far as maintenance.  The VL-BB is a piece of cake to remote the boiler shell.

John, pics.  I annotated  with arrows where I took out screws. In one case there are three screws in a triangle pattern under the rear truck that I didn't take out...I thought maybe they were holding the motor to the chassis?

Another screws  opposite side of annotation-removed

I didn't remove these 3 in a triangle under the truck

screw removed, another opposite side.

The screw that has to come out is next to the forward brake shoe in this pic. Your arrow is next to rear brake shoe.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Like I said, I'd have to see it in person I suspect.  Of course, a couple of close up pictures of the bottom would help, make sure they're clear.  Trust me, the boiler shell does come off.  I've actually found that several of the other Vision Line steamers are pretty well done as far as maintenance.  The VL-BB is a piece of cake to remote the boiler shell.

Ed,

Remember to unscrew the lubricator lever on the right hand side. It's that little lever attached to the radius rod just above the valve guide.

Take the front truck off, that's blocking your view of the likely position of the front screw.

The camera could see it. 

Nice catch Thomas. I recall when Alex pointed that out. Miss it and you will break the lubricator rod. Hopefully Ed sees your post before trying to pull the shell off.

Pete

I admire you folks for assisting TOLEDO ED, in repairing this fine Locomotive. I admire him for trying to fix it...However, I would have called Lionel for an RA..My Luck would have it, break the bell, lose parts, mess up the wiring, Whatever??? So, I am amazed at you all fixing this engine....Good Luck Ed...

John, I have no idea which screw you are referring to?

Norton posted:

The screw that has to come out is next to the forward brake shoe in this pic. Your arrow is next to rear brake shoe.

John, I'm sorry, I have no idea which additional screw(s) you are referring to?

Ed, I'm Pete. The screw that has to removed is circled in red. Before removing the shell read Thomas's (Mikado 4501) post above about the lubricator linkage.

Pete

This one Ed.  

Pete, you and I are on it.  LOL

I thought it was Deja Vu all over again.

Pete

Thanks, Gents  I did find Thomas's video and have remo ved it.  Well, I'm off to see the Lizard!  (Credit to Jimmy Buffet)     

leapinlarry posted:

I admire you folks for assisting TOLEDO ED, in repairing this fine Locomotive. I admire him for trying to fix it...However, I would have called Lionel for an RA..My Luck would have it, break the bell, lose parts, mess up the wiring, Whatever??? So, I am amazed at you all fixing this engine....Good Luck Ed...

Thanks. I worry about the bell as well.  My view is, if I mess it up, Mr.  Lionel has  my back.... I hope.

Well, progress but shell is still stuck...at the rear.  I've removed every screw I thought would be holding the shell..

All the screws in the front to include that long silver one right under the truck  Once I did that the shell was a little loose, some play  in front.

This shows the rear truck/end with every screws I could find removed. The three in the triangle were behind the front of the truck.  

What I discovered is those  three holes have a moving moving sheet of metal...The hole looks as though you are staring at the bottom, but you are not.  I can move that piece to the right, which I think I'm going to have to do to completely seat the screw.  It appears that it's one sheet of metal covering all three so I can move it in one hole and free that others...

I thought the two screws just behind the pick-up  might be the last ones to remove, but as I looked closely, I think not...

The below pic shows all the screws removed in the back end. 

I'm stumped.  Clearly, I'm missing something.... I've started a video of this challenge. It will either be a "how to do it" or a "How not to do it" video, but in either case I hope it will be of some benefit...that's assuming I ever get this shell off!

Any suggestions on where I go from here? Please don't say, button it up and send it to Lionel...  

What about those two screws to the rear of the pickups?

Yes, Those appear to be simply holding the brakes but I will take them out next.  

Those three screws that are under the rear truck are for the motor mount...id put those back in. Every Lionel Steam engine has 3-4 screws holding the shell on....(unless its a LionMaster engine those have 6) 

If you have given up, put the all screws back in the engine where you got them...let me get my vision Hudson out of storage and let me show you. Ill take pictures and make a video or for whatever helps you and others. I have had every Vision Locomotive apart more than once. Let me try and keep you from sending it back to Lionel!!!!

Bruk posted:

Those three screws that are under the rear truck are for the motor mount...id put those back in. Every Lionel Steam engine has 3-4 screws holding the shell on....(unless its a LionMaster engine those have 6) 

If you have given up, put the all screws back in the engine where you got them...let me get my vision Hudson out of storage and let me show you. Ill take pictures and make a video or for whatever helps you and others. I have had every Vision Locomotive apart more than once. Let me try and keep you from sending it back to Lionel!!!!

Thanks. I suspected those three held the motor. A video would be great, but that sure sounds like a big hassle for you.  

ToledoEd posted:

Thanks. I suspected those three held the motor. A video would be great, but that sure sounds like a big hassle for you.  

Hey, I am here to help  I don't mind. Just give me a day or two so I can get it out and apart.