my 2010 big boy is now giving me intermittent running issues now , its gotta be the drawbar .anyone have a solution?
Wow, maybe it's time to switch brands! If these are going back this many times without getting properly fixed, it may be cheaper to sell them off and get a model that's known to be more reliable. Even my old AHM/Rivarossi Big Boy hasn't had trouble like this. It's had it's share of issues, yes, but they were at least easy fixes, and I know I can plop it on the track and start it up without worrying about it breaking. (I'm not saying to run out and buy an AHM, I'm just saying that there may be better options)
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Our Big Boy worked for about a month and has broken again. This time it seems to be the decoder in the tender. The issues is that it is shorting out and in fact takes down the entire layout. We have this for 14 weeks and MTH has had it for 14 weeks. As we live in Canada they will not ship us a prepaid voucher. $40 a shot to ship it back.
Like UP4006 there were loose screws. We had one fall off the tender day after we got it back and one of the screws holding the drive bars fell off. Tough to find on the layout but we found it. Then we found lots of loose screws on the tender.
I don't really want to get into a contest with UP4006 on who sends their Big Boy back the most!!!!
This is beyond unbelievable.
Well my MTH Big Boy 4006 came back from MTH 4-17-14 and shipped back to them for the sixth time now on 4-18-14. The repair order stated they R&R'd the rear motor, refurbished for operation, and tested good. When I unboxed it there was loose hardware on the foam in the box and when I removed the locomotive from the box and unwrapped it the front gear box cover fell off because there were apparently no screws installed in it. Hows that for customer service. I am thoroughly convinced that Union Pacific will have the 4014 up and running reliably and dependably before MTH gets my 4006 running reliably and dependably. So the 4006 saga continues.
We got the Big Boy back just before Christmas. They replaced the motor and the decoder. Worked great for 7 weeks. Then it stopped again and is now on its way back to the shop.
I too have had bad luck with my MTH Big Boy. I bought it in 2010 and it has been back to MTH five times now for service. In fact it still is at MTH for service. Both front and rear engines have locked up twice and the circuit board has gone bad once. I own two other MTH steam locomotives and both of them have performed flawlessly from day one. The Big Boy on the other hand has spent more time in transit to and from the shop and in the shop for repairs than running on my layout.
Some of the complaints include running problems, decoder issues, etc. Also the paint job is not up to par, and not as good as the first release. Some of the details are cheapened compared to the first version, like the brass horns are not even brass, but painted plastic.
It sounds like MTH wanted to raise the price, but then turned around lowered the cost on manufacturing. Bad mistake.
They did in fact re-design the drawbar that is wireless now.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
The problem sounds like a bad connection in the drawbar. I had to permanently fasten a few of my MTH locos to the tender and solder jumper wires across for a proper connection. I'm not too happy with their drawbar configuration.
My son just got this on Oct.17 and must have been one of the first to get one. Are there that many complaints already? I have not found any. Lots for the 2007 version but I have not seen any of the 2013 version.
He got the MTH because it comes with a smoke unit and the Athearn does not. That was my decision and I guess that was a mistake.
The news about the latest issue of the BB's is horrible. I have read lots of complaints. Don't know what the problem could be as the factory change situation should have smoothed out by now...and that's IF MTH was another company that had to find other builders over the past two years or so.
-Crandell
Oh man sorry to hear that. I heard a lot of bad reviews on the new MTH Big Boys and Challengers. I'm staying well away from that. I decided to get the Athearn Challenger's instead, they are much better.
Take it back to where you bought it from and get a refund.
Anyone try one of these? My son (12 years old) finally got one about 3 weeks ago. Guess what - already does not work. No power to the locomotive. The tender still has the sound working but the locomotive does not move nor does the light come on. We are not too impressed.