4-8-4 Legacy/Flickering Headlite

Flickering lights are usually a poor TMCC signal. Is the wire connected from the base to the track?Does it behave the same when run in conventional mode with the base shut off?

Lionel repair service has really fallen apart within the past year. I've had a few items come back in worse shape. The technicians they employ are extremely careless.

If other TMCC/Legacy engines run fine then it sounds like the antenna wire in the engine has poor connection.

 

Jim

I do have one other Legacy engine that has always and continues to run great.  This engine has been a real disappointment.  When I sent it in for repair, the cab lite was flashing three times - by code a smoke fan problem.  I was concerned that when talking to techs at Lionel I had to tell them what the code meant.  Disconcerting, considering I know nothing about the Legacy system.

  I would love to check for myself and see if the antenna is loose, but Lionel rules are very strict concerning this, if I open it the warranty is void. Now back to Lionel it goes.

I am so disappointed in both Lionel and MTH

Thanks for the replies

BRice

Lots of things can create signal issues, the handrails are the antenna.

 

1.If part of the handrail is bent and touching the shell it interferes with the signal.

 

2. Could be "layout related" i.e. a ground plane problem, multiple parallel tracks can  

    cause signal problems.You can test this by putting your hand just above the loco and seeing if it responds normally. If it does adding a "ground plane" may help.

 

You can search "ground plane" on the forum for further info. FYI this issue will not effect all locos typically just the ones with the weakest antenna.

 

3. Where the base is plugged into can create signal problems as well, powerstrips  

     have been known to cause problems, usually best to plug the base directly into 

      the wall.

 

4. The newest legacy stuff seems to be far more sensative to dirty track and rollers as well.

While its no excuse I believe Lionel has been inanndated with new defective items compounded by the huge release of new product, this will ony get worse as more "stuff" is shipped.

 

The smoke unit fans have been defective in numerous recent items, I decided to replace mine myself as it was far cheaper than return shipping. The blinking diagnostic is nice because it directs you to the problem, once the fan motor was replaced it resets itself. My new motor is nearly silent, the original was noisy out of the box.

Follow RickO.  Set your meter to continuity and put one probe on the antenna (handrail) and the other on ground.  If you get continuity, you have your problem solved.

Thanks Gents Brad

Follow RickO. Set your meter to continuity and put one probe on the antenna (handrail) and the other on ground. If you get continuity, you have your problem solved. Marty Fitzhenry Wed 10:19 PM When you say ground Marty do you mean the outside rail or body of the locomotive? Thanks.

Yep, the antenna should NOT have any connection to the shell.  If it does, that's a problem, you're shorting out the TMCC signal.

I see this often.

Well, gave the continuity test to no avail. Off to lionel it goes.

Thought I would give you an update.  I just couldn't figure out why it was running fine and then out of nowhere have this problem.  I looked over the suggestions you guys gave me and tried the 'hand test' again.  As soon as my hand came near the engine the headlite immediately quit flickering and the engine began responding correctly.  I then started reading up on the 'ground plane' issues and figured that was it. However, the more I thought about this, I just couldn't get past why this problem would start now and not when I first got the engine.

There's allot of info out there regarding this issue, some of it directly contrary to what Lionel was providing in instructional videos. In a post from the 'Atlanta' RR Club one person noted that none of his articulated engines had this problem. This made me think it was an antenna problem associated with smaller engines.

To improve continuity between the rails and the engine I cleaned the drivers,tender wheels, and pick-up rollers with Goo-Gone.  Problem completely solved.

I will say this, the whole 'ground plane' problem is really making me re-think Legacy Engines. I really like the features, the sound is excellent, detail great.  But wow, this sure appears to be a huge engineering defect.  Having these wires running all over the layout, what about the poor slob who upgrades to Legacy and has a completely finished layout?

 Anyway- Thanks for the help

BRice