6-11128 C&O F-19 SCALE 4-6-2 PACIFIC #490 (TMCC) OPERATION ISSUE

Do the sounds work before you try to move the engine? If not it could be an antenna problem. This can be symptom of a broken magnet but given its essentially new and the magnet looks OK that is likely not the problem here.

Pete

@Norton posted:

Do the sounds work before you try to move the engine? If not it could be an antenna problem. This can be symptom of a broken magnet but given its essentially new and the magnet looks OK that is likely not the problem here.

Pete

Yes the sounds all work.  If I cut the power down to 10-12v to the track the chuff can be heard and other engine sounds as the engine moves.   A friend of mine had a magnet go bad several years ago in a diesel and mentioned similar symptoms.

Might be worth checking the magnet for cracks though the magnets on the Pittman flywheels rarely fail. If its Ok then try reseating the connectors.

Pete

@Norton posted:

Might be worth checking the magnet for cracks though the magnets on the Pittman flywheels rarely fail. If its Ok then try reseating the connectors.

Pete

Checked out the magnet.  No visible cracks or imperfections that I could see.  I unplugged and reconnected the connector that goes into the speed sensor and also no improvement.  Also double checked the other visible connections and they all are tight.   Could the speed sensor itself have gone bad?

Anything is possible but I have never seen one go bad by itself. There isn’t much on that board. If there is a bad board its more likely the DCDS motor driver. Still odd as you say its essentially new.

Pete

Did you attempt running it with the boiler shell off to see if the same problem persist?

I'm sure you've done this, but look for a pinched/shorted wire.  Look at the wires around the motor.  Next I would try to re-seat all of the wire connectors.

Seems like its not seeing the command signal... or most likely the DCDS / ODYSSEY 1 MOTOR DRIVER has an issue. It may be one or more of the FETs on this board has failed and the engine bolts to whatever failed position.  Do a search "Lionel DCDS FET" on the forum.  You will find some similar issues caused by bad FETs.  These can be replaced if you are handy with a soldering iron, etc.  You don't happen to have a spare DCDS board do you??

Also, if it is a bad DCDS board, look around to see if you can find what caused it to fail.

A friend of mine has the same issue with his F-19 and I texted with Mike Reagan and he said it was the motor driver board. No parts to be had for this issue.

Scott Smith

Scott,
Do you know if replacing the FETs was attempted or if it would take care of this issue?

I just sent Mike your photo he said you should  be able to get a Cruise M to fit under the smoke unit.

Scott Smith

@scott.smith posted:

I just sent Mike your photo he said you should  be able to get a Cruise M to fit under the smoke unit.

Scott Smith

Ok that's promising news.  I'll do a few more experiments on it but dropping in a Cruise Commander M might be the way to go.  Thanks and Mike if you are reading along thanks to you too!

I have the George Washington engine from the same catalog and after running fine for a bout a year, it started doing  the same thing only in forward.  Please keep us posted should you come up with a solution.

Thanks,

Don

Let's get a little more information.

You're saying it takes off as soon as you apply power in reverse?   If so, that's not the sensor or the magnet.  The sensor and magnet only enter the picture when you crack the throttle.

Top suspect is one of the FET's on the DCDS, those can be replaced.  I also have a few working DCDS Odyssey I boards.  You can also use the Cruise Commander M, but right now those are out of stock.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Let's get a little more information.

You're saying it takes off as soon as you apply power in reverse?   If so, that's not the sensor or the magnet.  The sensor and magnet only enter the picture when you crack the throttle.

Top suspect is one of the FET's on the DCDS, those can be replaced.  I also have a few working DCDS Odyssey I boards.  You can also use the Cruise Commander M, but right now those are out of stock.

Hi John,

Here is the current scenario....

Engine on track.  Apply any amount of power and the engine will immediately start moving in reverse.  The more power on the track, the faster it takes off in reverse.   Legacy signal present on track, all other locomotives remain silent.  Tried swapping out the R2LC with another known good one, same result.  Program / run switch position has no effect.

I'm not the most skilled at detail and intricate soldering so replacing those FETs are probably out for me.  Thinking of just dropping in a CCM and making it simpler on me.   I did a quick search and also found they are showing out of stock also. 

The symptoms suggest you have either a shorted FET or one motor lead shorted to the frame.

I missed the part of it taking off in one direction. I would suggest first trying to repair the DCDS. While a Cruise M will fix a bad DCDS as well as magnet and tach sensor it can introduce another problem. That is, it can reduce the serial data signal which can still lead to a speed problem or you loose signal to the tender, sound. Not always but if it happens then you have apply another band aid like a buffer circuit.

Pete

I also have the F19 and I replaced the DCDs with a CCM. I did this because the engine had Odyssey lurch and for me a too high starting speed on the first step. I still have that old DCDS if you are interested but be warned that it has these problems. For all I know the whole production run may have had the same problems.

Ken

@DaveSlie posted:

Hi John,

Here is the current scenario....

Engine on track.  Apply any amount of power and the engine will immediately start moving in reverse.  The more power on the track, the faster it takes off in reverse.   Legacy signal present on track, all other locomotives remain silent.  Tried swapping out the R2LC with another known good one, same result.  Program / run switch position has no effect.

I'm not the most skilled at detail and intricate soldering so replacing those FETs are probably out for me.  Thinking of just dropping in a CCM and making it simpler on me.   I did a quick search and also found they are showing out of stock also.

Were you able to get the engine repaired?

Haven't had time to look into it any more.  Also waiting on a Cruise Commander M to show in stock, currently they are showing out of stock.