Cab2 Direction Button not working

The 990 remotes are simply getting old.  You diagnosed it yourself, CAB1L works, Cab 2 doesn't.  I think Lionel is still repairing remotes (not the bases), so you might want to jump on it and call them before that ends also.

I had an issue with mine that Lionel repaired. Seemed like the boost feature was permanently on.  I never liked that one  button setup with the rocker action for brake and boost along with the pressing down to change direction. Seems like a lot of wear and tear on one mechanical switch. I now have got into the habit of spinning the throttle knob counter clockwise to change direction. It does have a fancy name. The manual covers it. I still use the brake function on the rocker. I know boost is needed on some programming features. But for running trains with speed control. I just don’t see what purpose it serves.

Thanks for the responses.  I figured it was a case of the switch wearing out after all of these years.  I didn't know if there might be a "fix" using contact cleaner.  I certainly don't want to open up the Cab2 myself.  It is an odd switch with push button and roller in one switch.  I can live with just reversing the throttle knob.  As old as it is, I'm a bit leery of sending the Cab2 to Lionel for a repair.  Perhaps I will contact Lionel to see if they are still doing repairs.  I may buy another Cab1L as a second backup for the day when my Cab2 truly dies.

Here is hoping for a future remote to replace the Cab2 (from Lionel or someone else).

I contacted Lionel, and they can repair the Direction button on my Cab2.  They sent me an RA# and shipping label.  I will ship it to Lionel tomorrow.

I think it is great that they are still offering to do Cab2 repairs.

You could try reloading/upgrading the software to V1.74. I recently had some oddities with my original cab2 that went away simply by upgrading to V1.74 software. What version are you running? Lionel will probably upgrade your cab2 to V1.74 unless you ask them not to. V1.74 is what you should be running to be compatible with Base 3.

Rod

I am running V1.74.  Every other function that I tested on my Cab2 works fine with the Base3.  The push button switch for Direction has either corroded or been deformed so that pressing it does not activate the circuit.

I checked my train inventory records.  I received the Cab2/Base2 on January 4, 2008.  I remember setting it up with a loop of track in the living room of the apartment we initially moved into when we moved to North Carolina.  The only issue was the one that all early buyers had to deal with (sending it to Lionel for the 1.0 to 1.1 upgrade).  Considering it is over 16 years old, it has held up remarkably well.

@Dave_C posted:

...I never liked that one  button setup with the rocker action for brake and boost along with the pressing down to change direction. Seems like a lot of wear and tear on one mechanical switch. I now have got into the habit of spinning the throttle knob counter clockwise to change direction. It does have a fancy name. The manual covers it. I still use the brake function on the rocker. I know boost is needed on some programming features. But for running trains with speed control. I just don’t see what purpose it serves.

+1000.  Frankly I wish I could modify the CAB2 to eliminate Boost and Brake so that rocker switch ONLY controlled direction.

I think changing direction with the knob is called 'Yard mode' or something like that.  If you're doing a lot of switching it is helpful.

@Ted S posted:

I think changing direction with the knob is called 'Yard mode' or something like that.  If you're doing a lot of switching it is helpful.

Velocity Throttle.

It's called Velocity Throttle Direction Control or V.T.D.C. in the manual.