Cruise control is a nice feature to have... When it actually helps. Many of my older Lionel engines do not run together because there is no on off switch for the Odyssey. What I need is a way to modify the existing electronics, without having to install any new electronics, to permanently disable the Odyssey. I get very frustrated with engines that do not have on/off controls for it, and there are many in which I would like to disable the Odyssey system. Any easy fixes?
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Try flipping the "NO ODY" switch?
Touch base with Brian at Mercer Junction he may be able to help.
Cruise Commander M will do the job nicely.
Even cheaper is a used DCDR, I have a few of them if you're interested. You'll have to change a plug, similar to the process described for the ERR CC-M, but you'll pay 1/4 the price as long as you don't want cruise, just motor control.
Even cheaper is a used DCDR, I have a few of them if you're interested. You'll have to change a plug, similar to the process described for the ERR CC-M, but you'll pay 1/4 the price as long as you don't want cruise, just motor control.
Could you further explain this to me? I'm not really familiar with electronics for engines, but if I could find out more about this maybe I could do it. Thanks to everyone for all of the responses!
The DCDS (Odyssey motor driver) is replaced by the DCDR (TMCC non-cruise motor driver).
Can you tell me specifically what engines we're talking about?
If your engine does not have an Odyssey ON/OFF switch you can try this alternate method listed in some of the manuals.
Turning Off Speed Control:
While the engine is in neutral, turn your controller up to the maximum power (no more than 20 volts), wait one second, then press and hold the horn button.
While holding the horn button, slowly reduce track voltage to one-fourth of full power.
Release the horn button.
Cycle the engine to forward or reverse. The engine is now out of speed control mode.
Caution! In conventional operation, the smoke unit and lights are connected directly to track power. Do not exceed 14-16 volts for extended periods. Doing so will cause damage to the locomotive.
I have had a post-it over my computer desk for many years with the following information on it:
Odyssey ON: AUX1, brake, 9, brake
Odyssey OFF: AUX1, brake, 7, brake
I don't remember where I originally got this information, and I have never tried it on the CAB1. I am guessing it was for Lionel engines with Odyssey before they came out with the Odyssey ON/OFF switch, but I'm not sure.
Maybe someone on the forum can recognize these CAB1 commands and enlighten us on whether they work or not.
Norton has it correct for early engines with Odyssey control. BUT, it is only temporary. The Odyssey only remains off until the power is shut down for 3 seconds then when power is applied again the Odyssey control is engaged again and you have to go through the steps again. It will not remain off until turned on again.
Not sure about Rogers, maybe Train America Studios Engineer on board control?
The DCDS (Odyssey motor driver) is replaced by the DCDR (TMCC non-cruise motor driver).
Can you tell me specifically what engines we're talking about?
Mostly the ones I have pairs of from different runs - an SD80MAC, an RS11, I think a couple U30Cs. Mostly engines from around 05-06, when Lionel was making engines without the switch.
Hmm... In looking into this, I think the fly in the ointment is the lack of the VCO on the DCDR. This isn't an issue with steam, but with diesels, the DCDS provides the diesel prime mover ramp-up, and the ERR Cruise Commander M for diesel has the functionality as well.
I think my solution may not work in this case.
Well, what I'm getting from these responses is that all I can do to permanently disable the odyssey in these older Lionel engines is to completely replace the electronics, which is not going to happen. The only thing I can think of doing is making my own stickers for the fly wheels. If I can change the speed of an engine by putting the black and white stripes closer together or further apart, I think it would be able to operate at a speed close enough to certain non-odyssey engines to eliminate the majority of the fighting between them. As long as I don't run these engines with other odyssey equipped engines, I don't think this will cause any harm to the engine it is executed in (can someone confirm this?), it will just fool it into thinking it is going faster or slower.
The flywheel sensor uses a magnetic ring for Odyssey 1, so hat's not going to happen. 
I don't know of any way to "fool" the sensor that way.
Odyssey uses a magnet, not optical strips. Even if all of your engines did not have Odyssey it would tough to get them to run together unless they were the same type and geared the same. DCS and Legacy are your best bet if you want to run multiple engines together.
Pete
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