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I bought one of these AB sets recently on one of the on-line auctions. The set was in like new condition and appears to hardly ever been run. I've encountered some problems with the B unit (6-18139) that contains the Railsounds and TMCC features. Here's the problem.

When I set the ID of the B unit (ENG ## SET), instead of getting a horn toot, I get a continuous Beeeeep that will not stop until I turn off the power. That's not right. The unit does accept the ID if I quickly turn off power, move the program switch back to RUN, place the B unit back on the track and apply power. Have to do this quickly. The AB units run properly and all the Railsounds operate correctly. Everything works fine as long as I do not turn off the power.

If I turn off power, the B unit appears to loose its ID and will not function properly when I power it up again. Can't blow horn, ring bell, use crew talk or tower talk, etc. Can hear the prime mover but it runs kind of randomly and I have no control over it. The only way to get proper operation restored is to reset the ID of the B unit, place it on the track and apply power quickly. 

The powered A and dummy Railsounds B units are set to the same ID. I never have to reset the A unit. The TMCC unit, speed controller, front coupler of the A unit work perfectly from its own TMCC electronics components. However, if the B unit is unpowered for more than a few seconds or so, I have to reset the ID everytime I use it.

I assume the culprit is the LCRX/TMCC board,

6108124110LCRX / TMCC FOR DUMMY UNITS (LTS, CPLR, STROBE)

as shown on the Lionel support web site. Should I try replacing the board, or should I be looking at something else. If so what? I assume the ENG ID ## is stored in flash memory on this board and that function is failing somehow.

Would appreciate any advice or recommendations from Forumites who have insight to this issue.

Regards,

Ken

 

 

Last edited by Hotbox
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Nobody ever responded to my post above  but I did get my problems solved over here in this thread: tmc f-3 problem I came in at about the 8th post in the thread. 

My original problem with setting the ID was solved by replacing the LCRX board. But that introduced some new problems because the LCRX board provided by Lionel was an older version and had some different signal assignments on the connector pins, as well as a different connector arrangement. But once I know what pin did what, the solution was easily achieved.

Ken

Last edited by Hotbox

Ken,

One thing that we didn't talk about in the other thread is your original LCRX.

As George (GGG) pointed out, the radio tuner coil in the corner of the board can sometimes drift a bit, causing radio reception to be spotty. But the other problem I've run into is that the microprocessor on the LCRX and early LCRU1 is socketed, and these can sometimes be the source of oxidation that prevents good electrical contact.

If you still have your original LCRX and feel like experimenting, use a small screwdriver to carefully pry the microprocessor from its socket. Lightly wipe the pins with electrical contact cleaner if you have it, and gently re-install it in the correct orientation. I've brought a few LCRX and LCRU1 boards back to life this way.

TRW

PaperTRW posted:

Ken,

One thing that we didn't talk about in the other thread is your original LCRX.

As George (GGG) pointed out, the radio tuner coil in the corner of the board can sometimes drift a bit, causing radio reception to be spotty. But the other problem I've run into is that the microprocessor on the LCRX and early LCRU1 is socketed, and these can sometimes be the source of oxidation that prevents good electrical contact.

If you still have your original LCRX and feel like experimenting, use a small screwdriver to carefully pry the microprocessor from its socket. Lightly wipe the pins with electrical contact cleaner if you have it, and gently re-install it in the correct orientation. I've brought a few LCRX and LCRU1 boards back to life this way.

TRW

Yes I still have the original LCRX. I never throw that stuff away. When I get a chance I'll experiment but at the moment I have the "new" old LCRX installed and wired correctly and the B-unit works exactly as it should. And I'm a firm believer in the old adage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!".

I am curious as to why I had the original problem of not being able to permanently store the ID in the B-unit. That made the B-unit almost useless since it had the Railsounds and the tmcc functionality for the coupler and backup light. Is the flash memory that holds the ID in the microprocessor, or somewhere else? At least I assume it's some sort of flash memory since you can change the ID as needed.

Ken

Update, the LCRX in the B-unit now is the one Lionel sent to me. Judging from the discussion and comments in this Forum, it is the older version and does NOT have the two small 2-pin connectors. It appears to be the one that has a removable 18 pin processor and is the one on the bottom of the photo. That is why I referred to it as the "new" old LCRX.

I just looked closely at the one (top one in the photo) originally in the B-unit, and the processor is soldered to the motherboard. Here is my photo of both boards again. The original is on top and has the two small white connectors. The one I bought from Lionel that I am now using is the one on the bottom and is working just fine.

Top board is Lionel p/n 691-PCB1-00E, and is no longer available.

Bottom board is Lionel p/n 610-1824-110, and is available.

IMG_2957

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Last edited by Hotbox

In summary, in order to fix the ENG ID issue and other problems I had to replace the defective LCRX board that was originally installed in the Milwaukee B-unit 6-18139.

Here is a photo of the replacement LCRX (610-8124-110) obtained from Lionel mounted in the B-unit. Since it was NOT a drop in replacement I had to perform some minor mods. I pulled one black wire out of the rear coupler connector (small white 2-pin connector block) and wrapped it in the ground wire bundle secured by a wire nut. That is not visible in the photo. I left one black wire in the small white connector block and connected it to pin D lower right to activate the rear coupler. Pins C and E are not used in this application and the backup light power lead is connected to pin F (red wire). Note that the processor chip is in a socket and removable but I had no need to remove or re-seat it. Everything works fine as is.

IMG_2960

 

 

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Last edited by Hotbox
gunrunnerjohn posted:
PaperTRW posted:
If you still have your original LCRX and feel like experimenting, use a small screwdriver to carefully pry the microprocessor from its socket. Lightly wipe the pins with electrical contact cleaner if you have it, and gently re-install it in the correct orientation. I've brought a few LCRX and LCRU1 boards back to life this way.

YIKES!   I really do NOT recommend this!  Everyone's idea of "carefully" is different, and it's way to easy to break the socket without the correct extraction tool.  Jameco has them for $2.49.  PLCC Square Extractor Set, that's the only reliable method of getting the PLCC chips out without risking breaking the socket.

John,

I don't think that tool will work for this application. The "processor" is a dual in-line 18 pin package that is probably best removed with a small flat tip screwdriver inserted under each end alternately, while applying some upward pressure. See my photo above. BTW, I do have the tool you show and use it to extract appropriate square packages. That usually bends the flimsy grabber tips after using it more that one time! 

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