HELP with Lionel TMCC J1a

Where it’s the only loco that has a problem. I’d rule out the layout but cleaning certainly couldn’t hurt. You didn’t mention cleaning the pickup rollers. They pickup quite a bit of gunk not only on the roller but also where they rotate on the pin.

  Are both outside rails on your layout connected ?    Not familiar with your engine. But most of the newer engines have added wires going to axle wipers in some cases so both the lead and trailing truck provide a better path to the outside rails. When you put some pressure on the engine it seems to wake back up again.

It would appear that the engine is having poor electrical pickup.  Since all the lights are flickering I would assume a bad connection.  The first suspect would be the pickup rollers.  If you have a meter I would test connectivity for all the rollers.  The are tied together internally so with a meter you should get a full reading when checking the connection between them.  I suspect either a bad roller/broken wire/lose wire nut connecting them together.  You may need to take the shell off and checking the wiring coming from the rollers and the wire coming from ground to ensure its all solid.

Thanks for the info guys! I don't get much time to work on my layout but next time I'm back at my layout I'll try the remedies you suggested. I recently got a Lionel 50th anniversary J3 hudson (and let me say, fantastic locomotive) but it started exhibiting the same issues as my PRR J1a. And two more of my TMCC engines started doing it too since I made this post.

I cleaned all the wheels and pickup rollers on these locomotives and I cleaned my track with electronic cleaner over the weekend and the issue lessened but it's still there. The engines still flicker and run jerky. However, I noticed something new. My layout is basically two loops, a yard lead connected to the inner loop, and a small yard. And this issue only happens on the inner loop, yard lead, and yard, not the outer loop.

Any thoughts?

Question, what system are you using, Cab 1, Cab 1L, or Cab 2? And, what are you using for power? ZW-L, or 180 watt bricks, or an older ZW, etc… What track are you using? What is the Lionel model number? This will help diagnose your issue…. Happy Railroading Everyone

I'm using the lionel legacy base with Cab 2 remote connected to an mth tiu. I have a 180 watt brick powering the inside loop, yard, and lead, a z1000 powering the outer loop, and a z750 on variable 1 controlling accessories. The layout is about 20ft by 13ft and uses lionel fastrack. And the locomotives in question are 6-28078, 6-38041, 6-28702, and 6-28532.

What electronics cleaner are you using?…….the problem you’re having looks a lot like dirty & or slightly oxidized track, …..I see they’re on fast track??…so tin plated rails,……I’ve used alcohol in the past, electronics cleaner, and always seems to never get the job done right, ….I was turned onto basic lighter fluid a few years ago, and never looked back,…..something about the conductivity level of the fluid…..obviously let that evaporate before you run,…..but for fastrack, I wouldn’t be scared to lightly run over the tops of those rails with scotchbrite first, then wipe clean with a barely damp rag of lighter fluid….

Pat

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Thanks for chiming in Pat, I use Denatured alcohol on my Track and it works fine for me, now I uses Atlas O/Gargraves/Ross custom track, and wipe it dry. I also use bright boys abrasive track wipers. And scotch bright pads…But, giving the blinking lights, that could indicate smoke unit issues. Also, with 18 volts going to the track, it can be a little dirty. I’m wondering also if all transformers are phased? I would disconnect all of the command systems, run the layout in conventional and see how that goes. If that works, then hook up TMCC/Legacy, see if that works, and go from there. The track looks ok to me, but I’ve heard Fastrack needs to be wired and connected really good, maybe soldered underneath. So, if one uses the KISS idea, start over, run conventional, move up to TMCC, then add the DCS, one can see where the issues are. Good luck, keep us informed, Happy Railroading Everyone

@TrainDane3768 posted:

However, I noticed something new. My layout is basically two loops, a yard lead connected to the inner loop, and a small yard. And this issue only happens on the inner loop, yard lead, and yard, not the outer loop.

Any thoughts?

If it only happens on one track, I'd be considering the possibility that it's a TMCC signal issue on the affected tracks.  If this is the only engine that is a problem on that inner track, I'd start by closely examining the antenna and wiring, and next swap out the R2LC.

Another possibility is maybe the power feed to the affected track has connectivity issues.

Unless the wiring was modded in the J1a and the J3, the cab light is normally wired directly across track power if everything is stock. Markers/class lights could be too but sometimes they got power from a DCDR. Looks like you have some kind of power pickup issue, as a challenged TMCC antenna would only flicker the headlight (again assuming stock wiring). I'd be inclined to simplify your track wiring at this point (just put the 180 directly to track) and make sure both outer rails are commoned. A lot of times having only one outer rail connected can cause power pickup issues.

I just got back to my layout today so I unhooked my command systems from the layout and wired it up to a z1000 plus controller. That didn't seem to do much so I followed Pat's advice and cleaned my track with lighter fluid. Wow, what a difference! Everything is running much better but it's still not 100% so I will keep working on it. Thanks for the help everyone!