Hogwarts Express LionChief with Bluetooth(6-83972)

The bluetooth app provides the most control overall on the engine.  I think if you were to change the momentum setting to M or H, you will get better slow speed performance. Certainly not Legacy-like, however.  Here’s an example of a PE with M momentum.  The setting will hold when using the remote also.

Hey all!

I’m happy that I found this thread started on the forums.

Jim, your experience with the lack of slow running speed, as compared to the BT Polar Express anyway, was almost immediately evident to me.

I haven’t changed any of the speed settings on the Hogwarts Express, although the only adjustments that can be made regard the momentum of the engine and it’s max speed. My thoughts are that reducing the speed control will likely just make it operate at its “slowest” speed, which is still a bit fast.

I will test later tonight and report findings!

I wonder if some kind of hardware change or adjustment could make it operate at slower speeds? I’m speaking as a total novice here, so I’m not sure.

Add more weight/cars for the loco to pull and you will drastically improve its slow speed and smoke output

To start with I run my sets like that with a z4000 or z1000 which are adjustable voltage. I start them out at 9 volts, with the manual remote, and slowly increase it,  and max out at 16 volts.  They are jackrabbit for sure, nature of that type of motor. As for smoke it's pretty typical also of types that ARE NOT FAN DRIVEN.  A fun train, I ordered the dementors car, I would love to add silhouettes to the cars that,are in the set, already added an engineer. 

I could be wrong, but it seems like since they've switched to Bluetooth on their lower end sets they've been having the issue with the jackrabbit starts.  They must have changed something in the design.

I've read the suggestion on other posts to install a resistor in line with the motor to slow the locomotive down. 

Can any of the electronic gurus weigh in on this?  Any possibility in damaging the board(s)?

Thanks,

Jim

First off, heft the set Polar Express locomotive and then the Hogwart's locomotive.  The Hogwarts is a HEAVY locomotive.  Next, the Hogwarts uses the tiny flat sided set motor, and any of the recent Polar Express sets use a much larger motor.

I've upgraded both a PE and the Hogwarts to ERR with cruise, and the PE with the larger motor is a pulling fool, and it has tons of speed if you're in a hurry.  I pull 11 PE set cars with it, and it doesn't seem to even notice they're back there. 

OTOH, the Hogwarts struggles on level track to pull 6-7 cars, and it's top end is nothing like the PE locomotive.  Both engines have identical electronics, so the difference is strictly in the characteristics of the mechanics.

I have one of the Hogwart's locomotives that was upgraded with the larger motor by Frank Timko, but I haven't had a chance to test it properly yet.

Sounds like his problem isn't pulling power, but trying to slow it down.

If you pull more than four cars, I suspect the other problem will surface.

Of course, my TMCC version with the ERR Cruise Commander will crawl along at a very slow pace.

Well Santa is bringing the Dementors car this year - so that makes 4 cars.  I don't think this will address the jackrabbit start...

Back to my earlier question about installing a resistor in line with the motor to slow it down...  Thoughts?

Also, why is there a capacitor across the motor leads?

Thanks

-Jim

The capacitor is for electrical noise suppression, leave it there.  Instead of a resistor, which won't really work well, try a few back-to-back diode pairs in series with one of the motor leads.

I have the LionChief non Bluetooth set. It pulls with ease,  six coaches with O36 curves.  Even with my homemade dementor car. I do have the new one on order, but depending upon which one I like better,  I may sell it or return it. If I like the new one I'll just remove the Dementors from my homemade car and have an extra coach.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

.... try a few back-to-back diode pairs in series with one of the motor leads.

John,

What do you mean by "back to back" diodes? 

Wouldn't that (anode to anode or cathode to cathode) block voltage flow in either direction? 

-Jim

That sure is a tiny motor for o gauge trains. Be careful adding more cars. I’d keep an extra motor on hand just in case one fails during the running season. 

Rod, I've changed a number of those little flat-sided motors, they are usually overworked, even in small set consists.

Jim, check out this page: Dropping voltage with diodes.  When you have diodes in both directions, you get about a .6-.7 voltage drop of the power for each diode in one side of the string.  This works for AC or DC of either polarity.

Thanks John

So parallel in opposite polarity. That make sense. 

What motor do you use to replace the smaller one?  (Is it a direct replacement?)

-Jim

Jim Harrington posted:

What motor do you use to replace the smaller one?  (Is it a direct replacement?)

Not even close.   I posted a thread about it here.

Re-motoring the Hogwart's Express

As you can see, I just sent it to Frank Timko and said I wanted a bigger motor.   I haven't gotten to putting TMCC into it yet, that's coming when I get time.

Does anyone know how to do an audio reset on the LionChief Hogwarts Express! I know it's a series of buttons on the remote but can't get an answer from Lionel. Thanks

ChuckVan50 posted:

Does anyone know how to do an audio reset on the LionChief Hogwarts Express! I know it's a series of buttons on the remote but can't get an answer from Lionel. Thanks

When the remote is turned on and in "operation mode", press the whistle and bell buttons simultaneously.  After 3 seconds or so the remote's red light will begin to flash.  When this happens (and still pressing down the whistle and bell buttons) use the speed control dial to adjust the volume up or down.  Release the whistle and bell buttons when you are done.

EDIT: I'm actually not sure if you can use the remote to reset the sounds on LionChief engines.   I saw "Bluetooth" and my brain went to LC+.  If you have a LC Bluetooth engine you may need to download and use the app to adjust the sound volume.   If you just have the LC Hogwarts without Bluetooth the only way I know of adjusting the loud volume is to add a potentiometer.   If you do a forum search I know there is an old thread (I recently had a computer crash and lost all my old bookmarks).  

-Greg

Thanks for the reply, I did try that and the remote light don't start blinking. 

I am not looking for an adjustment, I have no sound at all!

Check the drawbar connections, that's a common issue.  The speaker is in the tender and the sound is in the locomotive. 

Yep, got that. I have continuity from the locomotive to the speaker. Boxed up, going on eBay!!!!!