I need some help....

TripleB440 posted:

Hi All, 

I have a Legacy commend set I just bought and works great.  I configured a legacy SD70Mac to it and have no issues.  I have a Lionel TMCC SD-40-2 I would like to program as well.

I am having trouble resetting the locomtive with the legacy system.  I can't remember what the ID is of the locomotive, it hasn't run in quite a awhile.  I have the PDF for it and says to reset the ID to hit "boost, eng, id and then set.  I do this and it does nothing.  Cab lights are on, but no one is home lolol.  I tried to do the reset of the whole locomotive, it is a AUX code 8 how ever, when you hit aux1 it changes the display to icons and not numbers.  I also tried the AUX in the menu and it tells you to change the switch from run to pgm.  I already have it in program.  I am kinda stuck...

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.  It is an SD-40-2 CP Rail 5420. 

do you have the 6- number?

The locomotive is 6-18299  CP Rail road 5420.  When you put it on the tracks it lights up but just sits there.  When I first put it on the tracks it lit up and was on ID #1.  I tried to reprogram it and now it doesn't repond to really anything.  Just sits there with the cab lights on.  I have a feeling I changed the id some how to something else.

ok, I got it to finally take the right ID.  I switched the switch back to run and the locomotive works as expected (forward, reverse, railsounds, bell, whistle, etc..), but now a new issue.  The cab lights are blinking in an on and off sequence repeatedly.  

TripleB440 posted:

ok, I got it to finally take the right ID.  I switched the switch back to run and the locomotive works as expected (forward, reverse, railsounds, bell, whistle, etc..), but now a new issue.  The cab lights are blinking in an on and off sequence repeatedly.  

try doing what page 16 of the manual states.

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...ents/72-8524-250.pdf

Are the cab lights blinking three times and repeating?  That's the smoke unit error code, one we see a lot.

TRIPLEB440,

    You do know that Lionel has a complete educational Video library you can reference on line, that will show you visually exactly what you need to do when programming TMCC & Legacy Engines into the Legacy Cab2.  I further recommend the Modern O Gauge Remote Control Part 1: Lionel TMCC & Legacy Basics.  Bob Phillips does a great educational job on this new TMCC/Legacy video explaining every thing you need to know to get started and run your layout with TMCC/Legacy remote control.

PCRR/Dave

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Are the cab lights blinking three times and repeating?  That's the smoke unit error code, one we see a lot.

according to the 6- number that engine does not have that ability.

but I could be mistaken.

Oops, you're right, this is a TMCC locomotive!

I thought we were talking about the Legacy one...

Just some info, I know it sounds like I am new to model railroading, but I am not.  I am new to legacy, but I have a few legacy locomotives and set those up pretty easy. I watched a few different videos in the legacy system.  I also have the manual for the tmcc locomotive I am having problems with.  I tried what was on page 16 of the manual and the problem is when you do an aux1 selection "8" for diesel you can't do that on the legacy controller like the cab-1.  When you press aux1 it gives you icons and not numbers.

i did get past that part, I let the locomotive sit for while with no power, and tried again and it took the ID change.  

What it does now is when you power the locomotive on, in run, the cab lights blink on and then off.  The pattern is continuous, in other words it will keep doing it.  Once you start to run the locomotive it stops.  This locomotive I used to run on my layout years ago, with zero issues, it has been sitting about ten years.  I can't find anything in the manual about blinking cab lights.  

Keep any suggestions coming, I appreciate all the responses. 

I thought that a blinking cab light meant that it was getting a poor TMCC signal. Or maybe that was a blinking headlight? If you stop it elsewhere on the layout, does the blinking return?

J White

You can still do the TMCC reset, just press the keyboard position where the 8 would appear, that would be the - sign on the keypad.  If that bothers you, you can switch to CAB1 emulation and the numbers stay.

J. White, It could be a poor signal, I bought this track at the hobby shop local to me and I have a feeling it was on the shelf awhile.  The other locomotives didn't seem to have an issue, but this one I did notice a couple sparks as it was traveling slowly. 

I did get it to take the proper ID I was assigning it, and the locomotive is operating as expected, except the cab lights blink, it will stop blinking, but I haven't figured out what stops it from blinking.   Maybe it is just a poor signal it is picking up?  Maybe that's why it was also having a hard time taking the ID assignment.  I have another locomotive exactly like it, an SD-40 as well, just a different road number, and that didn't have a problem, but it was basically new in the box.

when the blinking starts again, hold your hand over the engine and report what happens.

I will try that, and thanks everyone for the suggestions!!!  Merry Xmas

First and foremost, did you clean the engine pick-up rollers as well as the wheels? This is eerily similar to a poor power/ground  connection via engine and track.

I have to admit, I did not.  I looked at them and they didn't look bad, but I planned to pull it apart before I started running it on the layout to oil it, put new traction tires on it, etc.  

Well, I cleaned the track and I think I found the problem.  The traction tires on the locomotive were very gummy.  They were leaving black residue on the tracks.  I changed the tires on the locomotive, cleaned the track and loco contacts, and all is swell.

Merry Xmas, and thanks everyone for the advise/suggestions.  BIll 

TripleB440,

       Try removing your traction tires all together, I do not use them on my Legacy Engines at all, and never have a signal problem.  If you are running on a flat layout with no trestle you really do not need the traction tires, unless you a pulling one heck of a lot of rolling stock behind your engine.  Clean your tracks with some CRC sprayed on a soft cloth and your TMCC/Legacy once connected properly should have no problems.  

Glad you figured out what was really going on.

PCRR/Dave