"Resolved-sort of" Intermitent stopping Lionel Odyssey 4-6-0 locomotive

I'd be checking closely the pickup rollers and the wiring between them.  This locomotive has only two rollers, and they're fairly close together.  They're not "shorting" or the breaker should trip, more likely you have continuity issues with one or both rollers or the associated wiring.  I use Deoxit-D5 on pickup rollers to improve conductivity as well.

Thanks Gunner for the suggestions...I suspect it may be the "tether". The slight shifting of the tether as it goes around a curve or vibration as the loco passes through a cross-over might just enough to break continuity.  I'll try the Deoxit-D5.

The locomotive should run without the tender connected at all, the tether would only affect the sound, rear coupler, etc.  If the locomotives stops, your problem is in the locomotive, not the tender.

When the engine stops do the lights go out? If not it could be a mechanical problem. These have puffer smoke units actuated by a plastic lever that is prone to break. Check that the lever moves smoothly when you rotate the wheels (remove shell and turn flywheel to do this).

Pete

Checked all the above. Reprogramed the engine with a new ID number.

Problem still exists.  Engine runs well at 10 volts, and amps bouncing at 1.5 to 1.9.  The stall occurs on the same sections of track...voltage automatically spikes to 11 volts and the amps drop to .7 or.6.

The track sections it stalls on are part of a block systems. The engine runs fine in the entire block except for the one specific single section. Tested those sections and they have current  continuity.

Might I have a bad board in the engine electronics? The lights stay on during the stall and the engine starts up without an action from me. "Crazy"!!!

1.5-1.9A sounds like a problem, that's a lot of current unless you're pulling a large consist. 

I'm pulling 4 express cars and 2 heavy weight coaches. 

The engines (running by itself) shuts down just below 8 volts.

 Just curious as to why you are running it in conventional. You mentioned you reprogramed the engine and gave it a new ID number. How does it run on TMCC ?

 You mentioned it stalls on the same section of track that's an isolated block. What track system are you using ?

 Are just the center rails isolated to block the layout or are you using an outside rail to trigger something ?  Are both outside rails connected throughout the layout ?

I have a lionel recent F3 that would randomly stop while at speed step 23. Believe it or not I oiled the pick up rollers and have not had a problem since. It's been one year now. Give it a try as GRJ suggested.

Rod Miller

Dave C

The engine stalls on one independent 10" section of a 6 foot block system.  This problem happens on three different blocks.

The center rails isolate the block system...all outside rails are grounded throughout the layout. The track system is Atlas.

I have numerous other locos, MTH, Williams, and Lionel that have no problems with this track system. 

Running this engine at 10 volts and up the problem doesn't occur.

Succeeded in getting loco to run flawlessly in TMCC by issuing a  new ID number, Deoxiting pickup rollers, and cleaning track with naphtha.

But...can't seem to turn off speed control when operating in conventional mode. Loco takes off like a "rocket" and won't operate at lower voltage. Tried the ""turn off" procedure suggested in the Owners Manual, but it doesn't seem to respond.

Thanks for all the above postings and suggestions!

TMCC locos operate in conventional mode only in absence of a command carrier signal.

 I'll take one more shot at this. You stated that you were running the engine conventionally on what I am guessing is an isolated loop that you don't have the outside rail hooked to the TMCC base. 

 Is TMCC present on other parts of the layout ?  Is the base plugged in ?  TMCC has been known to find itself on to what you think may be an isolated loop. Even through a toggle switch. This would explain your earlier post about the engine stopping with the headlight on. Then suddenly powering back up. It would see the signal maybe in just this one area. Stop and look for a command. While it's doing this. The headlight would remain on. Apparently you would lose the signal after a bit for whatever reason and the engine would operate fine again in conventional. Running it fast as mentioned may have got you through this trouble spot before the engine saw enough of the signal to stop.

  Not sure why you need to run an engine conventionally when you have TMCC. If you want to go this route. Un plug the command base and see how it runs.

The TMCC base in never plugged in when I run conventional. 

I noticed in the Operation Manual that the parameters for this Odyssey loco is between 8-18 volts.   When I turn the transformer on, in conventional mode, nothing happens until I reach the 8 volt level.

When I operate in the TMCC mode the loco can start at a crawl (low voltage). I'm beginning to think that's the major difference between TMCC operation vs conventional operation.

Think I'll go with the TMCC mode and forget about the conventional operation.

Thank you for your help.