Issues with TMCC SD90MACs

If I recall I when I got mine years ago the motors were loose from the trucks.  Make sure the motors are secured.  Just a thought.

Lionel made more than one SD90MAC in CP Rail scheme. The first one came out around 2001, one of the first Odyssey engines, fine details, trying to catch up to MTH. Cab number should be something like 9129 (mine is in a box). Blind inner wheels, like a postwar FM Trainmaster.

I sent mine back to Lionel under warranty for the "lurch" problem, and then the coil couplers got stuck, instead of sending it back again, Lionel sent me couplers and I replaced them. The engine still works, but the sounds can be spotty. It also doesn't work nicely with the curved path of a K-Line O-72 switch.

Wild guess is something is wrong with the speed control. Wait for one of harmonyards or gunrunnerjon to give an opinion on how to fix. There should be a switch on the bottom for Odyssey / No Odyssey, try turning that off in the mean time.

Further to @illinoiscentral comments, I own this #9129 engine (6-18271) as well and I would just clarify that there isn't an Odyssey switch on the bottom. The Owner's Manual outlines the procedure for 'setting the speed control' or 'turning it off' in Conventional mode.  However, for Command operation it states "While in the command control environment, the speed control feature of the Odyssey System is always on.  When turning the throttle, the speed of the engine will respond to each flash of the command Base.  Example: Address the engine, slowly turn the throttle.  The first light flash corresponds to the first speed step, this is the slowest speed of the locomotive."

It will be interesting to see what @harmonyards and/or @gunrunnerjohngunrunnerjohn may have to say on this.

Truthfully, that looks like a mechanical issue.  If it's electronic, it's not simply speed control being on or off I would say.

On suspect is the geared axle, I had two of these on the Century Club Sharks that the gear came loose and the truck was immobile.  This looks to be the same design.

@Diego - Just wondering if you ever got the ‘lack of movement’ problem resolved?

In retrospect the other obvious thing that should have been mentioned - since this engine is 24 yrs old - is that perhaps the grease had hardened over time, which has often been said about older engines on this Forum; necessitating removal of the old hardened lubricant from the gear teeth before adding fresh grease (and oiling the locomotive as well).

I have the Lionmaster version of this locomotive, and it also behaved similar to yours.  I turned off the Odessey control and it runs great.  Don't ask me why.

Marty

@PH1975 posted:

@Diego - Just wondering if you ever got the ‘lack of movement’ problem resolved?

In retrospect the other obvious thing that should have been mentioned - since this engine is 24 yrs old - is that perhaps the grease had hardened over time, which has often been said about older engines on this Forum; necessitating removal of the old hardened lubricant from the gear teeth before adding fresh grease (and oiling the locomotive as well).

Hello, I have not resolved the lack of movement. I believe the grease should be fine. The reason I think that is because I set up a small loop and attached my cw80. When I did this the locomotive ran nice. When I put this locomotive on my floor layout which uses TMCC it doesn’t move much as shown in video. Also I believe that it has something to do with my layout possibly because I’ve tested 3 TMCC SD90MACs and they all acted the same way on my layout and wouldn’t move much.