K-Line 4-6-6t chuff problem

I have not worked on this particular engine but most all of the K-Line engines use a mechanical micro switch (cherry switch in Lionel speak). These switches can get out of adjustment where the cam doesn't depress them fully.They are usually installed over the leading driver axle and require removing the boards to gain access.

 

 

Pete

 From what I remember. This particular engine had an issue with the chuff if you had the smoke unit on. It would sound machine gun like. This was the final K-Line steamer made and it had a selectable chuff. This feature does not require a cherry switch and none is used. It works much in the way that EOB worked and uses the flywheel sensor to regulate the chuffs.

 The smoke unit rewire was a simple fix. I have this engine but never got around to it seeing I don't run smoke. It involved adding a resistor or diode. Can't remember which but I'm sure someone here has the answer.

Reading your post again. The engine only acts up at higher speeds. Is it still running smoothly at this point ?  The cruise sensor has to line up with the flywheel so that it has a clear view of the slots in the flywheel. Seeing the sensor is used for the cruise as well as to trigger the chuff. It could be missing at higher speeds. There was a recent post on smoothing out a K-Line cruise by shimming the sensor to line it up better. A search on the Forum will probably bring it up.

Set your chuff rate at 1 chuff per rev.

Watch the drivers and make sure that when you run the engine that it chuffs once per every rev. 

If it doesn't you have to reset the chuff rate.

I had to do this on mine. They ran at about 6 or 7 chuffs per rev. Sounded like a machine gun at about 45miles per hour which is about what they ran at or slower. Hope this helps. BF

 

 

Dave, since you mentioned it I do believe a diode was needed but as for location ???. I didn't remember that it was for the chuff issue. If it depends on the sensor signal then the vanes should be checked to make sure all are open. Some had an issue with plastic flash covering some of the slots.

 

Is any engine equipped with K-Line cruise capable of adjustable chuff rate or was there an additional circuit required?

 

Pete

Thank you for all the help men, issue resolved. It was the smoke unit/switch, he threw a traction tire and he thought that that may have had something to do with it, at that time he also turned on the smoke. I replaced the traction tire for him, that is when he pointed out the chuff issue, he left it here with me to fix. When I got home went down turned off the smoke unit and away she went. I would like to know more detail about repairing this for him permanently and if it is a diode when would I install it. You help is greatly appreciated as always.

Dennis,

I forwarded you an e-mail exchange from a while back that I had with Gary.  It does involve the use of a diode. 

  Pete,  forum member Superwarp had a how to on selectable chuffs years ago. I did it to my B&A Berkshires as well as a Weaver Pacific. It involved removing the cherry switch and a little wiring. Some programming with Cab 1 was required as well. Much like doing an EOB install. From what I remember it was a pretty simple mod. As far as I know the Tank engine was the only engine produced with this feature. I'm guessing they tied the smoke into the chuff rate and that was the reason a diode was needed as to not mess up the sound.

Dave I would think you would have to replace the connector for the chuff switch with a pair of wires from The K-Line Cruise board?? Hopefully Gary will fill us in.

 

Pete

i would like to know if anyone has details on the diode repair to the 4-6-6t.

 

Thanks

Thanks

FMH

What we need is a "Fix it" Archive, where fixes such as this can be stored for later reference! Even though I don't have one of these engines, it is good to know that someone saved a "fix" for others further down the line.

I agree. Even though I knew the fix was in the forum because of a 2007 post in a different forum , what year and the topic the search engine is pretty useless. I think it only goes back a couple of years. And it is very unclear how it prioritizes the search. Worse than the Lionel document search which is pretty primitive. Google finds OGR posts with more accuracy.

Resurrecting this from the dead.  So can anyone confirm how chuff is set?  Can someone post the K-Line Instructions for the Cruise model?

 

I am upgrading one to PS-2 that had cruise, but had it replaced with ERR Cruise M.   This engine has a cam on the axle and has a cherry switch with diodes to trigger chuff and also pulse the fan motor.  The K-Line Hudson's and Alleghany's I have worked on used a cherry switch.  G

GGG,

I sent you an e-mail that should help.

Here is something I copied from a K-Line instruction sheet and an addendum that came from an OGR post, regarding how to reset the K-Line cruise. Hopefully it will help some folks.

 

Do the following keystrokes to reset a K Line engine equipped with K line Cruise control. These keystrokes should eliminate jerkiness and intermittent speed control. The engine does not have to be in PROG to do this; do this in RUN position.

 

1. DIR

2. BRAKE

3. AUX 1

4. 2

5. 5

6. 0

7. DIR

8. BOOST

9. AUX 1

10. 2

11. 5

12. 0

 

After the completing the above key strokes, enter AUX 1 + 0 to start in neutral.

 

Add on from OGR Forum:

 

Here is the correct reset code for a Kline command engine with cruise.

 

Engine 99, then set, then eng 1 (or whatever you want you final ID to be) then set; then Aux1; next, this is important, 7,8. The 7 tells it that it has cruise and the 8 is Lionel’s code for steam with puffing smoke. A good check for you to see if you have cruise is after you have done the reset I mentioned, turn track voltage off, pull command base plug, now using the variable speed control, speed up, and if it takes a period of time for it to start running, and when it does move, it moves super slow, you have cruise; if it takes off normally, you do not have cruise. This is where the 7 comes in. If the R2LC is not told it has cruise, it will not run in non command. It will do everything but move.

 

FOlks got that info thank you.  Does any one have the specific Tank engine instructions though?  Can anyone confirm whether a cherry switch was used and how it was integrated?  G

I have the instructions. Someplace. Will need to look. Then will scan and post this week.