K-Line Engine TMCC not Working

Hi Ray,

   There are a lot of memebers here that can help you in trouble shooting your engine if thats the way you want to go. It can be something as simple as reprogramming. If not, we can repair your engine if you so desire.

Bill

Great, I will see if I can make a deal on it then.  I really appreciate your help.

Ray

If it runs in conventional, the first thing I'd check to see is if it's really a TMCC engine, or maybe the seller just thinks it is.

If it's really a K-Line TMCC equipped engine, they're normally pretty generic Lionel parts.

Yes. There were some TMCC "ready" engines that required a kit (no longer available) to make them TMCC. You could buy some of the required parts now instead of the kit, but the cost and missing parts that are not available make it a bad financial deal.

It would depend on what price you pay, but typically the truly upgradable ones needed the TMCC boards plugged in to make them go.  If you need both the RailSounds and R2LC, figure on $60-125 for the parts, depending on how lucky you are locating the parts on the used market.

It is a TMCC engine, K-Line K-2436-5006 from 2005, one of the F59PHIs.  I have been looking for an F59 for awhile to repaint.  

Ray

There were some TMCC "ready" K Line engines, the GG1s that required a speaker, housing, motherboard, etc. I bought a couple and found it almost impossible to get the hardware, etc. So I resold them and bought the already TMCC versions.

The "TMCC Ready" GG1 was an oddity, that's for sure.  There was nothing ready about it except they had a wire to the pantographs for the antenna!  No speaker, no TMCC motherboard, nothing.

Purchased the engine, once I get it, put on the tracks and will be asking for troubleshooting tips and advice or repairs.

thanks for all the help so far,

Ray

Well, after putting it on the track and verifying what does and doesn't operate in conventional mode, next step will probably be to take the shell off and shoot some pictures of what it has inside.  Any boards that are plugged in you can remove one at a time and shoot a picture of.  That should be enough information to move on with a resolution of your issues.

The page on Legacy K-Line certainly looks like this came stock with TMCC, so it might be a simple issue.

I will do it.  Thank you for the heads up preparation.  I will be taking the shell off for painting anyway, so that will work out perfect.

Thanks again for the support,

Ray

Got the K-Line Engine yesterday.  It works just fine in Conventional Mode.  Does not respond in TMCC.  Here is some pics of the inside of the engine.  I am up for any troubleshooting anyone has to offer.  Thank you in advance,

Ray

These things are better fixed on the bench of someone who knows the boards.  If it will run in conventional and not TMCC, start with a continuity test between the antenna and pin 23 on the R2LC board.  Follow the grey antenna wire to the white Leoco connection on the motherboard.  Pull it off the motherboard and plug it back in.  I would then pull all three boards and replug them back in.  Next I would do a reset and reprogram the locomotive with the AUX number in your manual.  These things are simple and the fact you are running in conventional is a help.

A few questions.  When you run in conventional, are all the sounds, smoke  and control working properly?  When you power up in TMCC mode, what happens?  If you have no smoke in conventional, pull the 3 pin plug off the end of your smoke unit and try to address the engine again in TMCC.  Do you have another R2LC you can swap out to check things? 

One last thing, check the run/program switch for continuity in each direction.  I have seen these that are bad.  Let us know how you make out.

That was a good score, your engine also has K-Line Cruise.  Everything Marty says.  This should be an easy fix.  G

I think Marty has covered the most likely issues.  As stated, this seems to be a fairly minor issue, all the proper boards are there.

Since you have other TMCC engines, if you need an R2LC for testing, you can borrow one long enough to test it.

One point about installing a different R2LC, you have to program it for the engine, and for K-Line cruise there are additional programming steps.  I believe for that diesel, it would be first setting the TMCC ID, then AUX1,7,8 to signify it's a diesel with K-Line cruise.

Ok, thanks for all the troubleshooting tips. After Lunch,  I will give these a shot and will post the results.  If I do not succeed with the fix tips, is there somewhere/someone to ship for repair?  Again, I appreciate all the help,

Ray

Ok, I just reseated all boards and connectors and what do you know, it works!  It is a little jerky and the crew talk is garbled, I guess that is how it was originally.  It responds to my Legacy controller.  I appreciate all the troubleshooting advice you all gave me. 

Ray

I was going to do the reset, but it didn't come with a manual, so not sure of the steps or if I need to do a reset since it is working.

Ray

Click here for

instructions, http://www.lionel.com/ForTheHo...oreTMCCfunctions.pdf

Use code 8

    If your still have problems with the way it runs, turn off cruise control and try.

Bill

Thank you Bill, I used your reset instructions.  I can hear the couplers and the Yard Tower Com now.  It is a little jerky in reverse and the Crew Chatter is garbled, but that may be the way it is, this is the first K-line Engine I have owned.

I appreciate and am impressed with the support the forum members have shared.  thank you all again,

Ray

It shouldn't be jerky in either direction, I'd be looking at mechanical issues first.  Make sure both motors turn freely for a complete rev of the truck wheels by hand.  Make sure the motor mounts are secure.  There is a screw under the truck that secures the motor, and the motor mount has a couple of screws.  Either can be loose and cause issues.

Ok, it confused me that it is only in reverse, forward is pretty smooth.

I will check the motor and mounts.  Thank you,

Ray

Did you try with the cruise turned off.

Bill

Some K-Line engines are Jerky in reverse at slow speeds.  At faster speeds it smooths out.  Additionally, there are reference documentation on K-Line cruise so you can set the speed steps you desire. Again good score, and yes, for RailSounds 4 (Lionel included) some of the crew talk dialogue is not meant to be understood.  G