Lionel 6-18269 UP SD90MAC Smoke Pulsing in Conventional Neutral.

I just tested it on my bench, the R2LC-C08 pulses the smoke at idle in conventional mode.  That was to avoid burning up mechanical smoke units in steamers when they were stopped.  In an interesting twist, I programmed a Legacy R4LC-S03 for TMCC codes and it doesn't pulse the smoke at idle in conventional.  That being the case, if you really want to fix it, that would be one way.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I just tested it on my bench, the R2LC-C08 pulses the smoke at idle in conventional mode.  That was to avoid burning up mechanical smoke units in steamers when they were stopped.  In an interesting twist, I programmed a Legacy R4LC-S03 for TMCC codes and it doesn't pulse the smoke at idle in conventional.  That being the case, if you really want to fix it, that would be one way.

Well if that's the way it works I'm fine with that.  I don't typically even try an engine in conventional but since these are not mine they are being tested in conventional as well as command.  I guess I'll need to see what R2LC board they have in each one.

The R2LC-C08 is by far the most common version, and it's the version that Lionel says was in that specific engine from the factory.  I don't run in conventional much either, so it's always a surprise when I find out oddities that I didn't realize existed.

I guess if no one else has any insight to this then I'll assume this is normal operation in conventional based on the R2LC-C08.  Like I said, never running my own or anyone else I know in conventional, I would have never guessed it would pulse when in nuetral.

Like you, I rarely run in conventional, really only when I'm testing someone's repair as a rule.

I put three different R2LC-C08 versions in my test board, and all of them pulsed the smoke in neutral, so I think it's intentional.  I actually thought it was supposed to only do that when programmed for steam as any diesel would have a fan driven smoke unit.  As a final test, I took a new R4LC-C08 from an ERR Cruise Commander and tried that, it did the same thing in conventional running programmed for diesel.  I guess that's just the way it works.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Like you, I rarely run in conventional, really only when I'm testing someone's repair as a rule.

I put three different R2LC-C08 versions in my test board, and all of them pulsed the smoke in neutral, so I think it's intentional.  I actually thought it was supposed to only do that when programmed for steam as any diesel would have a fan driven smoke unit.  As a final test, I took a new R4LC-C08 from an ERR Cruise Commander and tried that, it did the same thing in conventional running programmed for diesel.  I guess that's just the way it works.

Thanks John

I appreciate your checking this out.

Has always done this, probably can find old post where this is discussed.  G

I know that some versions of the R2LC have done this in for steam in command, just don't run enough conventional to know all the in's-and-out's.

@GGG posted:

Has always done this, probably can find old post where this is discussed.  G

I did a search and didn't find much that matched what I was seeing.  It could be here somewhere.  I appreciate taking the time to confirm.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I know that some versions of the R2LC have done this in for steam in command, just don't run enough conventional to know all the in's-and-out's.

Yep me too. 

Thanks Guys!