Lionel NYC Mohawk L-3A #3005, 6-18064 does not Respond to TMCC

Is it possible that someone has taken it apart, and damaged the antenna wire inside.  Where the wire attaches to the backside of the handrail. You have to be very careful removing the boilers on any of these TMCC locomotives. I myself did it once to a parts locomotive that worked. After the wire broke I could not program the locomotive anymore.

Thank you. That's a possibility. We did inspect the connection of the antennas to the circuit board and it seemed alright. But you can't really tell 100%.

I have R2LC boards for that locomotive, drop me a line at my profile email address.  It shows an R2LC-07 at Lionel, those I have.

I was also trying to reply when your post was deleted.  To piggyback on what Secarider mentioned: if the handrails are allowed to touch the metal boiler shell, that will also spoil command reception.  So check all stanchions, and the front end of the handrails where they go into the pilot deck.  Good luck, I hope that your issue is something simple!

If you have a meter, you can check continuity to the shell from the antennas (handrails).

I have a meter. I take it I should get a reading of 0?

I won't be able to do this until Saturday, come to think of it, because that locomotive is over at my club layout now.

@Dave 69 GTEL posted:

I have a meter. I take it I should get a reading of 0?

Just ring it to the shell, …,it should NOT ring,….

Pat

@harmonyards posted:

Just ring it to the shell, …,it should NOT ring,….

Pat

I'm sorry I'm no electrician. I just have an inexpensive regular multimeter. No sound.

It should not show 0 between the antenna wire and the shell. The needle shouldn't move indicating an infinate (OPEN) circuit.

@Jayhawk500 posted:

It should not show 0 between the antenna wire and the shell. The needle shouldn't move indicating an infinite (OPEN) circuit.

Good, meaning that the antenna is not touching the shell right?

With the boiler shell removed, I would carefully pull the antenna plug off the circuit board.  And then stick a small wire in the end of the plug, even a sewing needle if you do not have anything else available.  Be sure it is in the side of the plug that has the electrical contact inside it leading to the black wire. Then I would check to be sure that you (have continuity) from the plug to the antenna on the outside of the boiler shell. If you have continuity from the plug end to the outside antenna rail. Than at least  you know that the antenna wire has not been damaged. Then as gunrunnerjohn stated you may have a bad R2LC board.  As I previously stated,  you can actually break the contact between the black antenna wire, to the inside of the railing. Without it showing or being broken right off. 

@Secarider posted:

With the boiler shell removed, I would carefully pull the antenna plug off the circuit board.  And then stick a small wire in the end of the plug, even a sewing needle if you do not have anything else available.  Be sure it is in the side of the plug that has the electrical contact inside it leading to the black wire. Then I would check to be sure that you (have continuity) from the plug to the antenna on the outside of the boiler shell. If you have continuity from the plug end to the outside antenna rail. Than at least  you know that the antenna wire has not been damaged. Then as gunrunnerjohn stated you may have a bad R2LC board.  As I previously stated,  you can actually break the contact between the black antenna wire, to the inside of the railing. Without it showing or being broken right off.

I have purchased a replacement R2LC board from gunrunnerjohn which hopefully I will receive next week. My locomotive is at my train club right now, the Casey Jones Hi-railers of Memphis TN. Check out our Facebook page. I'll take your advice and check the antenna when I remove the shell to replace the board. Thank you.

@Dave 69 GTEL posted:

Good, meaning that the antenna is not touching the shell right?

Correct.