Lionel Steam Locomotive

A reset never hurts; it's a factory procedure.

Personally I prefer locos not all lit up like Christmas trees, but that reverse running problem is definitely a concern. Inspect your rods, running gear and especially your drive brake shoes (if any) - I had a lurching issue on a Williams diesel last year - one of the truck brake shoes was actually working! Against a traction tire - the loco would not run correctly until I saw this. (The part was not quite made right.)

Also, a motor not properly screwed to its mount can run fine in one direction, but not another (again, a Williams issue in the past). Your Odyssey flywheel timing/tach ring (proper name?) may be having issues - some need gluing on to stabilize them. As I understand.

Have you opened up the cab yet to look at the light and LEDs?   It may be a loose plug.

Trying to not remove the shell, Marty unless I have to.  I think if I run it in conventional and the lights come on that will confirm a programming problem.  If they don't then it is a wiring issue.  I also noticed the interior cab light is also out.

I had one of these when they first came out.

As far as the lurch goes make sure the running gear and axle bushings are lubricated as recommended in the owners manual.

D500 makes a good suggesstion with the brake shoes HOWEVER ,there is no brake shoe on any type lionmaster loco.

Secondly, a competeing magazine reviewed this loco and it did not run smoothly. Check the gearbox play by rotating the powered axle of each set of drivers back and forth with your hand.

It should be one of the two inner axles on each set of drivers closest to the gearbox as indicated by the bulge in the casting.

If one of the axles is tight, little or no freeplay, loosen the motormount screw recessed into the gearbox.

( The motormount screw is visible on the bottom recessed into the middle of each set of 8 drivers)

Then apply rotational pressure to the gearbox and retighten the screw. This will help reseat the motor. Check for added play which will help smooth out the operation.

If I recall correctly, there is no cab light on this model. There is no mention of one in the catalog description either.

Regarding the marker lights, you may need to remove the shell to fix this. There is a contact board on the chassis that makes contact with another spring contact board under the cab for the front loco lights.

Usually its a matter of stretching the spring out for the marker light so it makes contact and operates.

This is not the worst loco to remove the shell on, and the contact board/spring setup eliminates some extra wiring that would normally have to be dealt with.

Sometimes if you put downward pressure on the cab the lights will come on and confirm the contact issue.

Having said that, it may even be a matter of simply snugging up the screws holding on the shell.

Thanks for your time, Rick.  I'll try these suggestions.  The reason I mentioned a cab light is because the old CAB-1 keyboard overlay that came with it indicates a cab light on and off key selection but they were probably generic for a lot of engines.

Craig