Lionel tender compatability- legacy

I have moved TMCC/wireless tether tenders around rather freely; the older ones and the newer ones will not talk to each other unless you reset the loco to the tender's "default" setting. RS boards below 5.0 can also be successfully swapped - I got my USRA 2-6-6-2 compounds to a more realistic chuff sound by doing this. I never use "chatter", so that is irrelevant to me. (5.0/4.0 swap will make sound, but the tender coupler won't fire and the backup light stays on. I forget which way I tried it - probably both.)

I cannot see TMCC/Legacy being able to talk to each other - the software and the hardware (including the IR equipment on the drawbar) are different. 

I really don't like the "wireless" idea in general. This is supposed to be modeling, and this stuff makes it harder to be a modeler (that is - make it what you want).

You can put a Legacy wireless tender on a TMCC locomotive and it will work.  We actually had that happen by mistake.  However, a TMCC tender on a Legacy locomotive will not work.

Note that many of the Legacy sets have moved the IR sensor from the bottom to the top of the drawbar, so obviously that is a problem if you run into that.

Thanks D500 and GUNRUNNERJOHN

Guess all we need to ask is if there is a comprehensive list of tender reset codes from Lionel. Or maybe other members might volunteer any "discoveries " they have made. Coupler not firing is ok if you don't do switching. A constantly illuminated tender lamp might burn out. Not a terrible concern for a nice new tender.

JUSTAKID -

There is indeed a comprehensive list, and if I can find it I'll post it. Others have it, I'm sure. You might find it online, or on this Forum, elsewhere.

It's actually just the "Reset Features" code, so far as I know - used if your engine starts acting funny - or not acting at all - due to a transitory current spike (from a bad derailment, for example) or sunspots or magical thinking...anyway, never had that happen.

But - if you have a modern tender and an older TMCC loco, do a reset on the old loco using the new loco (where the tender came from) value. This will tell the old loco to use the later protocols so that the newer tender will hear the commands, or so I conceive it. This value should be found in the owners manual.

I do not guarantee that this will work in all cases. I have done it from both directions: newer loco/older tender and vice versa. If it causes unwanted results with your loco, just reset your loco back to the value in the manual's "Restore Features" section.

I have only swapped TMCC tenders and all have worked. I haven't tried swapping Legacy tenders but don't see why they wouldn't work either as long the emitter and detector were on the same side of the drawbar.

Try it, nothing is going to blow up. It will either work or not.

Pete

Put a TMCC on a Legacy locomotive, a lot of functions won't work.  We had them get interchanged accidentally, took a bit to figure out what was happening.

I was only referring to keeping the control systems the same. Swapping Legacy tenders with other Legacy engines, not with TMCC engines.

Pete

OK, no issue there, as you say, they swapped the IR stuff around early in Legacy which is an issue.

Tried a Mohawk l2 legacy tender ( got it cheaper at local train show) on a 6-28072 j3a engine. Ok at startup slow speed, but increasing speed made the chuff rate sound like a machine gun. Whistle and bell worked great. My tmcc is currently disconnected but will try a reset in a few days.