Lionel track mobile - not working - responding to Cab 2

If you unplug the Lionel Legacy equipment from the wall does it run conventionally?

I'd send it back.

Exchange it with the Dealer U purchased it from !   Might be faster than sending it to Lionel Service!  They are back logged!

just a suggestion!

Fredstrains

Took a look at these available at TW; I have 990 Legacy Control on my layout; am not familiar with TMCC Comand Control; so, can I use my 990 to control it?  What is the difference from Legacy?

The Legacy system controls TMCC locomotives as well.  When you add a TMCC locomotive in, make sure the ID is selected.  Then press INFO and scroll over to the engine control type and select TMCC.  Press INFO again and you're ready to run.

Thanks GRJ!!  May give one of these a shot: I have the old 3927 Lionel Track Cleaning Car; maybe it can be towed by the Track Mobile.  Will see how Ted does with his.

Not a chance Rick!  The Trackmobile will tow a couple of freight cars and maybe one passenger car.  No way in (that hot place below) that it will tow any track cleaner.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Not a chance Rick!  The Trackmobile will tow a couple of freight cars and maybe one passenger car.  No way in (that hot place below) that it will tow any track cleaner.

Thanks for the heads up!!

My Bethlehem Steel Track Mobile went back to the dealer because smoke shot out of the couplers when I would trigger them to open.  It is a nice looking unit, but a lot packed into the small Track Mobile.  

I bought mine to tow gondolas on the siding for the Bethlehem Steel Culvert Loader and Unloader.  I have just enough space to park it at the end of the siding, but the smoking coupler sent it back.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

John Rowlen posted:

My Bethlehem Steel Track Mobile went back to the dealer because smoke shot out of the couplers when I would trigger them to open. 

This has been reported before.  That "smoke" is really lubricant that will go away after a few activations.  If the couplers are working normally, it's not a problem.

Gunrunner John,  Thank you for a response. This is the first I was informed of the cause. My concern was that the board may be sending too much power to activate the coupler.  I have never had a coupler smoke before out of almost 200 engines, Lionel and Atlas O.

Thanks again.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

Ted,

Maybe it has forgotten the engine address id # you programmed in, try it again as engine #1.

John Rowlen posted:

Gunrunner John,  Thank you for a response. This is the first I was informed of the cause. My concern was that the board may be sending too much power to activate the coupler.  I have never had a coupler smoke before out of almost 200 engines, Lionel and Atlas O.

Thanks again.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

The board can't send "too much power", the couplers are actuated for about 1/4-1/2 second with full wave track power.  The only thing that cooks couplers is if the power can't be shut off.

ted K posted:

when i move it a bit back and forth perpendicular to track the lights come on and off but not consistent

Sounds like a bad connection between either the center roller pickups or the wheels to the frame.  If nothing is obvious underneath, it'll probably have to come apart to fix it.  Note that the Trackmobile is a giant PITA to take apart!  I popped a window when I first got mine, what a raindance to take it apart to put the window back in.

Important safety tip:  Don't touch the windows when you pick it up!

For anyone else reading this post, do not overpower these Trackmobiles! I put mine on the rails with a Z4000 and the handle got turned up too high. I had to replace the board. GRJ is correct. It is a pain to work on something so small. I got practice from my old days in HO scale!

I have one of the original TMCC Trackmobiles. Runs fine but the electrocouplers will not open. I hear the buzz, but no joy.  

update -I switched transformers from Lionel cw80 to MTH z1000 - and guess what - the Trackmobile works fine - using the Lionel Cab2 as well as the MTH DCS remote (TMCC) - the unit responds now to both .  Tested the CW80 and it does put around 16-17 v to track - Z1000 measured at 17.5-18v - anyway will continue to run the Trackmobile but hopefully it will continue working - thanks for al of the responses

ted

ToledoEd posted:

I have one of the original TMCC Trackmobiles. Runs fine but the electrocouplers will not open. I hear the buzz, but no joy.  

The electrocouplers require around 15-16 VAC minimum.  If they're really not opening with 18 VAC, they might need some graphite lubricant.  You can use a small wire or very slim screwdriver to work the action and allow the lubricant to get inside.  In extreme cases, I remove the rivet and take the knuckle off.  I smooth all the mating surfaces of the knuckle and put it all back together.

ted K posted:

update -I switched transformers from Lionel cw80 to MTH z1000 - and guess what - the Trackmobile works fine - using the Lionel Cab2 as well as the MTH DCS remote (TMCC) - the unit responds now to both .  Tested the CW80 and it does put around 16-17 v to track - Z1000 measured at 17.5-18v - anyway will continue to run the Trackmobile but hopefully it will continue working - thanks for al of the responses

I'd still consider some conductive lub on the rollers and axles, your symptoms suggested poor contact.  The other thing could have been some residue on the wheels from the manufacturing process, sometimes cleaning the wheels and rollers of a new locomotive yields benefits.

Regarding clean wheels and rollers, I was having erratic performance of my Polar Express trolley and Birney trolley using a ZWL to run them; they would slow down or stop erratically; finally figured out that you have to keep the rollers clean AND wheels clean. 

Yep, both are key in bring the power in.

Thanks John, I'll try the graphite.

ToledoEd posted:

Thanks John, I'll try the graphite.

The graphite worked.  They seem to be working fine. Thanks, John.  

I love a success story.