Modern TMCC legacy engines in conventional mode

What exactly are the symptoms you are having.  In general, the CW-80 shouldn't be a major problem with conventional operation of a TMCC or Legacy locomotives.  Is this with all engines or just some of them?

I recently acquired a older command controlled blue comet I don’t have a current layout I just have a test track set up with the CW 80 as soon as I apply power the engine will run forward lights will come on I hear sounds build it but it will not go into a neutral position or reverse I tried this with another engine that I know works and the same thing is happening . I don’t normally run my engines in conventional mode so I’m very unfamiliar on what I can use and what I shouldn’t use but the engines are acting as if they’re locked in forward position only

Switch the PGM/RUN switch to RUN and it should behave.

my new lionel big boy does not operate in convential mode.  Turn  on track power and it comes on but turn off power to reset to forward and it is still in neutral.  Took tender shell off and it has no battery connection to keep power on when transfomer is off.  works per fect with the remote.

TMCC doesn't use a battery to retain direction control.  The ONLY use the battery has is to maintain the sound during power interruptions.  You may have a bad R2LC, that is the component that determines direction control.

I would say possibly there’s a part failure but for two engines to work or act the same exact way I’m not sure. I flip the switch to run as opposed to program and I throttled up just a little bit so the signal would be sent from the engine to the transformer that it’s in conventional mode but as soon as it gets up enough juice it just goes forward . I’m going over to my buddies house who has a dedicate a Layout with an old ZW to see if there’s any difference . thank you everybody for chiming in and trying to help

Will keep everybody up-to-date

I can't find my CW-80 right now, but TMCC works fine in conventional mode with the MTH Z-1000 transformer.

Thanks John, once this gets figured out would this engine be a good candidate for a super chuffer ll install.

@Michael bee posted:

I would say possibly there’s a part failure but for two engines to work or act the same exact way I’m not sure. I flip the switch to run as opposed to program and I throttled up just a little bit so the signal would be sent from the engine to the transformer that it’s in conventional mode but as soon as it gets up enough juice it just goes forward . I’m going over to my buddies house who has a dedicate a Layout with an old ZW to see if there’s any difference . thank you everybody for chiming in and trying to help

Will keep everybody up-to-date

AFAIK, it's just the opposite. A CC engine is programmed to automatically start in conventional mode until and unless it sees a CC ("watchdog") signal. There is no specific signal to start in conventional. That's why one generally fires up the Legacy/TMCC base and put the remote on before turning on track power so the engine doesn't start in conventional if you're running it in CC.

A TMCC engine will start up in neutral the very first time it's run after being powered in command (TMCC) mode.  Any succeeding conventional starts will be in forward and it'll begin moving immediately.  However, the RUN/PGM switch in PGM will lock it in one direction and not cycle through neutral.