More Allegheny troubles

After being in command mode the engine will start up in neutral at least one time in conventional., After  the one time neutral start up  engine should start up in forward every time in conventional mode. Just make sure the Lionel command base is not powered  else the engine wants to run in command mode.

 

Is the dir button completely interrupting the power?

Make sure it's not locked in any direction, at least for the newer locomotives from Lionel the program switch works as a direction lock in conventional mode, if it's the same for K-line products with TMCC my guess is that might be the problem.

this is usally it.  a tmcc engine will not run in conventional if it detects a signal.

The command base is unpowered and downstairs. The locomotive is upstairs and

in the kithen on a test track.

 

I  will check the program switch.

 

Al W.

THe program  switch was in the run position. The smoke switch was in the off position.  When I put the smoke switch in the on position, the loco drew so much

current it tripped the breaker.

 

Al W,

  I believe I have got the high current problem solved. The resistor in the smoke unit

was very near zero ohms. Replacing with a 27 ohm resistor  solved that problem.

Engine still will not run under conventional control.  Any ideas  on solving this problem?

 

Al W.

I had a similar problem with EER retrofitRan great w/tMCC, but would not run in conventional.

Problem was a bad board which was replaced.

It is probably a bad R2LC (radio board). The high current from the bad smoke resistor could have overloaded it.  Can you turn your smoke off with the remote? Try swapping the board with good one, I bet it works.

 

Neil

Why not just contact us at Lionel and send it in for a charge repair? We'll only have it for a day, two tops, give it the Ole 3 hour endurance test and send it right back. You can reach CS at 586-949-4100 ext 2. Save yourself the aggravation and get back to enjoying your hobby! Thanks, Mike

Mike,

       You folks repairing K-Line now?

Gunny

Gunny, Selectively is most likely the most correct answer. Let me explain; if it has K-Line cruise all we can do is gut it, and add a DCDR. If it is DCDR (non K-Line cruise) only, no sweat. Providing the expectations are not that we will be replacing broken parts that are unavailable anywhere. If the problem is electronic or smoke related in nature "we can handle it" (sorry UP!). If in doubt, feel free to contact me directly at mreagan@lionel.com Thanks, Mike

I can not turn off the smoke with the remote control.

 

Gunny:  I ordinarily repair everything I own. But,when I saw Mike's posting I thought

for a moment I might send the loco in. Mike's reply to you confused me as I checked

the advertising for the loco, it says it has cruise control. Now I am not sure what Mike is proposing. If the loco has to be gutted, I would install PS2 myself.

 

I have a somwhat lenghty piece on the smoke problem but I am having difficulty

adding it as an attachment.

 

Al W. 

 

 

More info about Smoke:

The smoke resistor  measured zero ohms (or very close to it) This was the reason for the locomotive drawing excessive current. Examining the resistor, it was coated with charred wicking material. This was what really read zero ohms. Removing the charred material from the resistor, the resistor measured 31ohms.  The Lionel schematic for the
smoke unit shows the resistance as 27 ohms. I felt  I was “home free” but handling the resistor caused the winding to break and the resulting resistance was 130 ohms-- no good. The resistor is a wire wound resistor. Worst case disapation is about 10 watts
and the resistor looks nowhere near a 10 watt afair. I could not get one locally so I replaced it with a 2 watt resistor mfg by NTE. So far so good-- it must be the cooling air from the fan that helps.  Smoke is normal  and I have  not tried to turn it off using TMCC.
That's next.

I have tried to turn off the smoke with the remote. No luck.

 

Al W.

I figured as much. Your smoke triac is blown on the R2LC board. Replacing the board with a known good one will probably fix all your problems. When they blow in the on position they pass track voltage to the smoke unit instead of the normal 12 volts max. The extrat current plays havoc with the rest of the components on the board. Luckily it is easily replaced.

 

Neil

Neil:

I don't have a spare R2LC. Got to be careful which loco I borrow a receiver from.

Trying it in the  Allegheny might kill it.   I"ll  borrow one from my TMCC Beep.

When I find my  TMCC notebook, I'll be able to repair the R2LC.

 

Al W.

The smoke triac was bad. Now in process of replacing it

 

Al