Should my Odyssey II switch be set to "ON" for Legacy operations? I just noticed I've been running it in the off position. This is the cruise function correct?
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ON!
It will run much better and have cruise control!
Thanks Marty! I feel like an idiot! LOL
The nice thing about Legacy Odyssey II is that MU configurations run just fine with it enabled. Other than for some brief testing, I've never turned it off on any of my Legacy stuff.
On my Lionel TMCC SP SD20-2T Tank Train, the manual says to set Odyssey off on the 2nd loco and on for the lead loco....I am using a Legacy 990 though.
Shoudl I set them both to on?
Funny thing is, the Lash Up procedure doesnt seem to work....only the Lead engine moves.
So I just set them both to program, gave them one number.
Runs perfect.
TMCC Odyssey I and Legacy Odyssey II are two totally different animals. Odyssey I had lots of issues running in an MU, and the popular wisdom was to disable it.
On my Lionel Legacy Neil Young PRR F3 set, it seems to run better with Odyssey II turned off.
I have one "S" turn on my layout, that every train will slow down a little on, despite a power feed in the middle of the "S" and a slight incline.
With Odyssey II off, the PRR seems to handle that very well, but with it on, not so well.
Wonder why that is?
Can't say, I've MU'ed a number of Legacy locomotives, we even did a diesel and a steamer, they worked just fine. I never even considered turning Odyssey off on them.
It could be the friction on the wheels on those s-turns...I can hear them rubbing.
It is not like the lights flicker or anything on the passenger cars, maybe the incline plus the S turn is just too much.
Saw the same thing on my old conventional layout, the S turn was a pain.
Funny thing is, if I hook up my MTH DCS to that loop, the MTH engines are smooth as silk..they never ever seem to be affected by anything.
S-turns are very demanding and frequently cause issues. Been there, done that. 
Well I switched it on and boy is that an improvement! I'm getting nice slow prototypical starts now without fidling with the wheel to get some momentum. I also noticed that the speeds are slightly slower and I can run at restricted or slow speeds with less noise for the other half to watch her TV shows!
This is very bad. This means I have to buy more! LOL
Originally Posted by chipset:
On my Lionel Legacy Neil Young PRR F3 set, it seems to run better with Odyssey II turned off.
I have one "S" turn on my layout, that every train will slow down a little on, despite a power feed in the middle of the "S" and a slight incline.
With Odyssey II off, the PRR seems to handle that very well, but with it on, not so well.
Wonder why that is?
Could it be that your O-II switch is wired incorrectly from the factory? I don't know how you could confirm this, but it seems like the opposite should be true based on my observations with my loco. She slowed down a bit on curves as well (just noticeable) before I engaged the O-II. Now she is smooth as silk.
Originally Posted by Volphin:
Originally Posted by chipset:
On my Lionel Legacy Neil Young PRR F3 set, it seems to run better with Odyssey II turned off.
I have one "S" turn on my layout, that every train will slow down a little on, despite a power feed in the middle of the "S" and a slight incline.
With Odyssey II off, the PRR seems to handle that very well, but with it on, not so well.
Wonder why that is?
Could it be that your O-II switch is wired incorrectly from the factory? I don't know how you could confirm this, but it seems like the opposite should be true based on my observations with my loco. She slowed down a bit on curves as well (just noticeable) before I engaged the O-II. Now she is smooth as silk.
All my Lionel TMCC locos act the same with Odyssey.
OFF=Not as realistic acceleration and deacceleration, but ignores any track deficiencies.
ON= More realistic accel and deccel, but more sensitive to track deficiencies.
My Legacy Locos just seem to tolerate track issues better with ti off.
Realistic accel and deccel with ti on or off.
chipset,
As Volphin said, that doesn't make sense. It should be the opposite. I would have the switch wiring checked.
Jim
With Odyssey II off on Legacy, I don't get nearly as consistent performance. If you're running them in command mode, I have to agree with the other opinions.
Just to clarify, its a Legacy 990 running in command and control mode,and performance is degraded only on that S turn.
I bought a digital voltmeter today and I will let you know what I find.
UPDATE:
Put on my reading glasses and noticed when I thought the switch was set to off it was actually set to on....re-ran all the engines and yep, they all run better in Odyssey.
My apologies, i am getting old.
Fixing the low voltage areas of the track did wonders...even my TMCC PWC Pullmors run pretty good.
I need to figure out how to use this digital voltmeter, I am sure it will help.
I am a electrical noob.
The world has stopped wobbling on it's axis and sanity has returned to model railroading! 
LOL! It is amazing what trouble bad eye sight causes...my reading glasses are my late 90 year old mothers magnifying glasses..like the ones they sell at the counter in drug stores..and one ear piece or whatever it is called is broken off.
Thus...I will be going to get real reading glasses very soon...dont need anymore chaos!
