Odyssey Issues

Running OK in conventional would point it away from an Odyssey issue, as Odyssey - this is the cruise control, only - works in Command and Conventional. However, open the loco up - the boiler comes off easily - and look at everything. Any loose boards or connectors? Is the flywheel loose on the shaft? (Though this would affect Odyssey in both modes; look anyway.) Is the motor firmly in place? Anything seem sloppy/loose?

I have a couple of these; great locos. One has the widespread early "Odyssey lurch" (a single lurch when beginning an operating session); the other does not. Odd. But this does not sound like your issue.

A new board would not be hard to replace, if Lionel has them. Open him up and look around.

I have had issues with two of the early Oddysey locos (prior to on/off switch). On both the magnetic ring on the flywheel of the forward motor that works with the sensor had cracked. If you take off the shell you will be able to see it.

Jay in Ottawa

Lionel has the boards, but they are not cheap.  If you need a board, a better choice is to replace it with the ERR Cruise Commander M, you get better cruise and 100 step mode in the bargain.

I'm flying out tomorrow morning so I don't want to start taking anything apart today (I'll never remember how to put it back together, or even where I put the parts).  The magnet seems a possible culprit.  When I do any kind of set function (set momentum, set max speed, etc) it will run around the loop fine a couple of times.  Then there are two Atlas switches that are troublesome and soon to be replaced three feet apart on the mainline.  When it hits the first switch there is the briefest loss of power followed by max speed, back to slow speed, hits the next switch and does it again.  Its almost like it's losing the TMCC signal and seeing full track voltage for a split second in conventional mode.  After hitting those switches a few times it starts doing the same thing at the same spot on another section of straight track.  So know its doing it in 3 spots.  Pretty soon its  4 spots.  The weird thing is, its always the same spots.  But the spots just keep growing.  I'm not sure whats going on.  I have been having lots of track issues with momentary loss of power that I've been fixing as they crop up.  However my Mikado and GP-9 run just fine.