Odyssey-on or off for multiple units running?

The popular wisdom is to turn Odyssey off for TMCC with the original Odyssey I logic, but Legacy locomotives run well together with Odyssey on.

I have only done a couple of MU configurations with older Odyssey engines, and it worked OK once, or seemed to.  The other time it was a no-go, they had significantly different speed curves.

Before coupling them together with Odyssey on, place them on the track with a 1-2" gap and see how close they run together. If after 10 feet or so they are still within a few inches together you should be able to run them coupled without a problem. 

Pete

You have to do that at multiple speeds to insure they'll actually run together.  If they're dissimilar models, they may have totally different speed response curves.

These engines are quite similar and I will try to operate them at 1=2 inches apart and observe them. Yes, Legacy odyssey 2 engines do run well together. It is the TMCC odyssey engines that do not always perform together. You would figure that 2 Union Pacific SD-70's that were made in the same year will have similar odyssey versions and would run  together well. I have tried setting the momentum to a higher level to help them start out at the same speed.

Tried running these similar engines about an inch apart with odyssey on and one starts at slightly faster so their distance between them differs about 6 feet down the track. In other words, it is a no go as one of the engines when coupled together, the motor gets a little hot on the rooftop. When running it by itself, there is no extra heat coming from it.

Like I said in past posts about odyssey, it is a crapshoot to "MU" Lionel engines together. Really wanted to "MU" these 2 Union Pacific SD-70 engines together but as usual, odyssey is subpar when compared to other speed control systems. Lionel might have corrected it with Legacy or with Vision but their first version of odyssey is disappointing.

Ted,

  I ordered two NS SD-60's  from the 2002 catalog. I was wanting to "MU" them. It will never happen as these units don't have a Odyssey On & Off switch and fight each other. 

If a motor driver or motor encoder ever goes bad in one or the other, they will both be upgraded to a ERR Cruise "M". Them I will "MU" them. I will say they each are excellent runners using a Cab2.

Bill 

Bill,

Thanks for the reply. Having a comment from a TMCC expert certifies my comments about odyssey.