Running a K-line Engine with "K-line" cruise control - help

Try clearing the maximum speed setting by addressing the engine while it's on the track.

then do this:

1. Press and release the eng button

2. Press and hold the speed limit touch screen icon

 

That should clear it. This is on page 35 of the Legacy manual.

Ron

J i have the same engine with the same problem. I asked around and was told it was something with a speed setting step something along the lines of 16 or 32. It was a combination of buttons on the remote. sadly i still never fixed mine.

Interesting.

I have K-Line Berks and Mikes with cruise that run fine. I don't have the K-4 but this sounds like a programming issue. The electronics package is no doubt essentially identical.

Please let us know what you find out.

I wonder if Maury might know the answer?

 

Rod

The Plot thickens... So I am still experimenting with this engine. Ron - cannot find the speed limit touch screen icon...

I read on the internet you hit "set" than "boost" and top speed should be clear... nope no cigar. I have to hit SET again just to clear the blinking light.

 

Next did a reprogram... still the same thing.

I have to turn the engine knob all the way just to get 1/2 speed. then dial it back down a few clicks, it accelerates a tad more!

Then dial a few more clicks the engine will start to reduce in speed.

This engine has great slow speed steps just like Legacy, but getting to top speed can be a chore. Especially if you set the speed steps to 256. 

Has anyone noticed you have to run with the throttle bar on the cab 2 all the way up?

Interesting though, you still have a couple of knob rotations left after the velocity bar is all the way up... this gets the engine close to top speed.

Which mode are you using, TMCC or cab1? Have you tried both? Set momentum to L  Is the train brake slider pulled down?

hmm TMCC, running on a cab 2, not sure what you mean by both?

dialed momentum to 1, helps in reducing the monkey motions to get it to speed, but still engine has to remain at full throttle (velocity bar all the way up)

train brake slider is all the way up.

I think Rick means try running in Cab1 mode rather than TMCC mode.

 

Pete

Perhaps these K-Line programming tips will help.

 

 

John - Thanks for the attachment. I performed the program reset, tried the different speed steps. Still the engine has an odd reaction running in cab 2.

It seems to have a time lag to full speed, hitting the boost button reduces this lag.

The odd thing is when the speed is initially reduced the train increases in speed.

Some say this is a characteristic of EOB boards as well?

 

J have you tried running in CAB1 mode yet. Your legacy Controller has three modes, legacy, TMCC, and Cab1.

 

Pete

Pete,

I will, I was running the cab -2 in TMCC mode... thanks.

John,  I find my K-Line engines run better with an actual CAB1 remote, have you tried one?

Dan

CAB -1 mode should give you  bigger speed steps getting the loco going faster.

 

Theres also R100 mode, I'm not sure how that will effect a K Line loco, might be worth a try if CAB-1 mode doesn't work.

 

I'm not sure which, but each of the modes is designed for certain speed controls. I know my Lionel TMCC locos run smoother in TMCC mode than in cab -1 mode.

 

Cab-1 mode makes the locos show obvious jumps in speed steps which is what makes me think it will work better with your K Line loco.

 

I think one of the Legacy "gurus" like Marty or Chris knows the speed steps for each mode.

I have noticed that the K-Line cruise does have a bit of lag that's similar to the TAS EOB control. 

 

You might try setting the K-Line to the 128 step mode and then running with the R100 mode on the Legacy CAB2, that gives you 100 steps and decent control.  That's how I run mine.

 

 

 

Dan, I can't imagine what would be different running the CAB2 in CAB1 emulation or the CAB1, you should get the exact same results.  I can see TMCC being different as the CAB1 can't do true TMCC mode, only relative mode.

 

Rick, CAB1 mode has no limit to "steps", as it's relative mode and just sends out a +1 or -1 speed step whenever you move the wheel.  TMCC has 32 speed steps, and R100 has 100 speed steps and operates in relative mode, the same as CAB1 emulation.  The 100 speed steps are only to run the throttle graph, and R100 also gives you the keypad graphics like TMCC.  Of course, Legacy mode has 200 steps, but that doesn't apply to this situation.

 

The best performance I've gotten is using the R100.  I get the throttle graph, keypad graphics, and it runs the K-Line in relative mode.  Of course, I set the K-Line to 128 step mode.

By the way here are some pictures... fantastic engine

K-Line made some nice stuff, I miss them.

 

As some have posted, K-Line cruise has to be run in Cab1 mode or R100 mode in legacy.

Unless you set the speed steps on the engine to 32 steps, TMCC mode will only give a fraction of the available speed steps. Also TMCC mode gives you absolute speed steps which may screw up the cruise board.

 

Like John I've used R100 with good results but ended up using the DCS remote because there is a setting for 128 steps.

AMEN

Good point on the DCS remote Steve.  I've never really worried about the loss of the high speed steps as I don't usually get near the 100 steps with any locomotive.

Thanks for the info John! I quickly thumbed through the legacy manual trying to find the specifics for J Daddy, couldn't find it.

 

I recall this coming up on previous threads as far as what the "modes" actually do and which modes work best with certain "brands". 

gunrunnerjohn, I have both a Cab1 and Cab2.  Tried the R100 before the software was finished, will have to try again.  I am lazy, and the Cab1 just worked.  JDaddy at the last meet I ran my K-Line K4 on your layout with my Cab1, no problems except that darn Gargrave switch.

I usually end up running with several remotes, 2 engines on DCS, 2 engines on a Cab2 and one on a Cab1 or some combination there of.

Dan

Thanks guys  - going down to the " man cave " to try this out! Dan will have switch replaced this week end!

Aha! That was it!
Changed setting to R100 and its just fine.
thanks!

CAB1 will work fine, as will CAB2 in the right modes.  All's well that ends well, looks like we have a wrap.

 

John,

 

 What is the R100 mode?

 

Art

Art, it's 100 relative speed steps. It's basically cab1 mode only you have the bar graph.

 

I spoke to Jon a while back about adding a R128 for K-Line and EOB but that would be way on the back burner with all the other stuff he's working on.

Thanks Steve

You also get the keypad graphics and operation.  So, stuff like turning smoke on and off is just press the smoke icon instead of ALT1->9.

I thought I would update the discussion. R100 worked great for the engine interface to the Cab2, unfortunately I loss the reverse function... very odd. So going to Cab1 setting I experimented with the 3 speed steps. 32 had some jumps that where visible during acceleration, 128? med steps had small jumps that where visible but not bad. 256 was nice and smooth but required many turns on the wheel. I left it on 256 speed setting and at Cab1 control.

Bummer is when running in cab 1 you lose you speed bar, so you are sort of running blind.

What version of firmware is in your CAB2 and command base?  That reverse bug was in 1.4, but it's fixed in 1.52.

Yep that would be version 1.4... guess I will be looking to upgrade.

Thanks, John.

You can download the files from Lionel, you just need a black module (or build one) to do the updates.  You can still buy the blue modules from Lionel, but the two modules and shipping end up being close to $50, if you get one black module for $20, you can do all future updates for free.

 

You may be able to find a local person that already has the update, or if you're in a club.  I carry the modules to the club meetings and update anyone that needs them.