TMCC ? antenna Lionel 18322 FM

You may have the early railsounds power board. It does not have a shield over the coil to stop interference.

Hello!  here's what I found out...    I removed the shell  left that short gray  antenna wire with the yellow  twist cap on.. PERFECT response...   all signals work perfect  .. (with out the  shell off  )  I noticed Lionel put hot glue on the edges   of the metal   side rails where Lionel used it as a antenna  I used black tape to cover the inside  metal  ..But no matter what I do I  still have a problem when I  put the shell on  ..

I'm trying to research what I can use for a antenna  by gluing a strip on the inside of the cab

Any suggestions thanks ,....Daniel 

I'm not sure why you'd be screwing around with the railings as they are probably contacting the frame!  If you just hot glue a wire in the top of the shell around 12-14" long and connect it to the antenna connection, you should be fine.  The antenna wire should not touch ANYTHING that is grounded to the frame.

I know ...That's what I thought but when I just got this FM  it had no other antenna in the shell just a wire to to the side  metal railings! @4" long then soldered to  side rail  ( Part #  under shell says lionel Mt  Clemens Mich 48045   2321-5 )  

Also it derailed all the time  I ended up uncurling the wires from the  electo coupler and  made a lot of slack for it to turn both ways  the same.. I  put postwar FM truck one one end .. I ordered another because on my 031 tube turns the orgianal  truck arrangement drags  a lot.. I going to forfeit the motion sound for better performance

thanks  for the  post...Daniel

I've never seen the handrails used as an antenna in those, normally they have the copper tape strip in the top of the shell.  Try my solution, assuming it's just an antenna issue, you'll be done with that problem.

Here's the shell that came with this 18322  it does have the PW on the side of the shell  and the plaque under the  frame..  All glued ready to install

daniel

Hey just while your looking at the shell  is forward from the factory long end first or short ?

thanks again ...daniel

It appears that the Lackawanna runs them long hood forward, see circled F on the following picture.  That indicates the front of the locomotive.

thanks!  and chance you know  which way Lionel  had it from the factory on start up   , the shell I have says ...built by Lionel    on the long nose part  ..Thanks again ..daniel

From all the ebay listings  it looks like  the cab goes with the  single air tank under chassis.. There are two  air tanks  on  the other side of the long nose  area I'll go with that...  danny

I have all 3 of the FMs that came out about the same time.

They all used the hand rails as an antenna.

None worked very well.

I did what John suggested and attached an antenna to the top of the shell and all 3 work fine.

Short update  the wire antenna   hot glued  on the inside to[p shell works perfect!

made me wonder if this was aftermarket  .. but after checking Lionel supplement sheets it showed the handrail as a antenna

Could you tell me  (Jeff2035)if you had to reroute your wiring next to the motors mine  where wired tied next to the motors and limited the throw to one side making mine derail

I converted one truck to PW Fm waiting for the other part to come in

My Question is do you run your s on 031  track  and if you do do you have any issues

thanks ...danny

DanssuperO posted:

Short update  the wire antenna   hot glued  on the inside to[p shell works perfect!

Not really surprised, I have no idea why they hooked it to the railings.

Hi Dan,

I did not have any interference problems with the wire routing.

Mine run fine on 031.

Once you get them running you will be pleased. I triple head mine....but they sure tax my MTH Z 4000. Three FMs need a lot of power.