TMCC with Cab 1 L HELP With Steam Engine

Hi Larry,

It may be that you have accidentally pressed Aux2. This turns the headlight on and off in command mode. Try pressing Aux2 and see if it comes on. 

Edit: Here's a link to the manual for your locomotive in case you don't have one. Page 9 explains about Aux2 and the lights. 

Nicole - Thank you. Yes, Aux 2 turns it on and off.  BUT, when on it flickers even when on a single piece if track connected to Cab 1L & Base.   Des this mean a board problem do you think??

Does it flicker when run in conventional mode? If so then it could be a loose bulb or connection.

Otherwise, a flickering headlight normally indicates a signal reception problem in command mode. It could be a loose connection to the antenna. I'm not an expert when it comes to board problems, but I've found that many problems have a simple solution in the end, and bad boards are far less common than loose wires.

In conventional Headlight works FINE.  I guess I should take the body off and check aconnections to see if they are tight?

Will I be able to spot the antenna with the body off.

It's your command base. I have a LEGACY CAB1-L/Base 1-L Command Set and my TMCC locomotives weren't taking commands. The headlights flickered as did the green LEDs on my LEGACY PowerMasters. My LEGACY locomotives ran fine, however.

It's a TMCC signal issue.

I sent my command set back to Lionel and 2 weeks later it was fixed and my TMCC locomotives run perfectly. The flickering headlights went away and the LEDs on my PowerMasters are a solid green.

In most diesels, the antenna is a metal plate fitted quite high up with a single wire coming from it that plugs into the control board.

Sorry if I'm not too much help here, but hopefully one of the electronic experts will chime in soon with some more detailed advice for you.

Well, it's a bit early to indite the command base, because it's a new to him used engine that has the problem or the command base.  Automatically assuming it's the command base is premature, though it's possible.

Larry, do you have the command base properly connected to the outside rail of the track?  Do you have the power connected directly to a properly grounded outlet?

John-  Yes connection is fine. I am in a 5 year old condo apt building. I am sure the wall plug is grounded.  The Command Base L and Cab1 L are brand new from Mario's trains in Virginia.

Do you think I should send it back without taking the shell off the engine and just looking to see if anything loose?

OH, I will be receiving another TMCC engine shortly.  I'll hang tough with everything until I get the 2nd engine. If I have the same problem it will be the command base. If not, it will be the GP7

If I do have to send it to LIONEL, the shipping will be about $ 40.00 to Lionel and 2 weeks to get there. Then there will be customs coming back. Probably about $ 20.00 and at least another 2 weeks plus time at Lionel.

Oh well, No sense getting worked up yet.   I guess these things happen. My FIRST TMCC experience.

 Just for curiosity,whats the other TMCC engine Larry?

That old "pullmor powered" GP7 is not the "ideal" TMCC loco, even it its "best operating state" it will likely be a poor performer.

Given its age, and being used, its always possible there may be an issue.

In the future I would recommend "can motored" TMCC locos with oddyssey  These will run much smoother and have far better slow speed operation for things like switching.

RickO -    I never asked what motors were in either.

The next one is a 4-6-2 Tradional size , Also a few years old.  Are you saying just play with the GP 7 as is and don't worry about the headlite?

I'll see what happens when I get the 2nd engine.  The sellers of both (OGR Forum fellas) say the engines both were working fine on their layouts.

Just went throught this same thing with my buddy's Cab/Base 1L and it was determined the base need to go back.  Exact same symptoms whether the engine was Legacy/TMCC and even 3rd Rail. 

Similar to this thread.

Charly    I'll try changing the radio channel on the base.   Thanks for this.

Larry

The channel on the base and remote are just for base to remote communications, it has nothing to do with the TMCC signal itself.  If the headlight is blinking, it's not the channel selection.

I'd wait for the other TMCC locomotive, then you'll know which one is the issue.

Gunrunner john - THANK-YOU for this info.  I'm not very smart when it comes to the new electronics.

I'm leaving the channel set now and will await my other engine on Monday or Tuesday.

I'll set it up and let everyone know the results.

Thanks

Larry in Calgary

Common Rick this is rubbish.  Regardless of Pulmore versus DC Can motor argument, the Early GP LCRU and RS 2.5 were very bullet proof and run fine for AC motor engines.

There is no reason to have a flickering light just because it is a AC motor engine.

I would take shell off and make sure antennas connected.  G

Thanks GGG.  I'm going to attempt that.  I  know there are 4 screws on the bottom to undo.  I will try this later this AM >  My hands are not quite steady yet today.

Thanks for the advice.

I never stated the pullmor motor would cause the headlight issue, nor did I say it was unreliable. My point was, there really is no signifigant benefit of a pullmor powered locomotive with TMCC other than being able to run it with a remote.

Given the standards of todays model railroading they are "poor performers".

Pullmor powered locos really don't perform much better under TMCC than conventionally.  I'm sure your aware, its an old, dated electric motor design.They are basically only good for "racing around" the layout in a postwar style manner. Slow crawls and precise switching movements are out of the question.

I was just trying to give Larry a "heads up" in case his next post involved questioning the sluggish, power hogging operation, and why it slows down at every turn.

There have been numerous posts over the years by folks that unknowingly purchased a pullmor powered TMCC loco. Then wondered why it didn't run like the majority of modern TMCC/Legacy, or even MTH  stuff for that matter.

Well I took the shell off.  I cant figure out where the antenna is?

Here are some pics

I believe it is that silver thing with a wire going to it.

Gray wire.

It has a black wire and looks like this:

Probably under or next to the circuit board.

One quick question- Are you powering on the Cab1L base before turning on the transformer? If no, try it in that order.

Moonman, nothing like that here.  There is a gray wire going to the roof of the body.

The fray part looks like plastic and is marked part # 2328

Command base 1L always powered up first.  Then I turn on transformer , then power up.

The gray wire goes from a little white connector mounted under circuit board to one end of the gray piece under some SILVER sticky tape on the roof of the shell.

Should I pull off the silver sticky tape??

That is apparently the antenna.

Gujnrunner  - I was looking at the wrong end  and wrong item.  I put the sgell back on.  I'll take it off again and look.

Thanks

Larry

put it back together and run it.

Yepper, they change things when they build'em. Kinda like plans and as-builts.

While on my problems with my newly acquired GP7,  Does any one have a spare Diesel and/or Steam plastic overlay for the Cab 1. I will gladly pay to have you send them to me here in Calgary?

And, I put the engine back to gather and it works!!!! ( But not the headlights in Command, only in conventional.

I have been offered a DIESEL overlay.  Anyone have one for STEAM???

Thanks

Do they work if you press AUX2, or not at all now?

Nocole - just as before Nicole. Aux 2  turn off  - fine  AUX 2 turn on  Fine in conventional, flickering in Command

First question, did you do a reset of the engine?  In program mode, after you assign the ID and press set, press AUX1 and 8, you should get a blast on the horn after the 8 press.

If that doesn't do it, and AUX2 that Nicole mentioned doesn't do it, I'm a bit confused.  I can see the bulb, so it's not upgraded to LED's, and polarity shouldn't matter

Larry, it sounds like you still have signal issues.  I think I'd take a break and wait for the second TMCC locomotive to show up so you can narrow down what's happening.

Thanks Larry. This is a strange one indeed. Just out of interest, when in command mode, does it still flicker if you hold your hand a couple of inches or so over the locomotive?

Is this another case of GMTA John?