Who has the TMCC Lionel crane and car?

I've operated both Cab-1 & Legacy. Legacy is easier with the icons rather than remembering. Outside of that no functional differences.

Only hints I would give is it takes the full 18v to get all of the side fram supports to pop out, and never turn it upside down! Restringing those can be a bugger. Put tension on both hooks before putting on side or in the box.

Jim

Awesome, arguably the best thing Lionel has ever come up with. The tmcc crane deserved "vision" status years ago. Operating with tmcc theres a template for the remote just like for locomotives so you know which numbers are for which function.

I have the same problem, the outriggers are a bit balky, and I got mine brand new, so I suspect that's probably a trouble spot for these.

I've got one and I run Legacy. Great car. Fun to play with. The outriggers are definitely the biggest issue.

Would love to see Lionel take the same idea and put it into a harbor crane.

David

Just wanted to add my two cents...My wife bought me the Burlington Northern Crane and Boom Car for Christmas. Out of the Box, I had the same problem but also had issues with the drive gear slipping out due to a loose locking arm. Both issues were reported and the unit was sent back to Lionel. After (1) month I got the crane back...The turret works perfectly now and does not slip out of gear but still have the issue with the outriggers. The rears work perfectly but center and front are erratic. Do any of you know if this was reported to Lionel as a field defect???

Hard to believe Lionel doesn't know about it, I've never talked to anyone with this rig that didn't have a comment about the outriggers!

Check out the link.

Page 10 and on will help most folks.

quote:

Originally posted by gunrunnerjohn:
Hard to believe Lionel doesn't know about it, I've never talked to anyone with this rig that didn't have a comment about the outriggers!

It doesn't really bother me, I just don't use them, they are far from prototypical the way they shoot out,and then you have to push them back in by hand anyway. The rest of the cranes features far outway the minor issue of the outriggers.

The other thing about the outriggers is you have to stick the stands under them, that kinda' takes away the automation features as well.

Run the crane duo on TMCC.  IS wonderful to operate.  Outriggers are as reported in other posts, but we don't use them anyway.

It's probably one of the coolest things I've seen.  I had trouble with mine.  Sent it back a couple/three times because it kept dying on me after 15 minutes of use. Finally on the 4th attempt it was determined a wire was being pinched, which got hot and then shut down the rig.  It worked great after that until I left it swung out into traffic and it got rammed by a highballing Pacific.  She needs to go back in the shop again. All the motors are working, hopefully it's not a major fix.  Although dealing with all the cables would seem like a chore if a repair required dealing with them.  All my outriggers worked great.  Got to get it fixed soon.  I like cranes and it really is a neat item. A showpiece.

Yeah, that really hurt, because It was finally working great after many frustrating sendbacks for repair. And I really, really like it. Crane operators-don't forget to watch to your a**!!!  

Best operating cars ever. No issues after Lionel fixed the receiver in the boom car.  As long as the voltage is at 18 volts my outrigers work fine.

Wife got me the MOW version, still new-in-the-box, for Christmas.

And of course it was the time when I decided to tear-down and move the layout control panel, upgrade a couple of turnouts, etc.

Needless to say, I can look at it and can't run it yet.

Run the crane duo on TMCC.  IS wonderful to operate.  Outriggers are as reported in other posts, but we don't use them anyway.  The operators' dialog cracks us up.

I operate mine with Legacy system. the icons make it very simple. It is always a crowd pleaser, but it is very fragile with all the strings and pulleys.  I usually keep it out of child's reach for this reason. 

I have the CP version of the crane and boom car. I had to return them because the audio became very distorted. As it was going back I had them fix the out riggers which now work great. I have only operated it with TMCC though I have a Legacy controller.

Is it possible to get the overlay template for TMCC controller?  Mine came without one.

I'd check with Lionel.  I got one with mine, but if I have to use the CAB-1, I'll need it.

 

You could get a copy of one and copy it on transparent copy paper, but that's a lot of work.

Ni

Not sure if you want this, but here are all the functions from the manual. I don't  remember the plastic overlay and it doesn't mention it in the manual, but I may be wrong

I would take Williams advice on using the manual. The overlay is  not available on the Lionel parts site. If it was the price is $2.00, not really worth it, plus the flat rate shipping of $9 or$10 bringing you to a total of $12......certainly not worth it.

When you are running your crane around the track do you tie down the boom to keep it from hitting things.

Thank You

Ken

The boom shouldn't swing much, but I recommend tying it down anyway.   It would be an expensive accident if it did snag something!

Do you have to take the boom ou of gear

I just move it into position, then secure it.  As long as you don't try to move it, I don't see that you'd have to take it out of gear.

You never take it out of gear. It operates like an actual crane. In fact, its so realistic I usually turn the voices off and give the operator hand signals, just like back in the day. No crane team uses voice communication-come on for cry eye!

 

It's not a very good traveller on the layout. Move it a short distance, set it up and load some gondolas. It's more like a showpiece-set up in a spot or two. I wouldn't have it doing loops around the layout.

 

I guess I should answer your direct question, you never take it 'out of gear.' In fact you can operate any of the components while it is being tugged around the layout. You also can lower the boom or a hook while swinging the cab at the same time, for those times when the boss wants production. But, save the talking for coffee time! 

I can't have any accessory that doesn't talk, my grandson insists.

The last time I ordered parts from Lionel I ordered overlays as well including ones for the crane car.  The part number for the overlay is 6109899060.

 

As far as moving the crane car, I have never tied it down when moving it around the layout but I always make sure that the boom is parallel with the sides of the car when it's in motion. At the present time the boom won't snag anything on my layout. I always leave it in gear so it's always ready for use.

Yep, just look in the maintenance documents, specifically the parts list.  It's item # 9.

  It has to exist, I have one.

 

 

 

 

Two things I've learned (screw up less often) is that you should keep tension on the hook lines and have the boom pointed opposite to the direction of travel for "long" moves (like across through truss bridges).

When I did not follow the first suggestion a 00 crochet hook came in very handy.

 

Oh and I've put black electrical tape over my outriggers as some would never stay in the retracted position.

 

Safety First!-Put on your hard hat and gloves and get to work.

Back in the day I was a union Laborer who hooked and unhooked all day and one of my favorite blue collar expressions always was- 'Watch Yourself!'

I've tried to remember that

It gets in your blood and just love cranes and this is about as good as it gets-great model

Mine stay in, they just don't all deploy when you try, I typically get 3-4 out of six.  There is an adjustment procedure, I haven't gone through that yet.

I read the outriggers work best at a full 18v.

Also a good idea to find something to hang on the small hook so it keeps tension on the lines.  Still looking for something to hang that doesn't look hookie.

In actual practice a lot of roads had the rule "boom always trailing to direction of travel"

Do any of you crane owners use the two pins on the back of the cabin to keep the cabin from moving side to side when traveling?

I run at a full 18 volts, two or three of the outriggers still fail to deploy.  One day I'm going to do that adjustment procedure.

 

I always have the boom facing the rear, minimizes damage if it does catch something.   As far as the pins, the manual says they're decorative, and from the wimpy construction I tend to believe them.  I don't use them because if I forget them and run, it's liable to break something, probably the cheap pins!

I have the crane car. I made 2 loops from copper wire to hook the hooks on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jim D.

I modified the small hook to make it more realistic. The pulley is mounted on small cast on nubs. It can be made to operate by taking the block apart, filing off the nubs, then drilling holes where the nubs were and inserting an axle. The pulley can now freely turn. Now run the string around the pulley and attach it to the end of the boom.

I like the idea of having places to hook the hooks, makes sure it won't tangle.  With all the cautions in the manual, I dread trying to restring this beast!

Please remember:

The correct hand signal from laborer to crane operator to lower the boom/hold the load steady is to:

    -hold the the fist to the operator with thumb down = boom down

    -extend all 5 fingers out repeatedly in and out = raise winch at same time

now when you are booming down you are keeping the load at the same height-that is boom down/hold the load steady---make sure the operator can see you!

 

you can actually do that with the crane-very realistic operation- God, I love that

and fellas-save the talk for coffee time (unless some grkids are over) practice your hand signals

enjoy your rig