Your Vision Line Hudson was one of the first to use the newer RCMC board. Do this. With full power on the track, push the whistle button ONE time. After that, start pushing the number 1 button on your Legacy keypad until you get your sound back.
Ron, have you tried MartyF's solution??
All I can say is run'em if you got'em.
Norton posted:Before ordering a new pot try squirting a bit of WD40 in there. These rarely break but its common for the wiper to get some oxidation on it. If you have actual contact cleaner then use that but WD40 will work in a pinch.
Pete
I would not use WD-40, that is not a contact cleaner. WD-40 is a petroleum based product.
They make specific electronic contact cleaners for oxidized electronics connections. Radio shack used to sell but now just go on Amazon. I stocked up before radio shack went bust but use it all the time anytime electronic connections get flaky.
It may just need some deoxidation of the pot inside.
All I can say is thank heavens for real experts who helped you fix it yourself.
I’d be interested to know if oxidation/dust on the potentiometer is the cause of this or maybe it’s just a bad component. I have had the background buzz (although not loss of sound) on some early Legacy/VL engines, including the Genset. It’s annoying and not least because it does not affect all of these models. Notably none of those engines was run shortly after they were issued; I bought them in sealed boxes a few years later.
Marty Fitzhenry posted:Your Vision Line Hudson was one of the first to use the newer RCMC board. Do this. With full power on the track, push the whistle button ONE time. After that, start pushing the number 1 button on your Legacy keypad until you get your sound back.
Marty, when I looked up the VL Hudson, it had the RS6 sound board. In any case, we tracked it down to a bad pot, so he's on his way.
FrankfordJunction posted:I have a different tech question. Is there an ERR upgrade that would take a TMCC loco and put the equivalent of Odyssey speed control in it? It's amazing what a difference Odyssey makes. Just pulled out a couple old TMCC locos and they are driving me crazy on a slight incline.
Sure, it's called the Cruise Commander M, and I have them in stock. Night and day, anything I have without cruise with a DC motor gets one of these. 
Tackindy has one for sale on the forum.
SandJam posted:Norton posted:Before ordering a new pot try squirting a bit of WD40 in there. These rarely break but its common for the wiper to get some oxidation on it. If you have actual contact cleaner then use that but WD40 will work in a pinch.
Pete
I would not use WD-40, that is not a contact cleaner. WD-40 is a petroleum based product.
They make specific electronic contact cleaners for oxidized electronics connections. Radio shack used to sell but now just go on Amazon. I stocked up before radio shack went bust but use it all the time anytime electronic connections get flaky.
It may just need some deoxidation of the pot inside.
Your choice but it works and in this case it will tell if oxidized contacts are the issue. It won't hurt anything. Besides if it doesn't help the pot will get replaced anyway. Most everyone has a can of WD40, few have a product to specifically clean electrical contacts.
Pete
SandJam posted:Norton posted:Before ordering a new pot try squirting a bit of WD40 in there. These rarely break but its common for the wiper to get some oxidation on it. If you have actual contact cleaner then use that but WD40 will work in a pinch.
Pete
I would not use WD-40, that is not a contact cleaner. WD-40 is a petroleum based product.
They make specific electronic contact cleaners for oxidized electronics connections. Radio shack used to sell but now just go on Amazon. I stocked up before radio shack went bust but use it all the time anytime electronic connections get flaky.
It may just need some deoxidation of the pot inside.
You can buy CRC electronic cleaner at Home Depot. Also, RC electric motor cleaner seems to be the same thing.
George
George S posted:SandJam posted:Norton posted:Before ordering a new pot try squirting a bit of WD40 in there. These rarely break but its common for the wiper to get some oxidation on it. If you have actual contact cleaner then use that but WD40 will work in a pinch.
Pete
I would not use WD-40, that is not a contact cleaner. WD-40 is a petroleum based product.
They make specific electronic contact cleaners for oxidized electronics connections. Radio shack used to sell but now just go on Amazon. I stocked up before radio shack went bust but use it all the time anytime electronic connections get flaky.
It may just need some deoxidation of the pot inside.
You can buy CRC electronic cleaner at Home Depot. Also, RC electric motor cleaner seems to be the same thing.
George
You can buy a lot of things. Don't forget to add gas or shipping. What do you do when you find out that dirty contacts are not the problem? You spend more money on the part, shipping for that part plus labor if you can't make the repair itself. For $0.0002 worth of WD40 you can find out if all of these other expenses are even needed.
What was suggested is tool to to help troubleshoot a problem, not the first choice to repair that problem.
Pete
Norton posted:SandJam posted:Norton posted:Before ordering a new pot try squirting a bit of WD40 in there. These rarely break but its common for the wiper to get some oxidation on it. If you have actual contact cleaner then use that but WD40 will work in a pinch.
Pete
I would not use WD-40, that is not a contact cleaner. WD-40 is a petroleum based product.
They make specific electronic contact cleaners for oxidized electronics connections. Radio shack used to sell but now just go on Amazon. I stocked up before radio shack went bust but use it all the time anytime electronic connections get flaky.
It may just need some deoxidation of the pot inside.
Your choice but it works and in this case it will tell if oxidized contacts are the issue. It won't hurt anything. Besides if it doesn't help the pot will get replaced anyway. Most everyone has a can of WD40, few have a product to specifically clean electrical contacts.
Pete
Actually No, WD-40 will leave an oily film on the contacts. It does not flash off.
Also, any petroleum based product will degrade any other product made with petroleum. This is chemistry 101.
If it is simply oxidation a can of electronics contact cleaner will tell the tale and everyone should have a can of that around the house to use on any electronic component that needs cleaning (volume knobs, switches, etc.)
Every train guy should definitely have a can in their basic tool box! Right tool for right job.
RICKM46,
John had recommended a solution similar to Marty's that didn't work. With John's help I tracked it down to the pot. BTW, if I'm reading correctly, my Hudson has an RS6 board ("RS6R 11218").
Shorting the two leads on the pot brought sounds back and, for now, I can control the volume with Legacy.
The people on this forum are, simply put, TERRIFIC. Thanks to all for all the contributions and help you provide.
GRJ,
I'll send you an email. I have three TMCC locos that I'd like to get updated with Cruise Commander. Thanks for all the help.
SandJam postedActually No, WD-40 will leave an oily film on the contacts. It does not flash off.
Also, any petroleum based product will degrade any other product made with petroleum. This is chemistry 101.
If it is simply oxidation a can of electronics contact cleaner will tell the tale and everyone should have a can of that around the house to use on any electronic component that needs cleaning (volume knobs, switches, etc.)
Every train guy should definitely have a can in their basic tool box! Right tool for right job.
What petroleum product can be found in a potentiometer? The majority of them, in particular the ones made to a price point are plated steel, spring temper copper and carbon or nichrome.
Are you a chemist or an engineer? You must have skipped inorganic chemistry.
Pete
I'm confused. We've already diagnosed the issue, it's the pot. As far as cleaning it, I don't know what WD-40 would do, but my choice is electronic contact cleaner specifically made for the issue.
At Ace Hardware: CRC Electronic Contact Cleaner - $4 a can.
RickM46 posted:At Ace Hardware: CRC Electronic Contact Cleaner - $4 a can.
Absolutely. This, like soldering flux, is something every workbench (no matter how messy) should have... 
Mark in Oregon
Norton posted:SandJam postedActually No, WD-40 will leave an oily film on the contacts. It does not flash off.
Also, any petroleum based product will degrade any other product made with petroleum. This is chemistry 101.
If it is simply oxidation a can of electronics contact cleaner will tell the tale and everyone should have a can of that around the house to use on any electronic component that needs cleaning (volume knobs, switches, etc.)
Every train guy should definitely have a can in their basic tool box! Right tool for right job.
What petroleum product can be found in a potentiometer? The majority of them, in particular the ones made to a price point are plated steel, spring temper copper and carbon or nichrome.
Are you a chemist or an engineer? You must have skipped inorganic chemistry.
Pete
I did not say there was, but WD40 does not cling, it runs all over and can seep out to other components. So again use the right product for the right job. Simple as that. I was just pointing out there are products made for that purpose that won’t cause other issues potentially.
John, the engine uses the RCMC board. The tender uses the 6.0 audio board with the generic RS power board.
