Cannot Program Lionel Legacy Hudson

Did you slide the switch from run to PGM ?….( program mode )

Pat

Yes.

Maybe a stretch, but is it possible the volume pot on the tender is turned down?  If you put the tender on the track alone and power up. Do you hear idle  steam sounds?

Yes, the idle steam sounds did turn on, so did the headlight, but no response to trigger the whistle, bell or from the locomotive to move forward.

Train Brake slider all the way up ?

Do you customarily assign the first two digits of the road number as the engine number ?

Don't know if this thread will help or not, but it discusses using engine id 99.

Link to Thread

I think the eng 99 feature is a "later" Legacy feature. Not offered on this model.

You say it was in storage AL.  So are you trying  this on a new/temporary layout? Do you have the command base wire connected to the outer rail?

Brake slider is at minus setting. My layout is permanent, run several Legacy locos on it. This is an early Lagacy loco, but I will investigate the "Eng 99" link suggested by Greg M.

I have a VL Challenger 6-11210, which came out at same time as yours. That happened to me. The infrared little glass on tender and engine came out of line with engine draw bar . Lined up and put back and bam, worked perfectly. Not sure if that’s your problem, but check it. Ps it was actually tipped up at wrong angle. Good luck.

When you put the engine & tender on your command track, and power it up, does the sounds start to play instantly?..ie; the start up sounds. In command mode, whether in RUN or PGM when you power up the track, the engine & tender should sit there silent until you address it. If the sounds continuously come on when you power up in command,  there’s no IR signal making it to the tender……that might indicate an issue with the radio board……it’s not a 100% a full proof diagnostics, but it’s a start ….

Pat

Well it was four or five months ago, but I don’t believe there was sound because the infrared wasn’t lined up with tender. But I can’t remember for sure. Did you check the little infrared glass. My had popped out of its little hollow barrel/ pipe if you will.

Now that I think of it I do remember,  like you said No whistle to let me know that it was programmed.

It seems that the infrared communication was an issue. I dusted both lenses with compressed air and finally got the engine to re-program to an assigned engine ID. But now another issue has surfaced: retarded behavior! It takes up to 30 seconds before the engine will respond to a command from the Cab2 controller: speed, direction, whistle, bell, etc. All of my other Legacy locos work perfectly on this loop of my layout with the same Cab2 controller. So, we need to move on to the next diagnosis...any suggestions will be appreciated.

This probably is not the issue seeing no mention of taking the engine shell off. But I’ll throw it out there.  I had a 10 Wheeler purchased on the auction site. Quick tested fine. The shell came off and the lighting and  antenna were unplugged for cosmetic changes. Upon reassembly. Was totally unresponsive. It did come back to life for a brief moment. Lionel sells the driver board and receiver as one. The receiver just plugs in place. The pins are sort of on the fragile side. Found some broken ones. The pins are replaceable. Apparently when I just pushed down on the board to make sure it was seated was just enough to bring it to life. But didn’t last long. When I unplugged the receiver you could see the issue.

@VegasTrains posted:

It seems that the infrared communication was an issue. I dusted both lenses with compressed air and finally got the engine to re-program to an assigned engine ID. But now another issue has surfaced: retarded behavior! It takes up to 30 seconds before the engine will respond to a command from the Cab2 controller: speed, direction, whistle, bell, etc. All of my other Legacy locos work perfectly on this loop of my layout with the same Cab2 controller. So, we need to move on to the next diagnosis...any suggestions will be appreciated.

Did you go into info and make everything legacy ?..ie; highlighting the legacy functions, like the speed steps, sounds, etc.?…..

Pat

@VegasTrains posted:

It seems that the infrared communication was an issue. I dusted both lenses with compressed air and finally got the engine to re-program to an assigned engine ID. But now another issue has surfaced: retarded behavior! It takes up to 30 seconds before the engine will respond to a command from the Cab2 controller: speed, direction, whistle, bell, etc. All of my other Legacy locos work perfectly on this loop of my layout with the same Cab2 controller. So, we need to move on to the next diagnosis...any suggestions will be appreciated.

Technically, you don’t even need the tender to program the engine……the tender only has sounds, coupler, and B/U light. The main boards are in the engine. So simply dusting the I/R wasn’t any kind of cure,…..as Dave suggests, it may be time for a look around under the hood at the radio board,….

Pat

Understood...the symptoms seem to point at problems in the engine to receive the Cab2 commnands. More work to be done!

Ok, good luck I hope you get it straightened out.

This might be considered a dumb question, but needs to be asked. This loco is 11 or 12 years old...is it possible that the on-board Legacy receiver doesn't understand the commands from my Legacy 1.6 controller?