LionChief engine issue

See this topic and notes https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...c/182044000731444359

Gary had this problem https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...-out-what-s-going-on

My comment:

@Vernon Barry posted:

Again, here is my thoughts on this engine. The MTH tooling and motor truck assemblies are an extremely good design. One of the best and longest wearing problem free designs made. Very low maintenance.

I also think highly of Lionel's LCP2 control board and it's also the same board used in Legacy engines just different firmware.

I don't know the exact why or how in this Lionel Genesis series, that is causing the error. My gut says- anything that fixes itself with a reset or power cycle- that sure sounds like a glitch in firmware. A race condition where the stall safety is invoked? A stray variable in code? Especially again since we've got reports of these engines going back to lionel- no explanation of what exactly was changed and I got the impression never fully fixed the issue? https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...-out-what-s-going-on

Again, hardware wise, design wise, mechanically, should be a solid engine and even the LCP2 I know can be a good board. But, the fact is- we have seen glitches in LCP2 firmware programming- as an example a known tested LCP2 issue with locking into a direction in conventional https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/topic/175427630452890616?reply=175286892943269385#175286892943269385

So yes, I hope a solution can be found- but it may take warranty and sending back to Lionel.

Again #1 rule about these Lionchief Plus 2.0 engines- THEY DO NOT LIKE LOW TRACK VOLTAGE (less than 18V constant on the track) and any drops in power or dead spots are another way to invoke motor stall.

I saw this happen Thursday night, a club member bought a Lionel 2231560 O Pennsylvania #7007 - Legacy 0-6-0 and was running it and we saw the same problem when trying to start with 14V on the track at the time. We cut power, waited, then raised it to 18V and it began responding and moving again.

Recent Legacy and Lionchief Plus both use the same physical LCP2 control board system- just different firmware.

I will try two things:

1.  Be sure there’s 18 volts in all affected loops and

2. That suggestion about reducing the coupler tension by a slight reverse after stopping.

I have several other Lion Chief engines that don’t  have this issue.

I REALLY don’t want to send this unit back to Lionel.

Thanks for all comments indicating I’m not the only one experiencing this situation.

So far so good: with 18 volts in all applicable areas, I have not been able to duplicate a stall.