Lionel legacy R2lc and r4lc engines repair options?

First off, there are no R2LC Legacy equipped engines, the R4LC is used in all of the Legacy models before the RCMC debuted around 2010-2011.

Parts are widely available, most parts are available on the Lionel parts site.

I repair those every day.  The modular board engines are very easy to fix.

Are the R2LC and the ERR R4LC boards interchangeable? I'm having an issue with a loco that won't receive TMCC off the R2LC08 but I only have ERR R4LC08 on hand to troubleshoot 

You can sub a R4LC board, for a R2LC, but the reverse is not true. The 4 board controls the L/M/H smoke settings, and the variable horn/whistle.

So the R2 boards are TMCC protocol and the R4 boards have Legacy?

Correct. The R2LC board can only read TMCC, The R4LC can read both TMCC and Legacy.

This is not completely true.  The legacy code is 9 vice 8 bit.  So you won't get motor drive to work.

R4LC is just the new hardware design of the older R2lC.  The code matters.

Now an ERR R4LC with TMCC code will swap directly.  It has the C08 code.  Legacy R4LC use S02, 3, 5 code.  Not compatible with TMCC motor drivers accept the Dumb DCDR.   Also, there is no smoke output on an R4LC.  Legacy modular smoke is controlled by ACREG.  G

Thanks George for the info. TMCC radio board issues are so few and far between the info never sticks

I've put an R2LC into the ERR boards a number of times.  If I have one that has a suspect R4LC, I just pop the R2LC-C08 in for verification.  The ERR R4LC-C08 uses the exact same firmware as the R2LC-C08 and is 100% functionally equivalent.  The firmware in the R4LC determines it's functionality, not the fact that it's an R4LC.

Thanks John, This is as I thought but I could not remember. its been a while. Im well aware of firmware in Lionel boards, I just wanted to double check so im not chasing my tail

Lionel has done that a few times.  Rule of thumb if you replace with the board designed for your engine you will usually be OK.  I go through R2LC  08 boards often.

Marty, I will order  anew board but I want to trouble shoot and find all my issues first before ordering parts. I dont have a R2LC 08 board on hand anymore so I will order a test board when I order parts again. But Id hat to trouble shoot an issue on an assumption and screw myself

You should have several R2LC boards on hand, I keep a few of the C08 boards, and I also have a couple of the C07, a C11, and a C13.  I'd say a vast majority of the time, I see the C08 boards in the stuff I open up.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I've put an R2LC into the ERR boards a number of times.  If I have one that has a suspect R4LC, I just pop the R2LC-C08 in for verification.  The ERR R4LC-C08 uses the exact same firmware as the R2LC-C08 and is 100% functionally equivalent.  The firmware in the R4LC determines it's functionality, not the fact that it's an R4LC.

Isn't that what I said?    But let's also keep in mind, ERR has had some Cruise CDR that did need the  TMCC R4LC to work right. Something to do with the firmware on the Cruise CDR.

Probably should stop using the term R4LC with out a modifier like Legacy R4LC, or TMCC R4LC.

I do believe only ERR provides the R4LC with C08 TMCC software.  Lionel is still selling down the large quantity of R2LC C08 that parts department has in stock.

G

GGG posted:

But let's also keep in mind, ERR has had some Cruise CDR that did need the  TMCC R4LC to work right. Something to do with the firmware on the Cruise CDR.

Which Cruise CDR is this, I've never heard of that?

GGG posted:

I do believe only ERR provides the R4LC with C08 TMCC software.  Lionel is still selling down the large quantity of R2LC C08 that parts department has in stock.

Correct, I have bought a few of them from Lionel, they have a number of firmware versions available.