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Got the new Legacy 990 last week and love it.  Was working perfectly until yesterday - removed it from the charging Base 2 and attempted to turn Cab 2 on with CTC button.  Doesn't come on at all.  Finally, removed and re-inserted the batteries (OEM NiMH) - surprise, the Cab2 comes right on and works fine....until I try to turn it OFF with the CTC button.  It shuts the screens down as normal, but when the screens go off, the backlight comes ON and stays on - even after 30 minutes - it just sits there and glows. The only way  to get the backlight off is to pull/re-instert a battery - Cab2 then comes alive and I let it go to sleep (sleep timer in 15 minute position).  The Backlight is set to shut off after 10 sec during normal ops and this part works fine too.  While using the Cab2 during a session, the CTC button behaves just fine - i.e., pressing CTC takes me back to the top menu just like it is supposed to.

 

My LHS dealer offered to switch it out if it doesn't clear up.  Before I go this route, wanted to check if anyone has experienced similar behavior or might have an easy suggestion on how to remedy.

 

Thanks!

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There seems to be a whole bunch of people in this forum posting issues about this.

I was so frustrated in reading about it all, I cancelled my order for a 2nd Legacy 990 set.

Had planned on a 2nd layout in another room and/or using the 2nd set as a back up on case my first set breaks.

But now, I think I will just take my chances with my first set and not bother with a 2nd set.

I had a long conversation with a friend who belongs to a large train club in the New York area and was shocked to hear their opinion of quality control for both Lionel and MTH.

His thought was better to stick with good old conventional.

I am beginning to think he was correct.

You could try reloading the Cab 2 module software. Something could have glitched and corrupted the software.

 

Power off the Cab2 unit, before charging it, just to be safe. I don't know about charging in sleep mode. I always turn my unit off.

 

The directions are in the manual.

 

Since it should not happen with new stuff, I wouldn't go any further than that. Then go exchange it.

Last edited by Moonman

Yes, the screws loosened will help, I had charging issues also so thye upgraded that at the same time.

Actually when I was speaking to Mike Reagan about the issue at Alex and Dina's Open House two years ago, he said just to power it up and smack it on the back on a table!

 

I refused to do that as I thought he was joking, but he said it works!

 

I sent it in anyway! LOL

Originally Posted by PRR2818:

.

Actually when I was speaking to Mike Reagan about the issue at Alex and Dina's Open House two years ago, he said just to power it up and smack it on the back on a table!

 

I refused to do that as I thought he was joking, but he said it works!

 

I sent it in anyway! LOL

The Apple II computers had a problem where heat would cause some of the components to unseat. The Apple approved fix was to drop it from about 6 inches above the table. It really worked

As for the CAB2 screws only turn them about 1/4 turn and check

Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:

I wouldn't pound it on a table either, so I'm with you there!  If it needs something like that, it's broken!

 

But it is a quick fix for the evening! Fix it later.

I had an 060 Fastrack switch that needed a whack with a screwdriver handle to free up the rack and pinion...worked for the evening run. BTW, it seemed like I could only fix it by replacing the parts with new/different parts. Nothing really obvious wrong with the rack and pinion.

Reminds me of a Chemist researcher I knew who bolted a vibrating vacuum pump to the side of a spectrometer that had a sticky mercury relay in it...

I tried our club's new 990 yesterday for the first time.  None of the middle column of touch-pad keys on the Cab2 work - dead, no beep, nada.  I called L Tech and they said to reload using the blue fobs -- base and remote.  I did.  No change.  Got a RA number.  Going back.  It also made engines jack-rabbit start when you press the upper left corner standard speed button.  Forgot to mention that.  Will include mention of it in the note I send along with the unit.   

Originally Posted by cbojanower:

I seem to remember a similar complaint with the previous 990 batches from about two year ago People slightly loosened the screws the Cab2 and it fixed it

The ctc button pushes on two smt push switches. Tiny ones. I think the issue is that one of them actuates one the other one can't quite. I push harder and then let go and the cab shuts down. I found the tiny smt switches in China somewhere on the bay once.

I received our 990 back promptly from Lionel.  They replaced the Cab2.  I am testing it on my layout at home.  So far so good.  Will find out for certain at our next show.  Hopefully now it's a keeper - or the club might lynch me [|:-)  Originally Posted by Sgaugian:

I tried our club's new 990 yesterday for the first time.  None of the middle column of touch-pad keys on the Cab2 work - dead, no beep, nada.  I called L Tech and they said to reload using the blue fobs -- base and remote.  I did.  No change.  Got a RA number.  Going back.  It also made engines jack-rabbit start when you press the upper left corner standard speed button.  Forgot to mention that.  Will include mention of it in the note I send along with the unit.   

 

Gregg,

    Either swap it or have it repaired correctly, the problem with the swap is that the next Cab2 might act the very same way or have a different problem.  I plan to send mine in for repair after the Christmas layout comes down.  Wish GGG or Guns or willygee (Bill Igraham) were warranty legal, to fix this stuff however.  The OGR guys do great work correctly the 1st time.

PCRR/Dave

Last edited by Pine Creek Railroad

Rick O,

  Part of my professional career was working for NASA, I am a retired NASA/Martin Marietta/United technologies, Professional Welding Engineer (PWE), it was duct tape in reality, and we never had a weld that failed, ever.  The (MMU) Man Maneuvering Unit was one of my favorite projects, I have a great deal of respect for Mike R, however engineering Lionel trains & Zero defect Space Shuttles, is not quite the same engineering discipline.

PCRR/Dave

Last edited by Pine Creek Railroad
Originally Posted by RickO:
 
 
Originally Posted by cjack:

Two things. Mike R has some rather bandaid fixes for QC issues. But then, masking tape and that kind of thinking saved Apollo 13.

 

I've had excellent results with Lionel service.

Not to speak for cjack, but I'd think maybe the "smack it's back on a table" comment from Mike R referenced above is a pretty serious "band aid" (regardless of whether Apple said a similar thing 30 years ago).

 

-Dave

Last edited by Dave45681
Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:

I'm not sure why they've had so may issues with the new ones.  Other than the charging issue with the bases, the older ones have been quite stable.  I will say that Harry has an old one that flakes out regularly, creates some interesting issues with a bunch of trains running!

We had two screens with Alien symbols on power up and a third which would not function. Took four to get a working one. Pretty sad quality.

Just got mine back today from Lionel after similar problem with CTC button. they must have had several to repair because when I called them for a RA# the person I talked to could describe the problem to me. The paperwork with the remote that came back states they replaced faulty switches on PC board. If I had to guess by the part name it is a Logic Fairchild Mosfet transistor they replaced. Works great now.

Originally Posted by cjack:
Originally Posted by cbojanower:

I seem to remember a similar complaint with the previous 990 batches from about two year ago People slightly loosened the screws the Cab2 and it fixed it

The ctc button pushes on two smt push switches. Tiny ones. I think the issue is that one of them actuates one the other one can't quite. I push harder and then let go and the cab shuts down. I found the tiny smt switches in China somewhere on the bay once.

I think this two switch under one push button is an issue. As I said it works for me by pushing harder with one of my remotes. I do have some of the little smt switches if I need them some day.

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