i have an original lionmaster a that just stops dead then takes off at the last set speed randomly. Does it in tmcc or conventional mode. Ive reset it several times and reseated all the boards cleaned track rollers and wheels same issue. Bad board? Motor? I even unplugged the smoke unit hearing that can cause issues. Rather fix myself but might need to go to lionel.
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The product number is useful to narrow down the possibilities. There are a LOT of LionMaster locomotives, both TMCC and Legacy.
In your video, the marker lights go on and off when it stops. Since they're powered from an Odyssey board in some locomotives with cruise, it's likely you have a wiring or board issue. Of course, that's guesswork based on no real information about the actual model of the locomotive.
Hi. Its a tmcc engine 6-38049.
Well, it does have Odyssey, so I'd be looking at the DCDS as shown below.
Given that the motor stops and the class lights go out, but the headlight remains on, I'd be looking closely at the wiring that goes to the large black connector at the top of the left hand top image. It appears that the DCDS loses power and thus the class lights and motor stop working. Could just be a poor connection since it starts running again.
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The problem is intermittent so hard to say anything for sure yet. I did pull that 6 pin plug out and one female opening was a bit deformed with maybe the pin going between the metal female plug and the plastic connector. I opened it up and rounded it a bit with a tiny nail. So far it runs and the smoke which was always weak was amazing from the stack now! That alone is progress i think. Will have to run longer to see if it still stalls but fingers crossed!!!
thanks for the suggestions so far!!!
Well, you're in the right place to fix it. A bad connection there will cause exactly what you were seeing.
Always check for continuity from the back of a driver board. Funny things can happen in that Molex plug. I agree with John. Many times someone will shove the probe from the meter in the top of the Molex and see continuity. It can also end there and that is why the back of the board is the desired place to test from.
I was pretty excited when my first 20 min running session showed no issues. At the end of my next 20 min session the next day it was good until I slowed it down to stop it near the end of the session and it started stalling again. It also stalled tonight while just running at a set speed. I checked part numbers and a Lionmaster SD90 MAC I have that is on the shelf while I save up money for some parts has the same Odyssey board in it (or at least the compatible newer replacement according to the Lionel parts finder). I'm going to try swapping the board when I have time and see if that does the trick. If it does the SD90 will need MORE parts!
You really need to eliminate the connector as the source of the issue. Buying another $100 DCDS for it doesn't makes sense with what you are describing, it really sounds like a connectivity issue with the black connector. It's your money, and I can't tell you how to spend it, but that's not how I'd spend it. Not only is it likely to be a waste of money, but you'll also still have to solve the real problem with the new board!
John gave you the right advice on the connector. I had an engine that came to me a while back and it was a super mess with the molex connector badly beat up. You can pull the black Molex plug, cut the wires and solder them to the back of the driver board. That is often done. If you are not good with the iron, get someone to do it for you. About a 20 minute job. If you have things running and loose it, John is correct.
I bit the bullet and bought the contacts and extraction tool, so if I have a problem with that connector, I just re-pin it with fresh pins, problem solved. I also check the soldering of the connector to the board, I've seen loose pins there as well.
I have a nive variable temp small soldering iron for electronics and might give it a go or have my local train guy do it.
Update: soldered the wires to the bottom of the board carefully. Engine ran for a bit and stopping and starting with flashing markers.
Well, you may indeed have an issue with the DCDS, and the other possibility is a connection issue with the track power wiring that feeds that connector.
Wanted to update. Ive been running it with minimal stalling lately. Bought an err cruise board to replace the suspect board but have not got around to install it yet. The pony truck detailed today now when it stalls the classlights blink still (more like go out)!followed by the headlight going out and coming back on. Did the derail damage something else or do i just need to push forward with the dcds board upgrade?
Update: the stalling got real frequent so thanks to the good people at err i got a cable set and put in a cruise m board. It runs great now!! Thanks to everyone here for the advice and even parts!
last question, while running tonight i think a wire to the front motor came off as it stopped running but the rear motor is still fine. Has anyone used a ptc on a 2 motor engine to protect the driver board? What size? Will it mess up the cruise feedback to the motor?
thanks again!!
If you're running the full Cruise Commander, you probably don't need a PTC. If you want to add one anyway, try a 2A trip one in series with the motor feed, the motors are wired in parallel.
Had this running greeat but now it stops randomly. The headlight goes out but marker lights stay on steady unlike the issue before. A ticking sound can be heard from the speaker along with the regular sound when it stops. I have to kill track power to reset and get it going. Rinning tmcc did not try conventional yet. Any ideas? R2lc? Antenna?
Does this happen at a set time when running? Try disconnecting the Sound Board and running. If that resolves it, the TMCC is degrading over time as the serial data becomes corrupted. Of course swapping the R2LC is also an alternative. G
I have not timed it but i would 2-3 min of runtime until i have to reset. I have a r2lc in another loco i can borrow just have to check versions.