Y6b not responding

First, how are you testing with just tender on track?  The engine must be connected in Command mode to have serial data to work in command mode.  If connected and you can command whistle and bell your IR is probably ok and this could be the RS board depending on specific model.  If when connected the sounds start up immediately on the tender when track power is applied before you start the engine, then the IR tether is the issue most likely.  G

I have tested the engine in command and conventional. I have tested it with the engine and tender tethered and untethered. When the tender is untethered the sounds come on, I am able to activate the whistle etc. The engine itself would respond by moving in F-N-R when those commands were activated but when the tender is tethered to the engine, the tender does not seem to be receiving any type of signal. In conventional with just a regular lionel 80w transformer, I am able to operate the engine and get the whistle to blow but the tender just sounds like an engine at idle.

When I connected the engine and tender in command the tender immediately started up with sounds before the engine was powered on. Meaning track power applied, tender comes on, engine ID has not been activated. We have tried to reset the engine ID and it didn't make any difference.

Would it help if I tried to upload a video?

Thanks for any help or input!

The tender can not blow the whistle and bell in command mode when not connected.  So your either mixing testing methods or mis-stating what you are seeing.

Since your last statement says that the sounds come on immediately when power applied and tender connected to engine.  That sounds like the IR connection.  Good chance a broken lead on the engine or tender side.  Or the sensors are not lined up due to a bent drawbar.

The command board is in the engine, that is why the engine can run on its own with out tender.  Only sounds and tender functions are in tender and it is slaved to the engine for command mode.  In conventional a tender can make sounds and bell and whistle, but chuff and other commands like coupler and tender reverse light must come from signals that are in the engine.  G

The whistle did not blow in command. I'm sorry if that's how it came across. The whistle and bell will only work in conventional. I don't have my command control out right now. We had our annual train show this weekend so everything is still packed away. The tender sounds came on when it was in command but it wouldn't activate any features on the tender. The engine itself would move in command. I did notice the drawbar was bent a little. I was able to get it straightened out and sitting flush. It almost looked like the engine was tipped on it's side while connected the way the drawbar was twisted. I wonder if one of the wire leads did break?

Is it normal for the engine to immediately take off when power is applied?

I've fixed several locomotives and tenders where one of the wires are broken under the heatshrink on the drawbar.  If you lightly tug on each wire where it comes out, you can see if one of them has broken loose under there.

To check the locomotive IR sender, point a digital camera at the drawbar IR sender with power on the locomotive and see if you see a dull purple glow in the viewfinder.  If so, the problem is probably in the tender.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

 

To check the locomotive IR sender, point a digital camera at the drawbar IR sender with power on the locomotive and see if you see a dull purple glow in the viewfinder.  If so, the problem is probably in the tender.

Thank you John,

All the wires seem to be intact with no broken leads. If I did the test correctly, I could not see a dull purple glow. I also did a google search to make sure I was doing it correctly and could compare the purple glow. It definitely did not have this. I test the engine in neutral and in motion. Here are a couple of pictures showing what I am seeing. I looked through my Nikon D3400, my iphone, and my point and shoot. I couldn't see any glimpse of activity.

Should I look at replacing the engine IR sensor? I opened the shell and couldn't find any obvious broken or loose wires. I'll look into it a little deeper.

Well, it looks like something is amiss in the locomotive.  I'd probably consider checking if sensor has some voltage on it.  Follow the wires to find the connector, it should terminate at the motherboard.  I don't have a schematic for that specific model, but a similar vintage wiring diagram shows a 2-pin connector on the MB for the wireless tether sender, attached below.

Representative Articulated Steamer Wiring

If there is no voltage, would this be a mother board issue? If there is voltage would it be a bad IR?

These wires that lead to the IR seem singed to me. The brown wire is actually an orange wire, the grey is purple and black is black  in 

This is the orange/brown and purple/grey wires. I’m thinking these had to get pretty warm to discolor. 

I had to make a parts order so I went ahead and ordered a motherboard and IR sensor for this engine since they were relatively inexpensive. This is a 3 wire sensor. 

I see it's a 3-wire model.  I'd wait to get the sensor and see if that fixes it.

Hopefully someone can answer. Where does the black wire from the 3 wire IR transmitter connect inside the engine? I took it all apart to do a conversion and didn’t take a picture. 

I don’t have another 3 wire engine at my house right now to check. 

@n&wsteamfan posted:

I had to make a parts order so I went ahead and ordered a motherboard and IR sensor for this engine since they were relatively inexpensive. This is a 3 wire sensor.

I realize this is a very old thread, but what was the outcome?  I have one on the bench with the same issue.  No IR coming from the engine, tender is good and works with another engine.  Any updated schematics on this?

@MartyE posted:

I realize this is a very old thread, but what was the outcome?  I have one on the bench with the same issue.  No IR coming from the engine, tender is good and works with another engine.  Any updated schematics on this?

I put in a new IR and cleaned. Works great.

@n&wsteamfan posted:

I put in a new IR and cleaned. Works great.

Thanks.  I emailed Mike Reagan and he gave me a few things to look at as well but the IR is relatively inexpensive so I'll try to lump some other parts on that order.

Just out of curiosity, did the orange wire go into a heatshrink that contained a couple of resistors and diode?

Check and see if the tender works on another locomotive.  If so, you've narrowed it down to the locomotive.

I check the wiring under the heatshrink first, I've had a few of them with a broken solder joint.  I haven't looked at that specific model, but other 3-wire tether locomotives didn't have resistors and a diode.  I've attached a wiring diagram of a typical TMCC steamer with the 3-wire tether.  Perhaps it will help, perhaps not.

TMCC Berkshire with 3-wire IR wiring.pdf