K-Line Mikado Problem

[rcsteamer]

The tender lamp flickers when goinging forward. However, it remains on without any flicker when in reverse. The marker lights stay on all the time as they should and do not flicker. I removed the tender shell and looked for a poor solder joint but could not find anything suspicious. Any suggestions?

Thanks, Sam

[Craignor]

Sam,

1) Is this a new loco and a new problem?

2) Is this loco under waranty, and do you have a receipt?

3) Did you try the TMCC reset proceedure as detailed in the manual? This may help.

4) Did the loco come with K-Line Cruise Control? Or have you installed K-Line Cruise, or another cruise control system since you have owned it?

[rcsteamer]

Thanks for the quick reply. The loco is relatively new and still under warranty. I have tried the reset and the tender lamp still flickers. No cruise control.
Sam

[Craignor]

Sam,

Is this a new problem, or has it done this ever since you first ran it??

[rcsteamer]

Not quite sure when it first occured.

[Craignor]

Sam,

Do any of your other TMCC locos have a flickering headlight? If so this could indicate that your command base is not properly grounded. ALL three prongs from the command base plug need to go to a three prong outlet or power strip. Some outlets and some strips may not be properly grounded. If you have that three prong plug plugged in using a two prong adapter, take it off, that is your problem. Try another outlet or strip, this may solve your problem too.

Test the pickup rollers on the tender, make sure they are getting power to the tender, and that the wires are not reversed...I am reaching here.

Check the run.program switch make sure it all the way on RUN.

I wonder if it could be a loose tether plug, or a boken wire in the tether? Try moving around the tether plug and tether a bit, see if it affects the malady.

If none of these things resolve he issue, you can either call Kline service and send it in for a waranty repair...they are pretty good...or call your local train shops and see if they have a repair guy on the premises that can look it over.

If you are going to send it to K-Line call them immediately. After Christmas all the manufacturers get a flood of service returns from the "duds" discovered on Christmas morning.

[kolov]

I've noticed that problem on my K-Line Mikado as well.
I have a K-line K-4 on the same track and both respond fine to TMCC
commands. My guess is that must be a circuit flaw or something because the engine otherwise behaves perfectly.

[rcsteamer]

I stopped at the Train Staion in Mountain Lakes, NJ on Saturday and spoke to their service tech. He suggested I reset the locomotive: Eng # Set, Eng # Set and then Aux 1 #4. It worked. At least for the time being the rear tender light has stopped flashing when the locomotive is going forward. Never had to fool with problems like this 50 years ago. Thanks for all the replies.

Sam

[kolov]

Thanks for the info!