These engines featured EOB. The tape is needed for the cruise to work. If you are running with the cruise off the tape with some additional wiring also can be used to trigger the chuff rate. Basically you setup the engine through programming with TMCC and try to achieve 1 chuff per revolution. From there you can program the engine with Cab 1 to change from 1, 2 or 4. You need to modify the R2LC board for this.
I know 3rd Rail always used a cam on a tender axle to trigger the chuff. With the advent of EOB they may have opted to go to programmable for a short time using the timing tape. The downside of this is it's sort of a delicate solder job to the reciever board and 1 of the pins must be snipped off to accomplish this. Any problem with the board and it's not a simple swap. Chances are and I know this from Weaver anyways. They would rather send you a board than ship the engine in transit for a quick repair. The owner may not be comfortable soldering in this wire and I think this is the reasoning behind the newer engines going back to the cam setup in the tender with cherry switches. In order to select the chuff rate from 2 to 4. You simply slide a switch.
Call TA Studios and I'm sure they will send out some tapes. I'm guessing the original didn't stick well or perhaps some smoke from the unit detoriated it.
Hello,
I finally broke down and bought a gorgous 3rd Rail k4. Yesterday for some reason the chuff rate changed and it is only chuffing once every 2 revolutions. I don't run in TMCC so that isnt the problem, but I think found the problem. I noticed piece of the plastic strip with stripes on it which goes on the motor laying on the tracks. Do you think this is causing the problem.
Alex
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