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Legacy NYC F-12e smoke problem

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Posted by laz 57 on Sunday, May 2, 2010 6:18 PM

MartyE

9...

 

My post was aimed at LAZ.  He missed the Legacy User's Meeting at York where Lionel passed along 1.3 software for Legacy.  It now has a keyable labor setting.

Thanks MARTY,  I'll have to wait for the 1.3 update to arrive in the mail.

laz57

  There's a race of men that don't fit in, A race that can't stay still; Robert Service. TCA 03-55991
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Posted by MartyE on Saturday, May 1, 2010 10:28 PM

The Legacy User's Group is a breakfast that was started about 3 years ago that takes place Friday morning before the York show.  It's a gathering of folks that enjoy Lionel Legacy system.  We get Lionel to answer questions, usually have a Lionel representative join us and discuss Legacy features, issues, and future  function and features we'd like to see.

Here is the notes from the meeting last week.  Nothing formal.  If you get to the York show just show up.

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Posted by number 9 on Saturday, May 1, 2010 10:08 PM

    Thanks Marty. I'm not sure if I registered or not. I will work on that. What exactly is The Legacy User's Group? Is this something anyone can be a part of?

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Posted by MartyE on Saturday, May 1, 2010 9:47 PM

 First off, make sure you have registered your Legacy on the Lionel Website.  Here is a direct link.  Once registered Lionel will send it to you automatically when released widespread.  Right now The Legacy User's Group and a few other folks are the only ones to have seen it.

It should be hitting the general public soon.

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Posted by number 9 on Saturday, May 1, 2010 8:33 PM

MartyE

OK that makes sense, now how do I get this 1.3   This is the first I've heard of it. I live in Northwest Illinois, a long way from Pennsylvania for me to make it to the show or "the meeting". I certainly would like to upgrade my Legacy.

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Posted by MartyE on Saturday, May 1, 2010 12:31 PM

9...

 

My post was aimed at LAZ.  He missed the Legacy User's Meeting at York where Lionel passed along 1.3 software for Legacy.  It now has a keyable labor setting.

Trying to update my avatar since 2020 Laugh

MartyE and Kodi the Husky Dog! ( 3/31/90-9/28/04 ) www.MartyE.com My O Gauge Web Page and Home of Kodiak Junction!

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Posted by number 9 on Friday, April 30, 2010 5:22 PM

I guess I'm just thick as a brick, " if I came to a meeting"  I don't get it.

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Posted by MartyE on Friday, April 30, 2010 1:58 PM

 If you came to the meeting you could do that in 1.3 with a button push!Big Smile

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Posted by laz 57 on Friday, April 30, 2010 10:36 AM

Thanks #9 I will try that.  Glad you got your engine back.

laz57

  There's a race of men that don't fit in, A race that can't stay still; Robert Service. TCA 03-55991
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Posted by number 9 on Thursday, April 29, 2010 5:18 PM

laz57,J.Daddy, Steve

laz57 if you want louder chuffing set your momentum to high with your legacy controller and apply the train brake. If you want still more increase the difference between your target speed and actual speed and you will get some kind of chuffing!!!!

I got my F12e back from lionel in two weeks on the repair of the smoke unit. Pleasant surprise!! The problem was the AC regulator board. It works as advertised now. It's a shame I had to spend my money to send it back for a problem in manufacturing but I guess that's the way it goes.

It's been a while since I was in the forum so I hope somebody reads this.

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Posted by number 9 on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 10:41 AM

J.Daddy,

I didn't ask about sending me the board. The way I look at it, if I screw something up taking it apart I 'm afraid I would void the warranty and then I'm SOL. Yea, I have to pay shipping and insurance, but I live out in the hinterlands of N.W. Illinois so it would cost me nearly as much to drive to a repair shop as to send it. I really just want the darn thing to work right. I'll keep you posted.

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Posted by J. Daddy on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 9:15 AM

Can they just give us the board? I don't want them repairing it, plus I believe we have to pay shipping.

When the men get together its always done right! J. Daddy
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Posted by number 9 on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 8:49 AM

J. Daddy and Steve,  

          I got an answer from Lionel about our problem with the F12's. They tell me the wrong AC regulator board was installed and that they have the part. A two week turn around for repairs, but I'm sure it will be longer. So I guess I,m going to send it off to Lionel.

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Posted by number 9 on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 6:50 PM

J.Daddy,

As amatter of fact I do. Sad isn't it.

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Posted by J. Daddy on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 2:22 PM

Thanks no. 9 (I hope you do not have that committed to memory) ?

Yeah the guy w/o TMCC is screwed. You would have to hit the manual switch under the cab/boiler .... ah the joys of technology.

I am going to try the TMCC L,M,H adjustment tonight...maybe Steve will not have to send his engine in for service?

When the men get together its always done right! J. Daddy
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Posted by number 9 on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 1:47 PM

J. Daddy-

   To adjust the smoke in TMCC, stop the engine , press aux1, aux2,9, thenpress L for low, M for med., or H for high, then press aux2 to complete the setting. This will operate the unit but it still isn't how it's advertised. I have Legacy and TMCC on my layout, but what about the guy who only has Legacy? It would be nice to be able to adjust the smoke output to coincide with the work load as the consist picks up speed.

 

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Posted by J. Daddy on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 8:56 AM

I think mine is stuck in high mode. I can toggle between off and on in TMCC mode, in Legacy mode it makes no difference, cannot adjust high, med, low, or turn it off.

I know there is a way in TMCC mode to adjust the high, med, low. Steve, maybe your smoke unit is stuck in a low setting. Now were did I put that note that shows how to adjust the high, med, and low setting in TMCC? I believe its Aux1 9 than hit Aux2  L or M or H, than Aux1 9? I am going to have to check on that one. Then hit Aux2 again to turn your headlight on again.

When I bought mine it was a 'returned unit' so I got it with the smoke unit not working ( paid next to nothing) . I pulled off the shell and the connector was not attached. Re-attached connector and it was so much smoke it would choke you out of the room. So now I cycle it with the TMCC remote and mostly it just remains off.

When the men get together its always done right! J. Daddy
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Posted by number 9 on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 8:39 AM

Steve and Jdaddy, 

  We all seem to have the same problem with our F12's. The smoke will not operate in legacy mode. This seems to be a problem with many if not all F12's. When I got mine back from the repair shop I assumed it was fixed but he simply had turned it on with regular TMCC. I think Lionel needs to adress this. When a person spends as much money as we all did for these engines they should certainly operate as advertised. I will be e-mailing Lionel soon.  Maybe we all should.

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Posted by number 9 on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 8:19 AM

The resistor is producing a lot of smoke, the fan is just not spinning fast enough to blow it out. I assume it's not blowing fast enough. I can't imagine there is some kind of blockage inside the smoke unit itself. Anyone else out there with a similar problem with there legacy GP7?

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Posted by J. Daddy on Monday, April 5, 2010 8:55 AM

So is the resistor producing smoke, its just the fan not blowing it out?

When the men get together its always done right! J. Daddy
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Posted by number 9 on Monday, April 5, 2010 8:38 AM

Marty, I had the cover and manifold off and I can see the fan down the intake hole. The fan was not moving so I nudged it, then powered up and it was spinning but it is not spinning fast enough to produce the column of smoke your getting. After powering down I have to nudge the fan again to get it moving. Thanks again for the help. I'll keep you posted after I fool with it some more.

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Posted by MartyE on Saturday, April 3, 2010 10:52 AM

 Can you hear the fan running?  If so I would assume blockage of some sort.  Try it with the cover and funnel piece off and see if you get anything.

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Posted by number 9 on Friday, April 2, 2010 4:35 PM

Thanks for the info. Yes I have a digital multimeter, an invaluable tool over the last twenty years building layouts. I used to take apart the old conventional stuff but I'm not sure I've got the guts to start messing with computer boards. But then nothing ventured nothing gained. I will let you know how I make out.

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Posted by J. Daddy on Thursday, April 1, 2010 12:45 PM

Do you have a digital multimeter to test voltage, resistance, continuity, etc.?

If you don't. Get one. It will save you your sanity. With the shell off make sure the connector is firmly on both boards. and inspect the wires. Next with the POWER OFF. check the fan leads with the continuity checker.

If nothing remove  the connector at the board, take a 9v battery and put the two leads to the motor, does it work now? If not you need a new fan motor. IF so go back to the mother board were the smoke connector is coming out off, now with the power on and the connector removed, hit Aux1 9. now measure the voltage, are you getting a reading? If not your board is bad.

When the men get together its always done right! J. Daddy
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Posted by number 9 on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 7:05 PM

I put my GP7 back together last night, filled it with fluid and got a lot of smoke but the fan is not blowing it out like I saw on your video. I know the fan is just not working. Do you have any sugestions? other than dropping back ten yards and punting.

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Posted by Train-O on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 1:21 PM

We should all get a 5U4G vacuum tube, it'll solve many problems!!!!

Ralph

 

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Posted by J. Daddy on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 8:11 AM

Steve,

I have not checked the forum lately but I had the same issue with my F12e... I opened mine up which was a very tight fit! I thought that boiler was going to fly across the room trying to pry it with my fingers. But getting by that it was just the connector that came off the circuit board. All was well. But I did note something. I can only turn smoke on and off after engine is in parked position Aux1 + 0 with TMCC. then toggle AUX1 + 8 or 9 to turn smoke unit off or on. In Legacy the smoke unit cannot be turned off... I have tried everything, reset, remote reset etc, nothing. So if I want to turn the smoke unit off or on I pick up the TMCC remote.

When the men get together its always done right! J. Daddy
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Posted by MartyE on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 7:56 PM

 You be the judge...

Legacy GP7s in a multi-unit!

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Posted by number 9 on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 7:09 PM

Marty, I opened up my UP GP-7 and what a mess. I don't think the seal was ever on right. I've cleaned the mess up and have the engine upside down on a soft towel to drain any fluid out and I will start from scratch filling it with fluid so I will know I'm not over filling it. As I was writing this the repair shop called and said my F-12 was fixed!!! He said he put the engine in conventional mode and it smoked like crazy. Then he said he kept "fooling" with it and it began working again in legacy mode. Good news that it's fixed but I would like to know how it got turned off in the first place so it doesn't happen again. How strong is the fan in the GP7???  Thanks for the help you guys.

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