Flyonel Mikado w/ TMCC & Railsounds

[cjhobby]

Hi--

I'm new to American Flyer & S gauge. I recently purchased a Mikado with TMCC & Railsounds. It's a real beauty, but I can't get the dynamic chuffing sounds to work, either in Command mode or conventional mode. Every other function works as it should including all other sounds. HELP!!!

[Buckeye Riveter]

I don't have the Flyer version of the Mikado, but I have an older K-Line that used to have this same problem.  The switch on my Mikado was activated by the smoke plunger.  Plunger didn't move and therefore no sound.  Does yours smoke?  

[cjhobby]

Hi--

Thanks for your reply! Mine does smoke, as it uses a seuthe smoke unit to save space which is electric w/out a piston. Also, I forgot to mention that the brake button works, but no squeal or any braking sounds.

Thanks CJB

[dougdagrump]

This may sound like a silly response but nothing ventured nothing gained. Assuming that the Flyer version is much the same as the Lionel/K-Line models.

Have you checked the Railsounds/Signalsounds switch, Volume control pot and if nothing else pull the tender shell to check the connections on the speaker as well as making sure the boards are properly seated. 

[cjhobby]

Hi--

Nothing is silly when it comes to digital control! I think I've done all the obvious, All looks correct in the tender, and I've checked the switch and volume pot and they work as they should. I failed to mention that the brake works, but no brake squeal. All other functions and sounds work perfectly. The chuff starts occasionally, but never in sequence and then stops completely.

[rrlineman]

send it back to Lionel and let them fix it. when I was at Spring York, there was a lot of people bitching to the Lionel service guys there about the boards being junk. Also for those are not aware of this. Lionel does NOT support certain electronic parts after 2-3 yrs..

I overheard quite a few ask the reps why Lionel just use a simple board for bell whistle and horn and drop the the over price boards and make the engines more affordable ( with would cut the price at least 200-300-bucks.) they gave lames excuses that is what people want! 1 older gentleman said to them they have to stop listening to Neil Young and the scale guys and get back to making trains people can buy without draining their wallets and run as reliable as the postwar stuff.

Mike

[arnoldafl]

If all other sounds work including cab communications, steam hissing, etc but no chuffing when the engine moves, look at the tender draw-bar. I believe the sensor for timing the chuff is in the engine. The timing is transmitted to the tender to produce the sound by a infrared transmitter and eye in the draw bar. Make sure it is aligned properly and there are no wires broken. Otherwise I would say there is something wrong in the engine with the sensor which very well could be nothing more than a cam on an axle and contact but to view it may require disassembly.

Bill

[Dave632]

 I had some trouble with some of the Legacy steam locos where the bar over the drawbar was not slid over into position the sounds were erratic. Since I corrected this I have had no further problems.

[cjhobby]

Hi Folks--

I'm jumping for Joy!! And I want to thank all who helped, as I was able to use info from all of you. The cherry switch which is the sensor that runs off a cam on the starboard side of the rear axle and is buried under the electronic boards in  the rear of the chassis, was broken. I replaced this with a new switch from Lionel. Fortunately, I ordered 3, as the 1st switch I used broke. But when I replaced it with another! put it all back together,  it is beautiful. All sounds work, including the brake squeal, and I noticed the whistle operates in 2 tones dependent on speed and the crew talk is more varied depending on speed or at idle.

Thanks CJB

Clement J Bianchi

[Dave632]

 Glad to hear you solved your problem.