Rough Starting Lionel SD90

[Anonymous]

I have a Lionel SD90. It rans well with sounds I enjoy. However it lurches whenever I first start it ranning in Command Control. In an article in O guage railroading they did a review of 3 different upgrades to RMT Beeps the 1 from DigitalDynamics lurch similar to my SD90 the others didn't. The 1 from TAstudios had caps across both motors. The 1 from ElecricRR had them installed on their driver boards (They call them snubbers) I am thinking of doing this to my SD90. Am I on the right track? Any input would great Thank You.

P.S. Yes it has Odessy Speed Control


Scott R. Conforto

[Nick12DMC]

Hi Scott,
This is just a thought, are you running in the States on 60Hz mains
power or are you here in europe or anywhere else that uses 50Hz mains
power?

I was just reading a article from a back issue of the UK Lionel Club
magazine about TMCC on 50Hz which talks about similar symptoms.
Loco shudders, runs unevenly or can even run away.

Acording to the article it has somthing to do with the main circuit boards,
board version 8 is mentioned.

I am not a expert on TMCC as my son and I are just starting in the hobby
but I have had a lot of experience with 50Hz causing lots of problems
with CW-80 and Trainsounds. The cure was a DC power supply and a
DC to 110v 60Hz inverter.
See my eairler thread.

Hope this helps

Regards
Nick

[jimhaleyscomet]

This is probably a trivial question, but have you lubed your loco? Mine were real rough operating until I lubed the gears.

Jim H

[ben10ben]

This was a know problem with some of the early Odyssey realeases, which included the SD-90. Lionel fixed it with an upgraded motor driver board.

If you call and talk to them nicely, you might could even convince them to stil fix it for you for free.

[Anonymous]

I live in the US we have 60Hz. AC. I did oil and break in the drive train, It does this on start up when you first turn the dial on the Cab1. After that the loco doesn't lurch it is smooth like its suppose to be. I will call Lionel next week Thanks guys.

Scott R. Conforto