Lionel 4-6-6-4 lights and power

[Anonymous]

When I program my lionel challenger to a 4 digit address the headlight and backup light don't work. Any tips. They do when I reset the engine and leave the address at 03. Also it pulls very poory. Any suggestions?

[cacole]

If you purchased this locomotive new and not second hand, you should have received a complete QSI sound system manual with it that explains how to set the various CVs for lights, sound, etc. I have experienced the same problems as you with the locomotive not pulling well. There are two problems with it: 1. The tender is too heavy, and only minimal weight can be removed by opening it up and removing a weight near the rear of the tender. 2. The drive wheels are made of a too-slick metal that loses traction too easily. I have been unable to pull more than five or six cars up a 2 percent grade without wheel slippage. This is very disappointing, and I hope the traction improves as the shiny coating wears off of the drive wheels. It appears to be chrome, and I don't know why Lionel coated the wheels this way.