I have been having a few issues with my Legacy engines, where they at times seem to not respond properly to commands, or in some cases will do funny things all on their own. An example being, the horn will start to blow continuously, and nothing I do will stop it, other than shut down the power. Often, after shutting the power down, on repowering the track, the horn will still be blowing. Sometimes it will stop when I "Flick" the horn slide.

I have tried the reset button on the remote, and the engines lights will flash and horn go off, but the original problem may or may not happen again. I have 2 questions:

1. When the battery power in the remote starts to degrade, can this cause such things. I am using alkaline batteries, (not rechargeables) and the remote still shows 2 or 3 bars on the strength meter, but I'm not sure how accurate that meter is, there may be a certain amount of power loss, even though it won't show up as such on the remote. It seems with a fresh set of batteries I have less of the gremlins.

2. What is the easiest way to do a complete reset of the (Legacy) engine. Can you in any way sort of "Clear" the programming for that engine out of the remote and start fresh? Is there anything you have to wipe out of the base to do a complete reset for an individual engine? Can't seem to find anything on this either in the Engines Manual or the Legacy Manual.

Just sort of grasping at straws here. I have "E" mailed Lionel on this, and they seem to think some of my issues will be corrected with the new Legacy update that is supposedly on the way. Can't come soon enough for me, I don't know if I have engine problems, or Legacy problems.

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quote:

2. What is the easiest way to do a complete reset of the (Legacy) engine. Can you in any way sort of "Clear" the programming for that engine out of the remote and start fresh? Is there anything you have to wipe out of the base to do a complete reset for an individual engine? Can't seem to find anything on this either in the Engines Manual or the Legacy Manual.

Rev,
Although I am new to Legacy, there is usually listed in the manual that comes with your engines a section that will tell you how to reset your engines to there default settings. To do a full reset of your base and cab 2 controller you scroll through the CTC menu and it will allow you to do a full reset. My Legacy came with a blue module that will allow you to reload Legacy, I think( you really need MartE or Chris Bojanower. or Will Allen to confirm this as I am a rookie)When you do this, you will lose all your engine data and will have to reload your engines and whatever else you control with your cab 2.
I have heard of weak batteries causing such problems, but unless a fresh set completely cures the problems than it must be something else. I think some of these problems can be caused by improper or faulty grounding. Check your ground wire from the base. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will chime in and help you. Good luck.

Thanks gregj410......I really don't want to completely reset the base if I don't have to, I was looking for a way to easily do an individual loco complete reset. I have read the manuals for my Legacy engines, and it probably is in there somewhere, but it has escaped me for the moment.

I have the Legacy Modules for both of the Legacy versions, and was hoping not to have to go that route. I really think some of it is a battery strength issue, and some related to the Legacy problems that are supposedly being addressed with the new version. That's what Lionel is telling me.

It's frustrating when you don't know where the problem lies, and where to start to try correct it. What can I say, I think the world is sometimes computerizing itself into oblivion.

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The Legacy can have errors due to spurious commands, corrupt packets, loss of signal transmission, possible noise spikes from other non train equipment, etc. These are hard to reproduce and isolate, and may appear to be random in nature. It is going to have errors like a computer and you will just have to shut down and do a reset. If you are trying to run conventional or DCS along with Legacy you will multiply your problems.
You can minimize error occurrences if you locate ALL the Legacy & TMCC engines your are not using in a train or engine yard with separate power blocks that are not normally energized, except when you want to bring an engine out or in. I usually have only two or three engines (or trains) I am working with at a most of the time.
My most common problem in my Legacy only layout is occasional loss of signal in certain parts of the room, especially if I forget an lay the remote down beside the track. (It is not necessarily a distance problem.) Sometimes the Legacy superbass engine in a lash-up does not shut down on first command or smoke units come on but these are minor.

I only have a simple 060 Fastrack loop set up at the moment, where I test run my engines. Hope to have a real layout sometime this winter, so it can't be any interference from other trains or Legacy related stuff. I only run one train at a time.

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