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I purchased a new PS/3 Bavarian S 3/G Express(20-33981) last year. it ran perfectly...then I had to put my entire collection into storage for over 8 mos. through the winter.  I've been returning my engines to service and so far no problems until I pulled this one out. Some caveats:  This is my only and first MTH engine.  What I've now experienced is the following: When the engine starts, set on SMPH-1 it starts slowly as expected then within about 8 ft. it starts to accelerate and keeps going, unresponsive to my handheld until I return the speed to "0". It stops. Also, no chuff, no chuff sounds, and although I had initial smoke, not that's disappeared as well.  No braking sounds.  No "clickety-clack.  Extended startup and shutdown works fine. Whistle and bell OK. Lights, OK. I'm stumped. I've walked through the menus for these items but I must be making a rookie mistake. Let me explain. For example, I get to the Chuff sounds, Chuff rate or photo-chuff menus. I make a selection by hitting the appropriate softly that highlights the selection. Next I hit the thumb wheel, or rather push it to make a selection. Of so I think,  when I return to the menu, that selection is gone...nothing is selected. So I try again and do not push on the thumb wheel rather just hit the menu button. When I return to the menu to check, sometimes the selection is still highlighted, sometimes not. But in any case...no sounds, no chuff, no smoke...frustrating. I've just ordered Barry's book. Oh, once I got a 'low battery' notice when the train was on the track and powered up. It can't be the handheld batteries as they are brand new. Could this be referring to the 9v battery in the tender. That has not been replaced since I first put it in.

 

Thanks,

Ed

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Ed,

Could this be referring to the 9v battery in the tender. That has not been replaced since I first put it in.

A couple of things...

 

First, that MTH item number, 20-33981, does not bring up an MTH product on MTH's web site, even if completed as 20-33981-1. Are you referring to M.T.H.'s O Scale S3/6 German Pacific locomotive?

 

Second, PS3 engines don't have replaceable batteries in the tender, or anywhere else.

 

Third, if you did open up the engine or tender, why did you do so and did you run it after you last opened it up?

Last edited by Barry Broskowitz

I think he means 20-3398-1 which appears to be valid and is an S3.

 

http://mthtrains.com/20-3398-1

As Barry says, the PS3 engines don't have a battery so I don't know what the low battery is all about, but the symptoms you describe sound like a problem with the tach assembly in the boiler/engine.  If the tach reader does not read those black and white stripes off the flywheel then the electronics thinks the engine is NOT moving.  If it thinks it is not moving then it doesn't make the chuff sound.  So it applies more power to the motor to make it get up to speed which sounds like what your engine is doing...and still now tach feedback so no chuffing.  As to why it "reliably" acts up after 8 feet is an interesting symptom which one the MTH gurus will hopefully explain.

Originally Posted by ToledoEd:

I'm certain the tether is firmly seated. I handled the storage With kid gloves. ��. I'm not sure how to restore factory settings. I tried through the the handheld but unlike Lionel (whistle horn blows) there was no physical indication it occurred. 

If you did a successful factory reset, the engine would be removed from you remote and you would have to re-add the engine.

Since you apparently have the "full" DCS system, the factory reset is NOT performed using the horn-5 bell sequence.  You navigate the menu (see Barry's book or DCS manual) to perform resets.

 

Also, just to be clear, during those first 8 feet when the engine runs slowly, do you get chuffing sounds?  Or do the chuffing sound play properly (i.e., 4 chuff sounds per wheel rotation) during the first 8 feet, then the sounds stop after 8 feet?

This is PS-3, so the engine should not run away with a lost tach like PS-2 does.

 

When you power up the engine and start it with sounds playing, turn track power off and see if the engine plays shut down sounds.  If so, reapply power and startup engine.

 

With engine control turn off smoke.  Do a factory reset.  The engine should be deleted from the remote and smoke come back on.  Turn track power off and wait 1 minute.

 

Reapply power and add engine back into remote and try again.   G

Originally Posted by stan2004:

Since you apparently have the "full" DCS system, the factory reset is NOT performed using the horn-5 bell sequence.  You navigate the menu (see Barry's book or DCS manual) to perform resets.

 

Also, just to be clear, during those first 8 feet when the engine runs slowly, do you get chuffing sounds?  Or do the chuffing sound play properly (i.e., 4 chuff sounds per wheel rotation) during the first 8 feet, then the sounds stop after 8 feet?

No chuffing sounds 

Originally Posted by ToledoEd:

Well, that's interesting and sounds like something beyond my competence to address. Sounds like this is off to the authorized fixer-upper! 

If you don't get any chuffing sounds at all, the so-called tach reader is a prime suspect.  If you're willing to lift off the shell on the boiler/engine (by removing some screws from underneath) the problem might be obvious and easily fixed. OTOH even if obvious, the remedy might require some tight-quarters soldering (e.g., if a loose wire) which is not for everyone. 

 

So if the factory reset does not help, I see you and GGG are in the same state...

Originally Posted by stan2004:
Originally Posted by ToledoEd:

Well, that's interesting and sounds like something beyond my competence to address. Sounds like this is off to the authorized fixer-upper! 

If you don't get any chuffing sounds at all, the so-called tach reader is a prime suspect.  If you're willing to lift off the shell on the boiler/engine (by removing some screws from underneath) the problem might be obvious and easily fixed. OTOH even if obvious, the remedy might require some tight-quarters soldering (e.g., if a loose wire) which is not for everyone. 

 

So if the factory reset does not help, I see you and GGG are in the same state...

Thanks for the help. I'm at the beach now but when I return I'll try the factory rest if that doesn't work it is off to the train Doctor. Think Obamacare covers this? ☺️

Originally Posted by ToledoEd:
Originally Posted by stan2004:
Originally Posted by ToledoEd:

Well, that's interesting and sounds like something beyond my competence to address. Sounds like this is off to the authorized fixer-upper! 

If you don't get any chuffing sounds at all, the so-called tach reader is a prime suspect.  If you're willing to lift off the shell on the boiler/engine (by removing some screws from underneath) the problem might be obvious and easily fixed. OTOH even if obvious, the remedy might require some tight-quarters soldering (e.g., if a loose wire) which is not for everyone. 

 

So if the factory reset does not help, I see you and GGG are in the same state...

Thanks for the help. I'm at the beach now but when I return I'll try the factory rest if that doesn't work it is off to the train Doctor. Think Obamacare covers this? ☺️

Took it to a dealer to be fixed. It is the tech reade.  Bummer is MTH is lousy on supplying parts according to my dealer. He's had for over two months with the part nowhere in sight. I was considering buying another MTH european steamer but now I'm not so sure. My dealer was not very enthusiastic either. MTH needs to take a lead from Lionel on customer/parts service!  I hope I get my Bavarian back before 2016. 

Yes, I know my dealer. He's been very good and reliable. I also know the tech he has that works the repairs, a very fine fellow as well.  However, you did make me think that maybe I'm being unfair in that it probably took a week or so to get to the engine and diagnose the problem.  I'll give it another month then start to bug him.  Thanks for the sanity check.

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