Roy O posted:Marty, need help with a proto 1. I have a Florida East coast # 601 MT-2130LP. First, New fresh charged battery. Using Z controller with a 1000 brick eng does start up with 2 clanks. Will not move. Did reset 18 got 3 clanks two times horn blows 2X then 1 more. When I use a old Lionel 1044 transformer it will run and reverse. If I switch to the Z controller before eng totally powers down train it will run on the Z controller normally with all functions horn, bell, and fyr sounds and reverse properly. Once train powers down it goes back to a 2 clank start and will not move. If I need to send it to you do you need whole train or just the boards? Yes I do have other proto 1 that operate properly on same track set up. Respectfully Roy O
Some early MTH original Protosounds locomotives do not like the chopped wave AC output of some modern transformers. They run fine on old postwar transformers and on the pure-wave modern transformers such as the MTH Z-4000.
So far, I have had only one — a 1996 MTH Premier K4 (20-3018-2) — experience this drawback using a Lionel ZW-L transformer and running conventionally. It runs fine on my MTH Z-4000.
I tried several solutions, such as trying start-up while a car with an incandescent bulb is also on the track. But my K4 stays in reset in conventional mode.
I have been told that the only solution would be an upgrade, which I might do at some point.
