Converting MTH dash 9 to ESU loksound 5 XL

You might have a issue with the power wires coming off the trucks from the track. This a 2 rail or 3 rail?

As this is 2 rail are you sure your wheels aren't shorting out to each other?  As it has pickup rollers it was a 3 rail locomotive at some point and they tend to have the wheels electrically connected for better powering.  For center rail pickup rollers, they should be removed, wiring and all.

I'm also wondering why you went with the XL instead of the L decoder

Thanks for the replies, I was wrong when I said ESU loksound 5XL it is a 5L decoder.  This is 3/2 rail engine from MTH and never had pickups on it as I had purchased it new and only used it on 2 rail.

Thanks

Scott

@Scottie814 posted:

Thanks for the replies, I was wrong when I said ESU loksound 5XL it is a 5L decoder.  This is 3/2 rail engine from MTH and never had pickups on it as I had purchased it new and only used it on 2 rail.

Thanks

Scott

Remove the decoder from the motherboard. Then place the loco on the track. Id do this to trouble shoot the wiring/short so you don't damage that decoder.

I have a couple of MTH diesels I need to break into with a shorting problem. The wires going down into the trucks sometimes get pinched in assembly/use and need to be better separated. I have a bunch of them acquired since 2009 and I've run them in both modes.