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16 replies

I need help!

jjmmagoojjmmagooOGR Forum Member

This is a topic I started in the 3 rail board.  I am feeling horrible.  Any help anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated! 

 

 

Ok, as the title states yes i am an idiot.  I just purchased a new locomotive.  A brand new out of the box no issues MTH-Railking 30-20172-1 Union Pacific ES44AC engine.  The thing is sweet.  The colors, the American flag, EVERYTHING-until I had to mess it all up.  Now my issues with my MTH heritage train was beyond me!  That came all messed up.  This engine had 0.0 on the odometer.  Let me tell you what i did.  Since I am still rather new to DCS i was moving the engine around.  I was getting a feel for it on my layout.  It was going around the 0-31 turns with no issues!  It was really an awesome moment for me.  Until i had to play with the DCS!  Whatever i did made the train accelerate had a high speed and go around the turn and jump the track!  Okay no problem(this is something that i have no idea what i did).  So i reset everything and put it back on the track, okay?  So now i run the locomotive and i go slow, careful not too do what ever i did before.  I get it to 1 smph.  it starts to move slowly and sounds like it is not grasping the track and then all of the sudden the locomotive races around the track screams into the turn and falls on the floor.  It lands like i cat on the trucks and upright. (I have a carpeted floor)  So now every time i put the locomotive back on the track it does the same thing.  I accelerate to 1 it jumps and as soon as i go back too 0 it stops dead in its tracks.  I have reset the locomotive to factory settings and the same thing happens.  The engine has been out of the box a half hour and i have done this!  I am so upset!  Any clue on what I did?  Or did i mess this up and have to send it to MTH for repairs?  Once again I know I am an idiot!  This now makes it two engines that are now being repaired.  Thank you for letting me ramble and vent.

Last edited by jjmmagoo
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R RJROGR Forum Member

Sounds like an issue with speed control.  Could be that the tach tape is dirty or missing, or that the reader/sensor has moved out of position (could be from shipping & handling) or has just failed.

 

My recommendation would be to remove the shell and check the condition of the tape and whether the sensor is 0.75-1.25 mm from the tape.  If those check out, and you don't see any disconnected wires, I'd contact MTH for a warranty repair.

 

I carefully read your post and I see no symptoms of idiocy.

jjmmagoojjmmagooOGR Forum Member
Wait!  I can prove i am an idiot.  How do i take the shell off?  How and what am i looking for with regards the Tach tape?  This could be the answer to the issue at hand.  The locomotive flew off the track once and another time fell on the floor.  I am not that handy, and don't want to mess up the locomotive any further.  Thanks for your feed back!
 
 
Originally Posted by RJR:

Sounds like an issue with speed control.  Could be that the tach tape is dirty or missing, or that the reader/sensor has moved out of position (could be from shipping & handling) or has just failed.

 

My recommendation would be to remove the shell and check the condition of the tape and whether the sensor is 0.75-1.25 mm from the tape.  If those check out, and you don't see any disconnected wires, I'd contact MTH for a warranty repair.

 

I carefully read your post and I see no symptoms of idiocy.

 

Last edited by jjmmagoo
G GGGOGR Forum Member

JIm,  Just send it into MTH for warranty repair.  Doesn't sound like anything you did.  With a tach failure or other board issue the train can go to full speed like that.

 

You could try a factory reset.  Put train on track and start up but DO NOT touch throttle.  Do a factory reset.  Shut off engine and shut down track.  Start track up again, but lower voltage to around 12-13 so you have some margin for speed control.

 

Start up the engine and try it.  If it goes right to full speed turn off transformer.  Send in the unit.  G

jjmmagoojjmmagooOGR Forum Member
I just feel bad.  I have now two engines at MTH going for repairs.  I was thinking did I setup my layout incorrectly?  I did the diagnostic tests and everything is good.  Just bothers me that after maybe two trips around the layout this could happen?  I am going to try the full factory reset and power off that was recommended earlier.  I am just annoyed that these locomotives are either very sensitive or just aren't built well.  I didn't think it was me but your self confidence goes in the toilet when this happens.  Anyways I will either have it fixed or will be down another locomotive.  Thanks everyone for your support.  If there is anything else I can do that would help please share.  I could really do without having to send this to MTH.  Thank you again!
S stan2004OGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by jjmmagoo:
If there is anything else I can do that would help please share.  I could really do without having to send this to MTH.

Per page 33 of instructions:

 

ogr ps3 es44 page 33

The diagram suggests it's "just" 4 body-mount screws and the shell lifts off the chassis.  If you are will/able to do this, there might be a simple DIY repair (something came loose). 

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rtr12rtr12OGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
Originally Posted by jjmmagoo:
Talk about having a bad day!
That helped but still less then thrilled!  Thanks for the pick me up!
 
 
 
Originally Posted by Dale H:

The PS2 or 3 system can and does fail. Do not be disheartened. Here are some  failures that did more serious damage.

 

 

DCS failure 1

DCS failure 2

 

Dale H

 

I think the lower picture was a tach sensor problem.

 

Actually as I said in the other thread, a lot of it with our new and complicated engines these days is just luck. I have all modern electronic engines, mostly MTH and have had very few problems. That doesn't necessarily mean the next 1, 2, 3 or more engines I get won't have problems, they could very well be DOA?  Your luck will change, hopefully soon.

Jim BergerJim BergerOGR Forum Member

to the org. poster: it sounds like your engine [s] are not getting the watchdog signal the tiu puts out when first powered up or the dcs signal in the tiu is shut off. also the accel. limit may be set on max. regardless, theres no reason to let engines fly off the track when there is an emerg. stop button on your remote. we need more info on your dcs wiring setup[ie: how is the tiu powered?, is the + or red wire going to the center rail,black or - going to outside rails,how complex is your layout?] and a little less drama in your posts. it dont sound to me like an engine problem at all. if you can, take your engine[s] to another layout with dcs[dealer,friend,etc] and see if it will work on that layout. dont push the panic button yet, there are people here who will talk you through it if you give them a chance.-jim

jjmmagoojjmmagooOGR Forum Member
 
Thank you for your reply, the drama was out of pure frustration.  The setup on my layout is rather simple.  Its a 4x8 layout.  As far as i can tell i have hooked everything correct. I have my MTH Z1000 transformer brick hooked into the TIU using the banana wire.
I have another locomotive that is a PS3 and it runs fine.  All features work with no issues.  Connected to my TIU is an AIU with the switches wired in and they also work fine.   I know about the little red button on the bottom of the remote.  Used it quite often when my 5 year old uses the layout but alas he was not running the trains.  With my layout being so small the train made it from one end to the other without time for me to hit the emergency cut/off hit the curve and took flight.  I only say there is a possibility there is something wrong with the engine cause when i throttle up to 1 smph it sounds like the rear trucks are spinning its wheels and the front trucks seemed locked. I can't tell really cause as i am observing it takes off.  I would take it to another layout but i am the only one of my friends that has a layout. Once again I appreciate your assistance. 
 
 
 
Originally Posted by mixerman:

to the org. poster: it sounds like your engine [s] are not getting the watchdog signal the tiu puts out when first powered up or the dcs signal in the tiu is shut off. also the accel. limit may be set on max. regardless, theres no reason to let engines fly off the track when there is an emerg. stop button on your remote. we need more info on your dcs wiring setup[ie: how is the tiu powered?, is the + or red wire going to the center rail,black or - going to outside rails,how complex is your layout?] and a little less drama in your posts. it dont sound to me like an engine problem at all. if you can, take your engine[s] to another layout with dcs[dealer,friend,etc] and see if it will work on that layout. dont push the panic button yet, there are people here who will talk you through it if you give them a chance.-jim

 

Last edited by jjmmagoo
jjmmagoojjmmagooOGR Forum Member
Engine will be going back on Friday.  There is clearly something jammed or not running correctly in the forward trucks of this engine.  The rear trucks are pushing and the front are locked but finally release and the locomotive has no speed control.  I have it set at 1 SMPH and it rockets around.  When i goto 0 SMPH the gears lock and it stops immediately.  I am not that handy with delicate things.  So rather cause more damage i would rather send it back and have it looked at by someone who knows what they are doing.  Frustration is now gone, there is no more drama.  Thanks everyone for all your input.
 
Originally Posted by jjmmagoo:
 
Thank you for your reply, the drama was out of pure frustration.  The setup on my layout is rather simple.  Its a 4x8 layout.  As far as i can tell i have hooked everything correct. I have my MTH Z1000 transformer brick hooked into the TIU using the banana wire.
I have another locomotive that is a PS3 and it runs fine.  All features work with no issues.  Connected to my TIU is an AIU with the switches wired in and they also work fine.   I know about the little red button on the bottom of the remote.  Used it quite often when my 5 year old uses the layout but alas he was not running the trains.  With my layout being so small the train made it from one end to the other without time for me to hit the emergency cut/off hit the curve and took flight.  I only say there is a possibility there is something wrong with the engine cause when i throttle up to 1 smph it sounds like the rear trucks are spinning its wheels and the front trucks seemed locked. I can't tell really cause as i am observing it takes off.  I would take it to another layout but i am the only one of my friends that has a layout. Once again I appreciate your assistance. 
 
 
 
Originally Posted by mixerman:

to the org. poster: it sounds like your engine [s] are not getting the watchdog signal the tiu puts out when first powered up or the dcs signal in the tiu is shut off. also the accel. limit may be set on max. regardless, theres no reason to let engines fly off the track when there is an emerg. stop button on your remote. we need more info on your dcs wiring setup[ie: how is the tiu powered?, is the + or red wire going to the center rail,black or - going to outside rails,how complex is your layout?] and a little less drama in your posts. it dont sound to me like an engine problem at all. if you can, take your engine[s] to another layout with dcs[dealer,friend,etc] and see if it will work on that layout. dont push the panic button yet, there are people here who will talk you through it if you give them a chance.-jim

 

 

jjmmagoojjmmagooOGR Forum Member
I think your correct.  I am claiming responsibility based on the fact that I couldn't be happy with just running the train.  I was fiddling with all the buttons.  I have a feeling I must have inadvertently hit the conventional button and the loco went at full speed around the track setting off the chain of events that took place.  Running it last night it struggled to move but a gear must have kicked in cause it went from 0-50 in seconds.  I will send it back.  Lesson learned!   I was thinking about opening it up and seeing if there was any obvious issues I can see but I didn't want to test fate.   Thanks again for your help.
jjmmagoojjmmagooOGR Forum Member
On the DCS remote there is the emergency kill button.  I just kinda froze when I saw the engine race and fly.
 
 
Originally Posted by Dale H:

Jim

 

I assume you do not have a button handy at reach that shuts down power to the layout if there is a problem. You could rig something up fairly easily,there are a lot of ways to do it.

 

Dale H

 

jjmmagoojjmmagooOGR Forum Member

Well, good news!  Just got the engine back today!  It looks amazing.  I missed how cool this locomotive looked!  I only had it on my layout for less then 10 minutes!  Today I got it on the layout, hooked up to the DCS and had run around for a bit!  I am so happy!  In case anyone is curious the receipt stated it was a MEC-01  Binding.  They gave me a new tech board, motor and snow plow.  Pretty cool!  Well, everyone thanks for listening!

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