mth-30-1159-1

Start with the basics.

How did it fail?  Was it running and just stopped, or was it stored and when you put tried to run it you couldn't get a response?  Has it ever run?

Are you running conventional or command?  If you're running command, try running it in conventional mode with just a transformer to the tracks.

If you're attempting to run in command using DCS, what happens when you try to add it to the remote?  Did you try the Recover Engine function?

Hi gunrunner

Thanks for the reply.The Engine was stored for awhile (2 years) ,it did run when put away. I put it on a DCS track and a conventional track and no results on either, The battery was charged and is ok.

thanks again

When you power up the track with the engine with DCS active, do you hear the relay click in as it receives power?

cannot get the handheld to accept the engine on add engine. Do not hear anything when power is applied. Its like no power going to engine but if the wheels tough the center rail it shorts.

I think you need to get the ohmmeter out and check if the pickups are connected to the board.  I assume you did reseat all the connectors on the board, especially the 7 pin connector.

What do you mean wheels touch center rail it shorts?  If the outside wheels touch center rail with train on track it will short since the rest of the engine is on the outside ground.

If you place the engine on the track properly and add power to the track, does your transformer short?

This is an older PS-2 5V engine.  Those boards can fail, and your symptoms of no relay click and no response is typical.  Especially if it won't run in conventional either.

Expensive repair, which is probably not worth it for a RTR set engine unless it is sentimental to you.  G

I'm still trying to figure out what the true symptoms are George.

I touched the front truck to the center rail to see if power was getting through the rollers to the engine. I'm afraid you're right about a board failing but was hoping for some kind of reset problem. Thank you for your time and effort.

Well, if it immediately shorts out when you put it properly on the track, George is probably right.  That wasn't obvious from the previous posts.   I have a box of PS/2 5V boards with the same problem.  Someday I'm going to try to see if I can reach any shorted diodes and revive a couple of them.

John, one last question. when I touch the transformer lead directly to the motor, it will run. or I touch the lead to the light  it works,but when I touch the lead to the roller I get nothing but the roller shows voltage at the roller and to the board. again thanks for the input

I thought you had a short?

If you put the locomotive on the tracks and then apply power, does the breaker pop or does it just sit there dead?  I think George read from the previous comments that the breaker pops, a very bad sign.  However, if it doesn't, there may be hope.

With the engine on the track and power applied it just sits there. there is no short in the engine(I didn't come across right sorry)

I'd trace the wires back to the board and make SURE both the frame ground (outside wheels) and the rollers (center track) actually make it all the way to the board.  Here's a wiring diagram, note that the ground and pickups have two connections each on the 7-pin connector.  That properly connected should at least make it respond to the remote.

I am getting voltage to the board from the pickup rollers.

You touched the transformer wires to the DC can motor????

Gee Marty, I hope not!   I hope he unplugged the motor to do the test!

Where in PA are you located?

My thoughts.  Not a good thing to do.

No, I took it that he shorted the track by using the engine.

When the engine is on the track with a dead board, the board prevents the motor or lights from working.  Your engine probably has a good motor and lights but it is the board that is bad.  The board is a $200MSRP part.  It is also obsolete so you need the PS-2 3V replacement.  This requires the battery, speaker and battery harness to be replaced too.  If sent to MTH Part cost alone is $234, plus labor.

It is not good to test motors and lights with AC from the transformer.  First the motor is a DC motor.  Prolonged application will burn up the windings in the motor.  Second, with harness still connected you feed AC back through the wires into the board.  This will quickly damage the board components since the run on low filtered DC voltage.  G