MTH Rugged Rails F3 - Loss of Control Defect

Don't know.  If an engine runs away at higher speeds I start looking at tach tape, tach reader gap, or tach reader. 

Though it may be a processor board fault too.  If this happens in DCS try loading a different sound file.  If still persist look at the above.  After that swap a processor.

In conventional your starting at a lower voltage and the speed control algorithm is different I believe.  So with DCS at full track voltage a loss of speed control is probably easier to occur than in conventional at 12-14V.  G

I've personally seen this issue with two different 3 volt PS2 engines, running under DCS,  not long after PS2 3 volt engines began arriving.

With both engines, the issue would occur only at one spot on the layout (different spot for each engine). For each engine, the symptoms would mostly altenate between the engines taking off at track voltage with no operator control under DCS or conventionally, or just abruptly stopping dead without any coasting.

it turned out that it was, ion both cases, a 3e volt PS2 board problem where the processor, for some unknown reason, went into an "undefined state". Subsequently to my occurrences, I read on the forum of two other reports of the same issue.

In both cases, the solution was to replace the 3 volt PS2 board set.

Barry,

We have one of these sets also, and because of the issue, its been relegated to the shelf.

Regarding the solution to this problem, replacing the PS2 3 volt board, is an upgrade to PS3 a viable solution? Would the upgrade replace the troublesome parts?

Jim,

is an upgrade to PS3 a viable solution?

All that would be necessary would be to swap the engine's board for the one in the upgrade kit.

I hate to say it, but with a rugged rails engine, its probably more economic to throw it away and get another one that works. The PS2 board probably costs more than the whole engine. 

Or just put an electronic reverse unit in it so that it runs conventionally.

Thanks all. My engine still runs fine as long as you keep it to about 20SMPH and under which is what I usually run at anyway so no big deal there. I think I'll run it until it really explodes and then perhaps put a Williams sound board or ERR board in it. Of course, I do hope MTH re-issues the F3 in PS3....

Barry mentioned that sometimes it will just stop fully, quiet, no motion,etc. I've had that happen as well. Again, when it croaks, I'll keep it going again somehow!

Just curious if turning off the clickty- clack  would make any difference? This seems a little strange.  If the timing tape and reader gap is on the outer limits (1/8") this could explain the take off. Spacing should be about   the thickness of a dime.

I think a number of these came out in the 2008 to 10 time frame also. They are out there.  Also you only need to change the bottom processor board. G

No possible fix to the processor board in this scenario?

Gregg - Clickety clack doesn't cause this. It is a more internal issue that is rather common with engines of this vintage apparently. 

G - Good point on some more recent runs. I know there was a Burlington passenger version (I almost bought it just because it had a really cool slow-flashing Mars light). I think they did an M&Ms or similar version also. There may have been a Santa Fe as well. I don't think they've been done heavily since the 2005-ish time frame. They are/were terrific engines regardless of their length. 

Looks Like 2007 and 8.  Some PS-3 too.

http://mthtrains.com/search/ap...2&docsearch=true