080 steam switcher MTH proto 1 issues

I dont think you are suppose to use a 9 volt battery. The qsi ps1 is 8.4 volts. Swap a bcr in and try it. They are only 20 bucks.

The 9V battery is fine for a test in PS1, it's not a permanent solution.

 

Did you try to do a Reset-18 on the locomotive?

My General was running bad with a new Rayovac Alkaline and when I installed the BCR it runs like new again and the Alkaline was new and I did test it after and it was charged. Proto 1 engines can be touchy.

I know it isn't the answer you are looking for, but is it a PS2 upgrade candidate? I upgraded my GP9 this year and WOW!

Even if you don't do a PS-2 upgrade.  This is an older Weaver 0-8-0 with an EOB TMCC upgrade. Click on the image to access a video.

Do a Reset 18.

Smoke and headlight are powered from track power.  There is a on off switch For smoke unit.  G

Weird things happen when batteries are allowed to go dead in the engine.  It may cure itself if you give it a long "shakedown" cruise.

.....

Dennis

dennis,  it is strange because it would not run at all,  acted all garbled and nothing. then a few times on and off and it started making the neutral startup sound, then the freight yard grinding sound kicked in.  soon, I was able to get it to fire off the coupler and air brake sounds.  Then, it started to run!  but that was weird because I put alot of voltage up and it would not go, then it just went full throttle!!  shut down and then it finally went forward normal and reverse with normal power.  Now this is with the subsitite 9 volt in there until I get the new one, but of course I did not run this very long because of that.  But, at least the 9 volt will hold the current stuff. 

 

Now, for the smoke and lights.  I need to pop the shell and find out the reason its not going.  its the typical fan driven smoke unit constant, but the headlight is off also.  looks like a contact issue. 

with the PS-2 upgrade is this universal? or do you tell MTH specific engine and then they match a system that is compatible to the engine?  I like the switcher. here is the pic of it

You will have your choice of many different sound files to load into the locomotive.  If you have a 3V upgrade board, you can load pretty much any 3V sound set into the locomotive, even a diesel if that floats your boat.  The upgrade kits are the 2mb boards, so they're pretty much universal.

ok, so you program in the stuff onto the boards with a DCS remote?

oh, and will the fan driven smoke unit chuff synchronized like the PS-2 other locos? or will I need a new unit? I wondered about that.  it may become expensive for this USRA 080 switcher to be worth the bucks. 

If you have the DCS operating system, it would propably be worth the investment since you stated you liked the engine.

The kit is one size fits all for steamers. The kit is 179 or 149 if you join the mthrrc (see website for details on both). I did my own upgrade of a diesel. It is difficult, but doable, if you are handy and patient. the forum made a video on the upgrade, It is worth buying. To pay someone to install it, from what I've heard, is about 300. If you do it yourself, you must have access to a dcs system to load sound files (free downloads). If you don't have any PS2, I will tell you the difference between PS1 and 2 is awesome. The speed control is amazing. You will be able to creep along at 1 or 2 smph.

 

If you do the upgrade yourself, there is lots of available advice here. Good luck!

MTH is out of upgrade kits and the PS-3 upgrade kit6s might be in last quarter 2013 earliest. If you like the engine (I have five 0-8-0 engines), save a search on eBay for MTH 0-8-0 and keep watching for one that has PS-2 and is less then the cost of the upgrade kit. Swap the shells and sell the PS-1 one back on eBay.

that is what Ill do!  im going to put this up on ebay.  too many issues now with it and your right ill get one in PS-2.  sell the other one!