Another issue with MTH LIRR MU's

What grade percentage into the station. Should climb without any problem on a normal grade. Send it back to your dealer for a replacement or refund.

chipset:

Sounds like a Electronics issue. I don't know of the engines you speak but PS3 uses a feed back loop for speed control. You tell the engine what exact speed you want in MPH. The engine electronics attempts to give that speed by measuring the rotational speed of a fly wheel with marks that a electronic sensor and circuitry counts. If the actual speed does not match the requested speed then the PS3 module ramps up the voltage (or equivalent) until the speeds match. That means grades should have no effect on the engine if the control loop closes. You may have to have the electronics repaired but I'd first check for loose wires. The MTH engines I have use wire nuts (!!!) for some of the connections and one had a none operational electrical switch that i had to wire around. This was a brand new MTH engine!

LDBennett

I wish someone would do these cars right in O scale 3 rail---the con cor ones in HO are amazing---3rd rail did them awhile back but wrong paint scheme for me

I was going to suggest that the difference in performance between the RS-1 and the MP54 was an issue of weight, as the RS-1 weights over 1.5 lbs more than the MP54.  But in re-reading the original post, the fact that the powered MP54 can't even climb the grade by itself makes me agree that it may be an electronics issue.

For example, I have a six car set of R-26 subway cars, which is able to push its set up a short but steep incline.  So that's why I also agree about the idea that its an electronic issue with the MP54.

Stuart

Are those R-26s MTH or Lionel?

MTH made the R-26s.  They are PS2.

MTH R-26 Subway Set

Stuart

Chipset, I have this same set (4 car set only) and have experienced the same issue of poor traction performance. It is not unusual for this engine to slip away after a stop and need help from me to get it going again. I have tried everything including changing traction tires and still the same issue. My track is almost all level so there is no excuse for this. I can't imagine having all six cars work correctly.

By the way this is my second set as the first one was sent back for exchange. That first set would not stay in "auto mode" and would need for me to push the direction button for it to continue working. The replacement at least works well in "auto mode" as it should. I am giving up on the slipping issue as it works ok most of the time. I am thinking that this is just a design weakness of this set. I am glad to hear that the RS-3 works good as I have on order a MTH RS-1 LIRR engine.

Chipset, I had same problem with the PRR version.  Check to see if one set of drivers is slipping.  Second time I sent it back to MTH, they said they added weight to one end.

Out of curiosity I weighed PS-2 and PS3 versions of these MU cars (on a digital scale).  The PS2 car weighs 3 lb 5 oz, while the PS3 version weighs 3 lb 2.8 oz (For comparison the PS3 version of the RailKing Alco RS-1 weighs 4 lb 12.8 oz.).  I don't recall reading about pulling problems with the PS2 versions, and I can't believe that a difference of 2.2 oz would make a big difference in the pulling power of these cars.  So perhaps the difference is the result of the change in electronics (PS2 vs PS3)?

Stuart

That 2.2 ounces shouldn't make a difference.

By the way, on the combo car, is your headlight on the baggage end or the passenger end.  Should be the former; PRR didn't put a baggage compartment between passenger sections.  Mine wasn't.