Seems like one of my Niagara's doesn't have cruise control anymore? Is there a way to turn cruise on and off ? MTH-20-3540-1 Or what else should I check out ?
Clem
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hi Clem here is page 13 of the mth document for your engine tell you how to turn speed control on n off right from the manual! Alan
To turn speed control on and off, put the engine in neutral, then quickly tap the transformer's Horn button one time then quickly tap the Bell button two times, allowing approximately ½ second to lapse between each quick button press. Two horn blasts will indicate that the engine has made the change. Repeat the 1 horn, 2 bells code to return it to the other condition. You will want to do this during the initial neutral upon start-up if you ever couple this engine to another engine that is not equipped with speed control to avoid damaging the motors in either engine. Each time you shut down the engine completely, it will automatically turn speed control on.
Speed Control
Horn
Place Engine into Neutral
Bell Bell =
Speed Control Two Horn Blasts (indicates change is made) Repeat to Return to Normal Condition
ok good luck let us know how you make out with cruise control!
Clem,
If you operate using DCS, just do an engine Factory Reset and then re-add the engine to the remote.
I didn't realize there was a method of turning off speed control in DCS. If you turn it off in conventional mode, does that carry over to DCS operation?
clem k posted:Seems like one of my Niagara's doesn't have cruise control anymore? Is there a way to turn cruise on and off ? MTH-20-3540-1 Or what else should I check out ?
Confirm we're talking about conventional control (not DCS command-control).
Are you getting the 4-per-rev chuffing sounds and (if smoke is on) distinct/individual smoke puffs at slow speeds? If the tach (striped flywheel) is mis-aligned/broken in conventional mode, it will behave like cruise control is broken. It's unimaginable to me that MTH would have intentionally eliminated conventional cruise control capability in a PS3 engine.
Factory reset did not work, JRJ Very good question, I didn't know you could turn it off either. So what else could it be? Tried my other Niagara of the same vintage and it works just fine . I don't think it is mechanical cause it sure pickups speed going downhill. Passenger consist is bad, but you can still see it with freight. Newer passenger MTH cars LED's I think.
Maybe a speed sensor issue. Are the black-and-white stripes on the flywheel in good condition? How's the spacing between the tach reader head and the flywheel? I know these Niagaras have a large worm wheel, but I didn't think ANY MTH locos had back-drivable gears (such that the train could push the loco downhill.)
If you had a tach failure in DCS mode with 18V on track, once you crack the thumbwheel to speed setting 1 the engine will take off at full speed. Does it do that? G
GGG................The locomotive operates normal, except will not hold steady speed on grades or curves. when it moves from one block to another it picks up speed then cuts back again. Like I don't have enough power. But not at every block. Only locomotive I have with a problem.
Clem
Well if you eliminated layout because a different engine with same consist works fine, then it must be engine. Either some board sensitivity, or the motors not responding as designed. Or trucks with frictions. I would clean motors with electrical cleaner. Lubricate trucks. Lubricate/Clean pickup rollers and wheels. Retest.
Thanks G........I have a couple of amp meters I ll hook a couple of those up and see if there is excessive draw. This is a Niagara locomotive with a different loco sound installed.............Clem
another test:.............I ran just the two Niagara's without train. Made sure acc, dec, where the same, Ran one full loop right curves, left curves, switch tracks, uphill, and downhill 300 foot loop The engines only changed about 4 inches in spacing. Personally I think that is good ! Tried it with smoke on (full). This time about 16 feet of difference of spacing. The one that is in question is the slower one. it did gain and loose spacing during this second run but never came close to keeping up with the leader. Never did try the ammeter 
the passenger consist was parked powered on the running track.
Maybe bad fan motor. G
Turn off smoke and see if that changes?
John, he did that a couple posts up, and it seemed to be the difference.
I missed that, but given that, I suspect that George is right on target with that suggestion. Simple to fix as well. 
