DCS issues, locomotive won't move. easy fix?

A model number or cab number from the engine would help. If this is a protosound 2 (5 volt), it possible the internal 8.4 volt Nimh battery needs to be replaced.

He said PS-3.  Make sure draw bar is fully inserted in tender properly.  Assuming you have full voltage 18V to the track.  Call up engine, hit start up.  Scroll thumb wheel. 

Make sure that the engine lights, smoke, etc... are working.  Having tender sounds lights means tender board is fine and getting power, but if drawbar connection not right, the engine may not function.  Needs info from tender to work.

Feature or factory reset may be needed if engine is locked in neutral.  G

By all functions working.

Is the engine loaded into the remote ?

Does it come up silent when powering up the layout ?

If it comes up silent. When you hit start up. Do you get an Error messages. Such as. Engine Not On Track. Does the sound come on, whistle, bell, couplers all work properly ? Just no movement.

literally everything works properly except movement, and not only did I actually get the thing to move briefly before it stalled on a switch, but I as I said I have a dim memory from a few years back, before it went into storage, of having to do a certain sequence of actions on the dcs remote before it would move, incredibly simple once you knew what they were. Has anyone else had a similar problem with a similar solution? Also note that I'm afraid to reset it, as I no longer have the PS3 sound files for it, and thus I would need re-download them from the mth website, which I'm worried might be effectively dead.

@Robert Strait posted:

Also note that I'm afraid to reset it, as I no longer have the PS3 sound files for it, and thus I would need re-download them from the mth website, which I'm worried might be effectively dead.

The website is just fine, it runs slow as usual but is still up with everything available. A reset won't require you to reinstall the sound file. It will simply set it back to all of the original factory settings as it came when it was new in the box. After you factory reset, it will be removed from the remote and you will need to add it back in before you can operate it.

There is another factor, my locomotive has a 3rd party whistle smoke effect added to it, with its own control chip, would resetting the locomotive permanently disable that effect?

@Robert Strait posted:

There is another factor, my locomotive has a 3rd party whistle smoke effect added to it, with its own control chip, would resetting the locomotive permanently disable that effect?

I can't imagine that a factory reset would have anything to do with that feature.  Factory reset only resets user programmable features to the factory defaults.

any shop near you that could test the engine for you?

do you have another engine to test your system with?

what are you using for power?

your story has a lot of facts but not many clues to go by (about DCS)

I'm using the standard mth Z-1000 power block,

I do not have another engine, although I might be getting one within the week,

And no, I don't think I have a shop near me that could test my engine, maybe at the very edge of my range, but getting  the opportunity to schedule a drive is very unlikely to happen before my schedule gets to the narrow window I have to film the darn thing. I have until friday to work out this kink.

This issue has happened to me many times especially with steamers.

HARD RESET:

Disconnect from the tiu and run wires straight to the track from a transformer with a whistle and bell button.

Then press the whistle button once then the bell button 5 times.

Fixed!  It moves!

...okay, one last question, will a hard reset remove the sound files that I programmed into the locomotive and replace them with the ones that the ps3 chip had when it was factory new? because those sounds were the sounds of a diesel, and I don't think I have the means to re-install the sound files I need anymore.

@Robert Strait posted:

...okay, one last question, will a hard reset remove the sound files that I programmed into the locomotive and replace them with the ones that the ps3 chip had when it was factory new? because those sounds were the sounds of a diesel, and I don't think I have the means to re-install the sound files I need anymore.

A hard reset will not remove or revert your sound files. If you have internet access, A PC with Windows, and a working TIU, you have the means to install files on a PS2 or PS3 engine. You may need a few other minor items but they are not hard to obtain.

...okay fine, I'll try the hard reset later today, I only hope it works. And that more complications do not arise from it.

update: the other ps3 locomotive, a diesel, arrived while I was away. should I test that one first? what am I supposed to compare between the two?

Robert, give the diesel a run on the track, you got nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Darn it, the diesel is factory new when I thought it was lightly used, there are notes all over saying that the wheels need lubricating before use, and don't know if the family has any oil of the right type, and Dads asleep right now. what oil is even good for model train lubrication? I hope it's WD40, but I've heard several times that WD40 and model trains don't mix. either way I've got to get that steam engine running by friday or I can't shoot my film scene.

You won't run the new diesel for hours so ignore the lubrication instructions and see if it runs. We are only talking a few minutes!

Yep a few trips around the loop won't hurt anything. The medium oil from JT Megasteam is a good choice.

Okay, I'm, about to do a hard reset  on the 2-6-0 mogul. I wanted to test the diesel as well, but for reasons already stated I won't be able to test the diesel for at least several more hours, if not till sometime tomorrow, time I don't have. since you all seem to agree that resetting the 2-6-0 mogul will not change the sound files to their factory defaults I have only 2 more worries,

1. I have a 3rd party whistle steam addon with it's own secondary smoke unit, will resetting the systems do anything to that?

2. if resetting the mogul doesn't work, what should I try next?

So i managed to test the diesel after all. and it worked, this means that the mogul is the element with problems and not the dcs system, before I reset the mogul however, my other point must again be mentioned, will resetting the mogul cause the 3rd party whistle steam addon to be disabled? I spent a lot of money on that whistle steam, It needs to work for my film. If I one of you experts can declare that the probability of such a thing happening is at least below the 50 percent mark. Then I can reset my mogul with far less stress.

@Robert Strait posted:

1. I have a 3rd party whistle steam addon with it's own secondary smoke unit, will resetting the systems do anything to that?

2. if resetting the mogul doesn't work, what should I try next?

1. It shouldn't affect the whistle steam addon.

2. if the reset doesn't work, you'll be back at the same step you are at right now. Before worrying about the next steps, let's try this first. The reset may solve your problem and the next steps may not be needed.

alright then, in that case, here I go.

Well, the good news is that the locomotive is moving fine, the bad news is that I think BOTH smoke units have stopped working(I can hear the smoke units fan, but no smoke is coming out), although it might just be that I didn't put in enough smoke oil, but either way, I cannot spend all night bent over on my hands and knees fiddling with the thing, I'll continue again tomorrow. I only hope you all will still be there to help me.

Welp, dad and I confirmed that the whistle smoke is dead, i guess I'll have to use cgi and clever cutting. that being said, all I need now is for dad to glue the whistle piece in place(as it tends to fall off easily and there's no reason to remove it anymore) in a few minutes I am going to do a "dry run" of the scene, taking the locomotive around the living room and playroom with the full Tanarian (tan) military supply train behind it. Thank you for helping me, everyone, tell me: do any of you want to be named in the credits of my film?

Could you possibly post a small clip from what you film?

@Rod M. posted:

Could you possibly post a small clip from what you film?

Sorry I'm late, I've ran into more complications since then, but I am determined to finish the film, if you really want, I could post a work print for the other train scene from my film, which should give you an idea of what the current scene I am trying to film will look like.