Guys, when you ask forum members for help with an engine problem, please give the engine item number. Please give information (MTH) on the battery condition. If you tried to start an older (MTH) engine that has sat for a long time, always put in a new fully charged battery before attempting to power the engine. Rule of thumb, if it has an old white battery, throw it away. I get to see many older MTH engines with the new green battery only to find out the customer put it in after trying to power with an old battery.
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Hi Marty i agree with you 100 percent, I've seen quite a few white battery's my self, in fact When i buy any used engine the first thing i do it visually take apart the engine or tender whichever has the battery and if need be put a new BCR battery ! then check the engine conditions on power up!
Thanks Alan Mancus
also got a question Marty ? is there any way when i download engine sound files i can tell the computer where i want too save them?
I keep telling my friend at work to take out his older MTH engines that he has never run and replace the batteries. Hopefully he will listen; he's retiring after this school year, and will be starting on his layout, so it won't be long until he's ready to run some of thos engines.
Don
Excellent advice Marty, it's sooooo much easier if you get a full product number in the first post.
Alan, when the prompt asks you to save or run the file, you can pick where you want it to be kept.
Great Marty and Thanks very much for your help!
Alan
Makes perfect sense, Marty.
I thinks it's safe to say with any post asking for help the more information of the setup, the product, and the issue is a big help.
Well said MARTY.
Absolutely - the complete correct information makes it so much easier to begin to solve the problem.
Reminds me of years ago when i was in the auto parts business and a customer came in asking for a water pump for his Toyota, but didn't know the year or model, just the color (blue).
My counterman, so frustrated by this sort of nonsense said to the customer, "I'm sorry but we only have water pumps for white Toyota's."
A little information goes a long way toward solving the problem.
jackson
Very good points. I might be a good idea to make this a stcky at the top, under the title, "How to Ask for Help from Forum Members," - so often people don't give very basic
Absolutely - the complete correct information makes it so much easier to begin to solve the problem.
Reminds me of years ago when i was in the auto parts business and a customer came in asking for a water pump for his Toyota, but didn't know the year or model, just the color (blue).
My counterman, so frustrated by this sort of nonsense said to the customer, "I'm sorry but we only have water pumps for white Toyota's."
A little information goes a long way toward solving the problem.
jackson
Man, how was the customer ever able to figure out a water pump was what he needed? Maybe he had help.
LOL reminds me of the Blonde who came running into the auto repair shop because her 710 needed checked...
Amen.
I would be happy to design a check list. Knowing information on someone's locomotive is going to help both sides. In most cases, I hate to go looking on the MTH or Lionel site to find an engine with little information the poster provided. Both companies have done the same engine under different boards and over a spread of time. I have many members I follow and help they give out. I have been to many schools but constantly pick up great information from some of the go to guys here. I have learned a lot from some very smart people I follow.
I get to see many PS1 locomotives that guys have pulled out after ten or more years and try to power them up without a new battery. It bothers me to see people do that and cause problems. Things like that happen often.