Issue with MTH 30-118 Pennsy Torpedo

Dan Padova posted:

Received a used MTH Pennsy torpedo today.  Seller says it was tested and working.  I've had it on my test track and am not sure if I am doing something wrong.  I checked the wiring for the particular transformer I am using and it complies with the MTH manual.  

When I turn the throttle on, the bell rings twice and the standing sounds start.  Interrupting power to the track, may or may not get the loco moving.  However, it will only move in the forward mode.  Interrupting power again brings it back to neutral.  

Basically it will only sequence between neutral and forward.

Dan, I forget how to do this with MTH engines, but you want to prompt the engine with your transformer to go back to the default settings. Guys on this Forum that use MTH features a lot should be able to tell you how to do that.

Now I remember why I got rid of my MTH Hudson !   

Hi Dan,  It sounds like this is an old "Protosound" engine.  If so first of all it needs a new fully charged 7-cell 8.4V Ni-Mh (Nickel-Metal Hydride) battery.

Think I had this same engine decades ago.  And it has been decades since operated a PS engine but also sounds like it was locked into forward.

I will check for an old PS engine instruction manual a see if can find any help/solution.

Ron

Dan,

The engine came out in 1997 so yes it is proto 1. Yes I would change the battery as suggested by Ron.

I also would suggest that in the future to stay away from proto 1 engines. If it was me I would have bought the proto 3 version but the proto 2 would have been ok if it had 3 volt boards. 

Dave

Thanks Dave and Ron.  The seller is willing to accept a return.  I think that's what I will do.  I prefer to stick with my mostly post-war stuff and locos that are strictly conventional.  

Hi Dan, a few quick questions.

What power supply (transformer) are you using?

Have you or does the engine have a new fully charged 7-cell 8.4V battery installed?

Did you get the engine's MTH "Operating Instructions" with it?

This would be a "Protosound" system.  For what is worth there is NO such thing (officially by MTH) as "Protosound-1."  That is a toy/model train colloquialism.  You will NOT see and/or find any MTH box with a label printed "Protosound-1" or "PS-1."

Ron

Just what I went through with a PS-1 UP turbine. It took new battery and a new Z-4000 transformer. I thought a Z-750 was fine to use....but it didn't operate the Turbine while the Z-4000 did...go figure....part of the 'charm' of PS-1!!!

AMCDave posted:

Just what I went through with a PS-1 UP turbine. It took new battery and a new Z-4000 transformer. I thought a Z-750 was fine to use....but it didn't operate the Turbine while the Z-4000 did...go figure....part of the 'charm' of PS-1!!!

I happen to like my MTH Z4000 transformer a lot.

I only use about 10% of its tech features. Essentially, I use it like a ZW with the additional benefits of a bell button and I pay attention to the volt dial because I set the power at between 8 to 10 volts to start up my MTH engines. I only activate the sound effects when I have an audience or once in a blue moon for my own pleasure.

As we all know, the MTH Z4000 has a fan to keep it cool and a very good circuit breaker, much better than the one in a ZW.

Dan, I would consider getting a new MTH Z4000 with warranty, or to save money a used one in good working order from a very reputable seller at a good price (about $200 to $250). I don't know prices now, but my experience with new MTH Railking engines and K Line engines from 1995 until 2010 was they were excellent at economical prices. 

PRRronbh posted:

Hi Dan, a few quick questions.

What power supply (transformer) are you using?

Have you or does the engine have a new fully charged 7-cell 8.4V battery installed?

Did you get the engine's MTH "Operating Instructions" with it?

This would be a "Protosound" system.  For what is worth there is NO such thing (officially by MTH) as "Protosound-1."  That is a toy/model train colloquialism.  You will NOT see and/or find any MTH box with a label printed "Protosound-1" or "PS-1."

Ron

This is what I bought.  You are correct.  It says Protosound but not which one, 1,2 or3.  However, in the last picture, taped to the underside of the trailing truck, it says Proto-1 

I am using a Lionel TW-175 watt transformer.  It has just been serviced and upgraded with new whistle technology.  I use this transformer for my test track.  

Dan:

I have that loco which I bought new back in 1997.  In the early years I had lots of problems with it but after I replaced the battery with a BCR and forum member GGG replaced a board it's been working fine.  Also the tender was replaced by MTH.  I power it with a postwar ZW and use a Lionel sound activation button to trigger the bell and passenger station sounds.  If you are planning to keep it, I have the user manual which I could scan and email to you.  If you're not planning to keep it, I don't want to scan it as it is almost 30 pages long.

Bill

Thanks Bill.  I've made the decision to send it back to the vendor.  

"This is what I bought.  You are correct.  It says Protosound but not which one, 1,2 or3.  However, in the last picture, taped to the underside of the trailing truck, it says Proto-1 "

Protosound is the correct name for what we now call proto one. MTH did not call it proto one because they had not yet designed proto two.

It's the same reason WWI was not called WWI until WWII came along.