Lashup Problem

There's one thing that comes to mind with MTH lash-ups... the lash-up must see the watch dog signal on power up,  The watch dog signal goes out each time the voltage is raised above zero on any tiu channel. If your parking a engine on a on/off toggles siding the lash-up will have missed the watch dog signal. If you're still having problems maybe check out the track signal.

Some of the lashing rope likely came loose.  

Gregg, I hate to show my ignorance, but could you explain what you mean by "If your parking an engine on a on/off toggles siding"?  

Rich, happens every time. You can clearly see the weakness here. Don't know why they keep try this. Don

Possible that the lashing rope became entangled in the MU cable thus creating a real SNAFU.   Seriously, though, sounds like a loose wire connection, probably in the second loco of the MU consist.  Since each runs independently, try various two loco combos to isolate the problem child.

Poppyl

Gregg, you need to ask an expert on this. I suggest Lash La Rue. Don

My equipment was in storage for a few years and I've just been getting back at it.  I have two MTH engines assigned to a lashup and they work most of the time, but occasionally, when I turn on the power and fire up the locos only one seems to get the command. The other just sits stubbornly and gets dragged along for a few inches while I brake.  

This is probably not the best solution, but it works for me. After powering up the layout, if I press the direction button twice before moving the trains, they work properly every single time.

Again, probably not the best solution, but it's worth a try.

 There's a lot at play here. First, the term lash-up brings on the jokes

The version of DCS loaded into both the remote and the TIU needs to be told here. Some versions had problems with lash-ups consists. Hitting start up and the advice about the direction button helps to overcome some of the issues.

 It is always best to discuss these posts in the DCS heading to draw the experts in on the best advice. I see some have already helped out.

 I would just advise you at least use the term consist, or MU (multiple units) to avoid more jokes! It is all in good fun!

Thanks everyone for the advice and the jokes.  I have broad shoulders so no hard feelings.  The joke however may be on some of you because many railroads due call them lashups.  But whatever you call them, I have gotten some good advice and appreciate everyone's input.

I had the same issues for quite some time. I found the best way to help ensure the lashup stays alive --> Once the lashup is set and it starts up, **** is down, save the settings by turning off the remote. Re power up the remote. Should work.

If you have parked the train on a siding that has no power, i.e turned the power off, make sure the power to that section is on before you try the lashup. Also be patient the signal goes from the remote to the TIU to the engines back to the TIU. There is latency and this must be considered. 

Make sure all engines are in the active state, may take a few seconds but once they are there you can then select the lashup by pressing the engine button, the start button.

Also, make sure that you have named the lashup and selected the "D" button to name and save the lashup.

Just somethings I learned over time.

Kevin

I liked Lash-up LaRue!  We really did have fun as kids with all the cowboys. You can't get me going, as a retired conductor  the term Lash-up just doesn't bother me. It's in all the manuals . I don't think they're going to re print them. the term I use for engines is "Power" at least with diesels.

Sure let me try this one over..... Every time a tiu s channel voltage is raised above 0  a signal is sent out from the tiu  looking for engines on the layout. This is called the watch dog signal. If a engine misses this signal it usually starts up in conventional mode but can be converted to command mode  by pressing start up. We do it all the time. Lash up are different... If they miss the watch dog signal (which they would if on a   toggle  off siding (no power)) they won't move after trying to start up the lash-up after the track is power is turned back on with  the toggle. The dcs signal is there.  The lash-up can be started up, couplers ,directional lights work as they should  but  the lash-up  just won't move. . 

If you read Kevin's post above  he has a work-around.  Bottom line.  When you first power up the tiu make sure the lash-up is on a track receiving power.  good luck

Gregg, thanks for the info , and again everyone thanks for the replies.  I will let my friend know his "CONSIST' may not be as sick as he thought.

Did you get it to work? Would like to hear what you may have found

It's not necessary to turn off the power through the TIU channel to start up a lashup on a track that's been toggled off. There's another way.

From page 102 of The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd edition:

If individual PS2 engines miss seeing the watchdog signal, they can be either brought directly into DCS active mode by pressing the Start Up key or put into DCS stealth mode by pressing the Shut Down key. However, this is not the same for lashups.

If a lashup is powered on after the watchdog signal has come and gone, perhaps if its siding was toggled on after voltage appeared at the TIU channel outputs connected to its siding, there are two ways to put the lashup into DCS mode. One way to put the engine into DCS mode is to turn off power to the inputs for the TIU channel that is connected to the track upon which the lashup resides, toggle on the siding and then re-apply power. The other way is to first highlight the engine in the remote's Active or Inactive Engine list. Then, flip the toggle switch and immediately press the thumbwheel to select the engine. It will come up in DCS stealth mode, dark and silent. This also works with individual PS2 engines.

This and a whole lot more is all in MTH’s “The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition", available for purchase as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

Barry, thank you very much.  I will be ordering one of these books with MTH on Monday.  Had no idea your expertise was on paper.  

If you click on the title of the book in the next to last line of my post, you can buy it now!