Locomotive only runs in reverse- Help!

 I came across this  today. There is a soft-key that locks the engine in  one direction in command mode....Check out your soft keys  under the" more"   FDL ...  each press   locks and unlocks the engine..... I'm not really sure how it ended up on the main screen with the other soft - keys . I had been doing an transplant and sure  enough the engine would only run in one direction.     Grrr. That was the problem... I never checked  conventional.

Gregg, I tried your suggestion,  but its to no avail. Any other ideas?

Tom,

Are you using Loader Program 5.0?

Hi Barry, I think I'm on 4.2.

hi that is a ps 3 engine 4-6-2 PS 4 Steam engine with/proto-sound 3.0. I would try a conventional reset but only bring the voltage up to less then 12 volts maybe even lower as you don't want the board to start up so you can do a 1 whistle and five bells and if it resets correctly you should hear 2 whistle toots, if you get that then it should be reset and I would try to run it again in conventional . good luck!

Alan

This isn't an answer but I had the identical thread on here a month ago.  I followed a huge list of suggestions.  Nothing worked.  By chance I held the transformer direction button down will this engine was flying around in reverse.  It finally coasted to a stop and was in neutral.  I then did the conventional reset and it worked for a while and then right back to what it was doing.

Fortunately, I just installed DCS on my layout.  This engine works in command mode perfectly.

Obviously, there is a flaw in the design.  I have heard of many people having PS3 issues.

I have tried to do a conventional reset. I could never get the two toots. ?????????

When using DCS does the engine start moving when power applied or after start up?  Do you have control of speed in reverse and can stop engine?  If not you might have a hardware fault.

If you do have control in DCS other tan forward.  Do a factory reset.  Once the factory reset takes, turn track power off and wait 60 secs.  Does the engine play shutdown sounds when track is removed.  If not you have a supercap issue.

Once the factory reset is done, do a conventional test with no dcs signal present.  Turn track voltage up around 8V.  The train may start moving after a second, and but should start up once the supercaps charge.  Once you have sound try 1W and 3B which is the unlock code.  Hit direction button does it stop?  Try the 1W and 5B conventional reset.  You may have to hold the train to stop it.  This is why voltage needs to be low enough board starts but not so high train moves far.   G

I was able to do a factory reset through the remote, and finally do a conventional reset as well. Conventionally the locomotive will cycle, but it won't go forward. ???????

Sounds like a bad boiler board.  Is this new under warranty?  Needs to go to MTH or ASC to test/repair.   G

Tom,

   I have a 249ERR that Guns just upgraded for me, I do believe the delievery people tossed to up on my front porch, it only ran in reverse, started FWD for about 2 laps and then died. I need to send it back to Guns for a look see.   If you accidentally dropped your engine or it was jared just right, you may have a damaged engine like mine.  It happens buddy.

PCRR/Dave

repair technician posted:

hi that is a ps 3 engine 4-6-2 PS 4 Steam engine with/proto-sound 3.0. I would try a conventional reset but only bring the voltage up to less then 12 volts maybe even lower as you don't want the board to start up so you can do a 1 whistle and five bells and if it resets correctly you should hear 2 whistle toots, if you get that then it should be reset and I would try to run it again in conventional . good luck!

Alan

Thank you Alan!  I just had a similar issue.  MTH 20-3045-1 Dreyfuss Hudson had a blown board and was replaced with PS3 by MTH.  Ran fine on a few occasions but last weekend was stuck in neutral and would not come out in conventional mode.  Ran fine in DCS mode though.  Did a feature reset and a factory reset with same result, stuck in neutral.  Tried to fix today and engine immediately takes off in reverse in conventional mode.  Did all resets and no luck.  Ran fine in DCS mode but in conventional will start up and start running in reverse.  Did your fix above, and got the two whistle toots, now no more problem.  Should I be concerned this will continue again in the future?

Thanks,

Mike

The processor can get confused and it may happen.  If so, just do the unlock or reset procedure for conventional.  Also many times the DCS Factory reset can clear issues too.  G

GGG posted:

The processor can get confused and it may happen.  If so, just do the unlock or reset procedure for conventional.  Also many times the DCS Factory reset can clear issues too.  G

rvhirailer posted:

GGG posted:

The processor can get confused and it may happen.  If so, just do the unlock or reset procedure for conventional.  Also many times the DCS Factory reset can clear issues too.  G

Thank you! 

 I had my brand new (at the time) Conrail SD80MAC get stuck in reverse. It happened after building a consist while running it. I believe it is like G described where the board got confused? I reset it (conventional reset) and it has been fine ever since.

Over 2 years later and she's still fine

Thank you Joe!