MTH ABA Railking scale (like Lionel Postwar) 30 series Santa Fe System Reset

These symptoms are consistent with a bad battery if the loco is early Proto 2 with the 5 volt system.

Fortunately, 5 volt Proto 2 does not self destruct with a bad battery like Proto 1 does.

Just change the battery and you might be OK.

Hi-Radio Roy- Cross checked everything, still wouldn't reset.. popped the lid and removed the blue plastic clad battery  (2.4v 700mAh with plug tether) and ordered new BCR2's from Linda @ J&W Electronics this morning. Thanks for the tip. Don't think the mail will arrive soon enough for Christmas eve....just have to run something else. The MTH Santa Fe ABA's with Williams Crown Edition Plated/Red stripe cars in tow reflecting the lighted Christmas Tree lights makes me and the grandkids smile-especially when the lights of the room go off.. it's magic! Best Regards & Merry Christmas.

Hi Roy Boy. Hope you had a nice Holiday. Update 12-30-2020. Followed your advice. Ordered 4 new BCR2 3 volt systems from JandW electronics. Installed one in the "stuck in neutral " Proto2 MTH Santa Fe- mounted it in the original battery holder today with double backed velcro foam 1" squares. The smaller BCR2 fit nice & connected perfectly. Followed directions exactly-  for charging .. rechecked everything several times. Acts the same as before with the old battery pack. No change. Starts up, lights, sound, cab chatter. Hit the direction button- get a quick smoke puff out of the smoke unit each time -but does not go into either forward or backward motion. Stick stuck in neutral.  MTH for me has become a "money pit" . I am really frustrated with "iffy" performance.. Any other ideas anyone?

Thanks for the help.

If you are not getting a confirmation 2 horn blasts after the reset sequence of 1 horn blast followed by 5 bells about 1/2 second apart, the reset will not take affect.  Timing is critical.  Make sure all plugs, including the motor plug with the yellow and white wires are firmly seated.  If the sounds drop out when the direction button is pressed, the battery harness may be bad.

Have you tried replacing the old battery with a new battery (and NOT a BCR)?  I have an MTH RailKing Pioneer Zephyr and had an experience similar to yours (lights & sounds all worked but stuck in neutral); all of that is described here:

RailKing Burlington Pioneer Zephyr won't move | O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum (ogaugerr.com)

Bottom line is that it appears in my case the charging circuit is somehow faulty, and the BCR option is not an option.  Replacing the BCR with a new/re-charged battery did the trick for me.

Peace,

Sam

I am reposting this topic to hopefully get more ideas on a solution...with new pictures because I am still stuck in neutral on this Railking F-3 powered chassis. Checked everything out-  could find no loose connections. Has powerup sounds, shutdown sounds, cab chatter (random), lights and smoke operation. Will not go into forward or reverse when direction (red) button is pushed on Z4000 transformer. What's new is something I didn't notice before- a white vertical blob of silicon rubber (?) or something melted on the circuit board.  Pics attached. Any ideas anyone?  Thanks for the help.

Glenn