*PLEASE DELETE* Problem solved

If it's the 5V board, I suspect the origin of the pop would be the PS/2 board.  Maybe you can start with the MTH product number so we have an idea of exactly what you have?

That is indeed the 5V board, it's fairly likely it's expired.  I suspect when you open it up, you'll find an exploded capacitor.

yes most likely the board is shot and can't be repaired  ,but the board can be replaced with ps 2 3 volt board if available or a ps 3 kit can be installed . many asc techs on here can help you or send to mth directly. I believe  if I'm correct a ps 32 board can be replaced by asc tech also!

Alan 

Did you buy it from a dealer or a member? If a dealer call MTH for a repair authorization. If they cant / wont help try Chef Vinnie of the NJ hi-railers, He is a certified MTH tech. Hope you find a good solution as I have that engine and its a beauty

This may be a tuff one.  The size of the tender may preclude the PS-32 fitting.  My previous repairs have been via the PS-2 3V.  They are becoming obsolete.  It also requires the smaller oval speaker.  I can do this repair if your local tech can not.  G

Did you try to run it with the old white battery?  If so, that battery is 18 years old.   I would have asked this question through email and you did not list one.   I see people often buy a very old locomotive and try to power it up without installing a new battery/BCR.  I stay clear of these people.  Someone will work for them.

One last question, what transformer were you using?

What transformer?  Did you try to run it with the old battery?  It is sad if this could have been avoided with a new battery.  I have always told people who buy an MTH engine at York to walk over and see MTH parts for a new battery before trying to run any engine and lay your money down.

Marty is right about the old battery, you should NEVER try to run any MTH locomotive with an 18 year old battery!

Zach, you are the one who ruined the board with the old 18 year old battery.  You will not get a PS3 board in that tender.    George is your only hope.  I would stay a hundred miles from this.  

Thank you for the transformer information.  You are running a good one.  You may find someone who will sell you a 5V board.  

Where is Farmer Bill when needed?

MTH climax problem : Any suggestions?

I'd go for the 3V replacement if it can be found, any used 5V board you find will be at the end of it's useful life.  It might last for years, but it might croak next week! 

I keep several around for situations like this, but I won't sell them because a premature failure would simply create ill will, regardless if it's deserved or not.

The 3V board will work just fine.  As previously mentioned, GGG (George) probably has the 3V boards and can solve your problem.  And for future reference, George and Marty are the real DCS experts, I just follow them around for the crumbs.

The 3V is a much improved and more reliable board than the 5V. Additionally it is 2 piece and repairable at the component level.  It replaced the 5V when they went obsolete in 2004.  Unfortunately the 3V went obsolete about 2010 as MTH moved to the more capable PS-3.  It hit end of life about this year as far as getting new boards made.  The processor is obsolete.  I have several in stock, most are flash for specific engine types, but I have one normal one left at this point.  G

Actually, his name is George.   He can certainly load the Climax sound file into the board for you if you buy from him.

Thinking out loud, I wonder if the smaller "S-gauge" PS3 board used in the 44-ton GE would be suitable for engines such as the Climax.  (FYI, I am told that the board in the S Gauge diesels is actually the regular O Board.)

No going to work.  PS-3 Steam is 2 board system and has a boiler code that the tender board uses to take to the boiler board.  Even if you put a single diesel board in the diesel board won't know what to do with the Steam flash code for the boiler.  You can get the sounds file installed, but chances are the lights and features will not work.  G

Thanks for the comment, George.  If MTH ever issues S gauge steam, I wonder how they'll do it????

Same as HO or O Steam, 2 boards.  Boiler and Tender. G

Railrunnin posted:

Where is Farmer Bill when needed?

MTH climax problem : Any suggestions?

New traction tires?  Or a cold shower.  

I suspect the board is the same as any other locomotive of similar vintage.  I can't think of anything special on the Climax that would require the special FLASH board.

The only thing that's "special" is that the 5 volt Climax board has a cap that's extended on a pair of inch-long (or so) leads so that it folds over the side of the board. Otherwise, it's tough to cram the board into the very small tender.

Makes sense, I think I could handle extending the cap.

Putting a 5V back in can be done, but all the same issue apply with a board of that vintage and susceptibility to failure. Chances of finding a Climax specific board is about 0.  G

At this rate you might be better off just buying a good locomotive and cutting your losses and selling this one.   I know I wouldn't be the only one interested in it as a low cost dead locomotive (I'd convert it to DCC.).

I told you early on, the repair is typically using the PS-2 3V board.   If your tech does not have one he is not going to get one.  MTH is hoping to get some refurbished boards from the manufacture, but no timeline when that will happen.  This board has also had components that have gone obsolete so new boards can no longer be manufactured.   G

Sure, there is a 3V version of the Climax, no reason to believe you can't use a 3V board.  You'll have to change the speaker and charging jack, not to mention get it mounted in there.

The "fix" for the dead 5V board is the PS32 board set, but I don't know without taking mine apart if that fits in the tender.

Well, as George says, they're somewhat scarce nowadays, but I've seen them at times.  I'd consider the PS32 board as the replacement and see if that will fit.  In looking at a PS32 board and the 5V board pictures in the Climax manual, I think the PS32 will fit, though it's possible you'd have to adjust the length of a couple of wiring harnesses.  You don't need the big 9V battery that's in there, so that frees up a lot of room.

You will have to get one through an MTH dealer, last time I checked they weren't sold to retail customers.

PS-32 board is not going to fit without lifting tender shell off chassis, and your still going to have issues.  Besides the board, the speaker has to be the smaller climax 4 ohm version.  Not the generic.  If your Tech doesn't have an appreciation for this, and your doing the research here on the forum, you need a new tech.  We are just going in circles here.  G

GGG posted:

PS-32 board is not going to fit without lifting tender shell off chassis, and your still going to have issues.  Besides the board, the speaker has to be the smaller climax 4 ohm version. 

I was kinda' afraid of that, but since the PS/2 board in the holder fits with the end tabs lopped off, it seems the PS32 board should fit.  I guess the issue is the .1" additional width, must be a really tight fit in there.

Could you get it in by losing the plastic carrier?

At the risk of getting my head chopped off by techs, another last-ditch solution MIGHT be to buy a 44-ton loco,  which has a smaller board, gut it, and put the guts into the Climax.  You might have a problem getting a sound file, but the board should fit.

RJR posted:

At the risk of getting my head chopped off by techs...

I was going to post a graphic, but they all looked pretty grizzly!

I think that's certainly a last-ditch effort.  My first go would be to find a 5V board and swap it out.  I keep a couple for that option with my stuff, I'm sure I'll need them sometime in the future.

I might be OK with trading a working 5 volt board for a PS32 board, if someone was so-inclined...

Me too Barry, and I'd even throw in a few bucks!

John,

Me too Barry, and I'd even throw in a few bucks!

Uh-oh, we're in a bidding war!

$5?

LOL!

@T1Titan_ZachF posted:

Now has anyone noticed that the running gear moves in the opposite direction as the loco movement?.......

It's a geared locomotive, so there's a gear reversal between the wheels and the running gear.

Marty Fitzhenry posted:

Did you try to run it with the old white battery?  If so, that battery is 18 years old.   I would have asked this question through email and you did not list one.   I see people often buy a very old locomotive and try to power it up without installing a new battery/BCR.  I stay clear of these people.  Someone will work for them.

One last question, what transformer were you using?

No guarantee there.  I purchased a brand new Propane Veranda at York last October.  Replaced with brand new fully charged battery before it saw power for the first time.  My, that evening was fun... go to bed, fire up the transformer the next morning.... nothing.

I ended up sending it back for upgrading.  They used the PS2 3 volt or something like that.  It is, was the only PS2 I have.  I tend to stay away from them.  As a side, Jason W. wo9rked with my on this.  He is missed.