MTH Diesel moves erratically

Have you looked at the striped tape on the motor flywheel? The engine will run erratically if the tape had come loose or the markings are otherwise damaged.

(although that alone wouldn't explain the on-again-off-again response to DCS commands)

---PCJ

Don't know if you have done this, but clean the track, dirty track will often cause this problem. Clean both the rollers and the wheels on the loco. Good luck.

Ray

Bernie..Do the easy battery test.... shut off  track power..sounds should continue on for at least 6 or 7 seconds.

Are both center rail rollers picking up power..easy test... place about a 3 inch long piece of electrical tape on the center rail. park one set of rollers on the tape.. the other set should fire up the engine... reverse test.

Take shell off and  turn both fly-wheels by hand... checking  for binding.

Lube pin that goes through center rail rollers.

Guys, thanks for tips. I will try them out tonight and get back to you. I had cleaned my tracks and they were dirty but it didn't resolve this problem. TTYL

There are 3 straight cut gears on the side of each powered truck.  Check the teeth on each of the gears closely.  You may find a small piece of ballast or perhaps some oily gunk stuck in one or more of the gear teeth.

It doesn't take much to cause the gears to bind which would make the wheels appear to be sticking.

Make sure external gears are fine, make sure screw holding motor is secure not loose.  Remove shell and turn fly wheels by hand to see if there is any binding.

Inspect tach tape for cleanliness, inspect tach reader to ensure it is centered on flywheel.

Make sure 5 pin connector is fully plugged in.

Run engine in cradle with shell off and watch motors as you power up.  Does one motor respond slower then the other. Could have a motor going bad, if everything else is fine.   G