MTH FEF 822 4-8-4 pinched wire ????

That may not damage the board.  First are you operating conventional or DCS?  CW-80 is not a good transformer for conventional ops.  The Bell and whistle combo and chopped output is not good with MTH PS products.  Get a pure sine wave or MTH transformer with bell and whistle button.

When you power up does the engine lights and smoke work?  If so do a conventional reset.  If operating with DCS also do a Factory reset and try again.  Otherwise if boiler board is bad, must get from ASC and turn in required.

My e-mail is in profile and I can test boiler board for you.  G

Well the conventional transformer went out, didn't like it anyway so will be getting a MTH Z-4000 I hope. The loco does nothing, no smoke, no lights. I hooked up my tiu with power supply did a factory reset. Still the same no response from anything on the loco side. Why couldn't I get the board directly from MTH? I and I'm sure most others would rather pay for the part and do the work than to pay service center demands. Oh well I'm its how MTH wants it(wink wink).

Call MTH service.  You may be able to talk them into the board.

M.T.H. Phone Support
Monday - Friday (12:00PM to 5:00PM E.S.T.)
410-381-2580 - Extension 596

They will prolly sell you the board but if the do they won't warranty it

I wouldn't mind going to a asc if there was one nearby. Closest hobby store is in Roseville and they don't like the hassle of MTH so they don't even sell MTH.  Next store is western depot in yuba city I guess they sale MTH but the repair guy is elsewhere. I like being able to talk face to face like I would a car mechanic or a plumber. 

So in turn I would rather buy parts and be trained to do the job myself. That way I know what's getting done. 

I will sell you the part, but I need yours as turn in.  If in fact, the draw bar is connected firmly and the 8 pin/ 6 pin wires on both ends of engine are fully installed, it may just be a boiler board which you could replace.

BUT despite the fact the Tender board works sounds and couplers, does not mean the pinch and extended hi current draw did not damage the tender board ability to communicate with the boiler board.  Or that you won't redamage a new boiler board if you did not really get the source of the issue.  If an ASC does it MTH backs them with a  replacement board.  If you do it no such warranty.  But I use a Volt and amp meter when I test so I see a problem before a new board gets toasted.

That is why I have a large customer base of folks that send me the boards. I can test and tell what is damaged in most cases, which lets them correctly search for the fault (smoke unit, pinched LEDs etc...)  Sometimes the boards are in fact fine and it is a wiring issue that causes this.  Boiler board communication across the drawbar, etc....

Can't help the fact no ASC near you, but you could understand how MTH needs to protect themselves too..OR protect you from yourself.

Not trying to be snooty, but I do see it all the time.  Ask any other tech, and they will too.  I was testing smoke unit with unit powered and dropped it on chassis, now it smoke in the tender and smoke unit still doesn't work.  Or wires get pinced when placing shell back on leading to damaged board/s.  Learning to do repairs yourself is good,  but it won't be a one day affair.  G

GGG I totally understand. I got these engines because they stopped working. I am in the process of learning everything I can. I have been an HO guy my whole life and well dcc and you don't come across the issue of purchasing a board. I do realize these boards are smart devices and can be refurbished just like a cell phone but I think they can and should make it easier to get replacements. Maybe more people would join our great hobby. 

I think they can and should make it easier to get replacements.

If you desire to be able to purchase replacement boards directly from MTH, the solution is a simple one.

Just attend an MTH training class, learn how to repair MTH products correctly and and become certified as a repair technician. Then you can purchase all MTH repair parts, including boards, directly from MTH.

That is the plan in the long run Barry. Unfortunately I can't drop everything and just go. 

Barry Broskowitz posted:

I think they can and should make it easier to get replacements.

If you desire to be able to purchase replacement boards directly from MTH, the solution is a simple one.

Just attend an MTH training class, learn how to repair MTH products correctly and and become certified as a repair technician. Then you can purchase all MTH repair parts, including boards, directly from MTH.

Thank you Barry!

I'm sure the sister board most likely got fried

You may well be correct.  But suppose you're wrong?  Obviously you don't have a PS3 test fixture, so, frankly, it's hit or miss.  You might be wasting your money on buying a board. .And you might damage a new board.  Given the value of the loco and the relatively low cost of priority mail flat rate for long distances, I would send it to GGG.  His prices have always been reasonable and his reputation is excellent.  I would not under any circumstances trust it to Little Nemo, who claims to be an MTH tech working for LHS.

What's a "sister board"?

Similar to a brother board except...[I'd better stop there]

I assumed he meant the boiler board of a PS3 steamer.

John,

What's a "sister board"?

I expect that the reference is to the board in the engine rather than the one in the tender.

For PS2 it would most likely be a "MUX Board" and for PS3 it would be a "Boiler Board".

I tried to go to the MTH training class 3-4 years ago but was told very directly I would have to involved in a brick & Motar store. 

Being a part of a large train club meant nothing to MTH.

Bill,

I tried to go to the MTH training class 3-4 years ago but was told very directly I would have to involved in a brick & Motar store. 

That policy was changed effective about a year or so ago.