MTH GG1 30-2592-1E Problem

Come on guys- - anything?  The previous owner said he never had an issue running in Command mode.

Ponz

When she abruptly stops, are you losing lights ?....before she stops, are you seeing the lights blink?...if she stops, and sequences to the next position, be it neutral or reverse, then look at dirty wheels or dirty rollers or both. Sometimes it’s hard to tell when black wheels are dirty.....use a white rag, dampen just a spot with rubbing alcohol, and wipe the wheels, see what turns up on the rag.....if it’s all black and nasty looking, there ya go.........Pat

harmonyards posted:

When she abruptly stops, are you losing lights ?....before she stops, are you seeing the lights blink?...if she stops, and sequences to the next position, be it neutral or reverse, then look at dirty wheels or dirty rollers or both. Sometimes it’s hard to tell when black wheels are dirty.....use a white rag, dampen just a spot with rubbing alcohol, and wipe the wheels, see what turns up on the rag.....if it’s all black and nasty looking, there ya go.........Pat

Pat,

She stops cold dead.  No lights, no power - zippo.  But when I power the handle off and on she starts up again!

Ponz

Ponz posted:

harmonyards posted:

When she abruptly stops, are you losing lights ?....before she stops, are you seeing the lights blink?...if she stops, and sequences to the next position, be it neutral or reverse, then look at dirty wheels or dirty rollers or both. Sometimes it’s hard to tell when black wheels are dirty.....use a white rag, dampen just a spot with rubbing alcohol, and wipe the wheels, see what turns up on the rag.....if it’s all black and nasty looking, there ya go.........Pat

Pat,

She stops cold dead.  No lights, no power - zippo.  But when I power the handle off and on she starts up again!

 

What’s the chances of you shooting a short video, espaecially close up of what you got going on?....then flip that pup over and take some good lighted pics of the wheels and rollers.....What your describing sounds weird....make it do exactly what your describing....hopefully then we all can see what’s happening..........Pat

First thing first, is the battery charged up? .......Pat

harmonyards posted:

First thing first, is the battery charged up? .......Pat

If the battery wasn't charged up how would it take of to begin with and why would she take off immediately after stopping?

I have a new battery setup on the way. 

Ponz

Ponz posted:

harmonyards posted:

First thing first, is the battery charged up? .......Pat

If the battery wasn't charged up how would it take of to begin with and why would she take off immediately after stopping?

I have a new battery setup on the way. 

Ponz

They’ll do weird things with weak or dead batteries. They’ll also kill electronics with weak or dead batteries. Best to know the state of the battery before you even attempt tp power up. ......Pat

Are you sure it’s not the transformer?

Take the battery out and measure the voltage and see if it is being charged. Try to look at the wire nuts and see if they are not tight and look for abnormal corrosion on wires. Look to see if you have any cut or open wires inside.

romiller49 posted:

Are you sure it’s not the transformer?

Yes - other engines have no problems.

Ponz

The seller just informed me that the original battery is still installed.

Ponz

Ponz posted:

The seller just informed me that the original battery is still installed.

Ponz

Stop running it now....the battery needs to be tested or replaced with a new CHARGED battery....just cause it’s new in the package doesn’t mean it’s charged and ready to go.....everything else is a mute point till you know you have a known good battery...........Pat

I just tested the battery.  It tested at 2.6 volts.  I have it on the track now, in neutral at about 14 volts.  I'll leave it like that for about an hour and test the battery again to see if the voltage has increased.

Another question: While charging in neutral - the light is on, engine sound is audible and crew talk works.  Doesn't all that hinder the charging process?

I have a two AAA cell battery holder on the way ready to accept my NEW Rechargeable Eneloop batteries.

Thanks - Ponz

OK - How do test to see if the charging unit on a PS2 engine is charging?

Ponz

First of all, this is a 3-volt PS2 board

harmonyards posted:

Ponz posted:

The seller just informed me that the original battery is still installed.

Ponz

Stop running it now....the battery needs to be tested or replaced with a new CHARGED battery....just cause it’s new in the package doesn’t mean it’s charged and ready to go.....everything else is a mute point till you know you have a known good battery...........Pat

This is a PS2 with 3-volt board, not an original  Protosounds model. The battery doesn’t cause catastrophic problems in these PS2 models. And, certainly, it doesn’t cause a locomotive to suddenly stop like this.

Jim R. posted:

First of all, this is a 3-volt PS2 board

harmonyards posted:

Ponz posted:

The seller just informed me that the original battery is still installed.

Ponz

Stop running it now....the battery needs to be tested or replaced with a new CHARGED battery....just cause it’s new in the package doesn’t mean it’s charged and ready to go.....everything else is a mute point till you know you have a known good battery...........Pat

This is a PS2 with 3-volt board, not an original  Protosounds model. The battery doesn’t cause catastrophic problems in these PS2 models. And, certainly, it doesn’t cause a locomotive to suddenly stop like this.

Any ideas Jim?

It sounds like your engine is going into neutral from a power interruption. Whether the flow of electricity is being interrupted by dirty track and rollers or some internal problem in the locomotive is the question. 

So start with the simple approach. Clean the track, the locomotive wheels and the locomotive rollers. Then try it again. If that doesn’t solve the problem, something else is amiss internally.

I think I found the problem.  The screw holding the front truck was out!  I found it laying on a length of track while looking for any obstructions. Don't ask me why it cause the engine to intermittently stop and totally lose power.  I ran the train around the layout about a dozen times with no major issues - so far.  Except.....sometimes the horn won't sound.  I have to place it in neutral to reactivate the horn.

Thanks for all the help - Ponz

In the meanwhile, I'd still like to get my hands on a Lionel 6-38521 !

Ponz

Ponz posted:

I think I found the problem.  The screw holding the front truck was out!  I found it laying on a length of track while looking for any obstructions. Don't ask me why it cause the engine to intermittently stop and totally lose power.  I ran the train around the layout about a dozen times with no major issues - so far.  Except.....sometimes the horn won't sound.  I have to place it in neutral to reactivate the horn.

Thanks for all the help - Ponz

 

You were getting an intermittent electrical short that cut off the transformer power. Probably on the transformer circuit breaker.