MTH Help Requested

I guess you can turn one A unit around.  B must be a dummy.  How about posting the MTH ID number?  Are the A units xxxA & xxxC?

I'm thinking shot slave board. Does the trailing A unit run by its self?

Definitely need more info.  Whether this is a PS-1 or a PS-2 set.  Either way there are tethers that need to be connected between units.  Normally the Lead A has the main board and sounds,  B is dummy, A is a slave.  If the slave starts moving as soon as power is applied than there probably is a problem with the slave board if PS-2 (As Chuck Stated).  If PS-1 could be a sequence issue.

G

I have asked my friend for the info needed. He is at work so it will take a bit of time to hear back from him. Thanks for the info thus far. I told him this was the go to place for help with problems like this.

I fixed one like this once. Wiring harness in B unit had crossed wires. I had to cut in half and rewire properly.

I was hoping to have an update from my friend as to the model number and the other requested info. Instead he is discovering just now that his Z4000 has a dead throttle and the bell button is stuck. He purchased many new in box items over the years and never opened them until apparently this week. Needless to say he is very upset and disappointed. As he opens 10 years or more worth of factory sealed boxes I am afraid he is going to find more unpleasantries.... I am trying to keep him focused on getting the original info.

My advice would be for him to slow down and read a few of the instructions to get the basics down.  Also, almost all of the MTH products that have batteries will be dead and need recharging or replacement.   He needs to take them one at a time.   G

If he did not replace the battery after 10 years, he has a pile of donor parts.  Get to him and advise him to get some new batteries before powering anything that old.  Forget charging, go new.

This is a good lesson to test boxed items - especially modern items. Being able to keep up to date by reading this forum would be a big help too. I'm not getting any more info out of him thus far, and I assume this is quite a shock and a lot for him to digest. I have no idea how much he has that was never opened or tested, but he has been acquiring new items for some time in anticipation of building his dream layout. I know how I would feel....

"This is a good lesson to test boxed items - especially modern items."

+1

Anytime you buy something that operates, take it out and test it. I did this with 2 MTH block signal. Took one out to see how it works and never touched the other one. 8 years later I put them on the layout only to find the red lights don't work for the one I never tested.