mth ho dcs big boy won't go

Hi Dale,

 

Tell us a little more about your setup.  What software revision is in your DCS remote (you can see this when you first turn on the remote)?  What kind on power supply are you using?  When you first apply power to the track does the locomotive start making sounds or do you have to hit start-up (button 3)?  Does the engine respond to the whistle button?

 

Let us know and we'll guide you from there.

Sounds like your tender boards are working fine, but the motor drive or Fet board in the Engine could be an issue.  Make sure tender draw bar is fine and connects well.  After that, it would require the shell to come off and inspect the engine board.  Also have seen the drive gear on the motor/ or driven axle come loose and slip which can cause lack of motion.  Probably best to send it in if it is not the drawbar.  G

Hi Dave, here is a little more info:version 4.0, tech 4 mrc 23vdc power supply, when I first apply power I must hit the start up button. whistle,bell,chatter all work but no headlight. it will shut down when I hit the shut down button. All 4 other mth engines work fine.  Thanks.Dale

I know it is getting away from your issue, but wondering what you think of MTH HO engines with PS3 using DCS? The reason I ask is my son has more interest in HO than O. So I am thinking of getting him started in HO using DCS. Thanks

Hi Dale, Dose the smoke unit work? If it's not and the head light is not working either it can be a couple of things. The boiler board could be bad or a wire came off the draw in either the tender or engine. If one the wires comes of the draw bar then the tender can't communicate with the engine. Another thing to check for on the board in the tender is one of the coils closest to the edge of the board. If it has a bubble on it that can also affect the communication with the engine.

 

Check these and let us know what you find.

 

Ralph

MTH ASC tech

Trains-n-Lanes Easton PA 610-253-8850

Hi Frez72, tough question. I really like the ease of setting up the dcs and running it but with mth building decoders that can run with dcc and all the choices of manufactures if I had it to do over again I'd probably go dcc. Just one mans opinion.

Thanks for the reply. I have a lot to read up on. I like that DCC has much more of a variety in roadnames and manufacturers, but I like the operation of the MTH engines as they are very similar in operation of my Lionel and MTH O scale fleet.  

Hi Ralph, just checked and I have no smoke or front headlight. However I do have a rear light when I switch direction. Checked drawbar and wires to tender and engine, looked ok. Removed tender shell and saw nothing suspicious. Like you said it must be the tender not communicating with the engine. Thanks for your info.

Hi Dale,

 

That pretty much sounds like the boiler board is defective then. I haven't taken apart a bigboy yet but I have done the challenger. If I can be of anyhelp let me know. The ho engines come apart a different way than O.

 

Ralph