MTH PS1 runs then stops sporadiacally

Clean wheels, good pickups with no wear?  Oil pickups. Makes sure Track AC wires tight on engine with good connection in the wire nut.  G

Thanks GGG, I've cleaned the pickups, rollers etc. and put a drop of oil on them. Not sure what you mean about the track AC wires etc.. ?

Does the engine stop in the same place every time? Could be a track problem if it does.

Nope, but I am running it on O42 MTH track and for that size a loco E-8, it's a pretty tight turn...

Track is new as well, and I've not have any other problems , just this PS-1 engine and it's the only 1 I have.

I will check the wires from the pickups as I think GGG might have meant ?

MR_P posted:

Nope, but I am running it on O42 MTH track and for that size a loco E-8, it's a pretty tight turn...

Track is new as well, and I've not have any other problems , just this PS-1 engine and it's the only 1 I have.

I will check the wires from the pickups as I think GGG might have meant ?

I had a Williams Locomotive that did the same thing, It was a loose wire inside of the engine and the loco would sputter and jump on curves. Easy fix...

ok, so I loosed and moved pickup wires next to the motors, seems if it it turns left, I may have touched the frame. I think this all started when I had to tighten the motor screw under the truck, was very loose. Rear engine was fine. SO... now I run it and see.  Next test is to run it clockwise. I normally wouldn't have gotten a PS1 engine, but wanted the Rock Island Rocket to go with some k-line cars I just picked up. Love that color scheme, but this E-8 is really long, LOL

ok, well that didn't solve the problem. UGGH

How do the gears look on the truck that had loose screws? If it had been run with loose screws, there could be some gear damage.

I have been lusting over that particular loco 20-2169 for more years than I remember. It's just that pretty.

Thanks Roy, the gears seem fine, after I cleaned out the old lube and refilled with white lithium grease from Lucas. No binding that I can see when spun by hand. After my last comment, I looked at it and found a tire had come off, though I don't think that is causing this issue, seems electrical.

Anyways,  I've been working since then to change them.  Very tedious and frustrating to change.  Have to disconnect motor, pickup wires and remove the trucks to get the side covers off.  *Maybe* I could have done it without all that disassembly, but the manual said to do it that way. Jeez, what a PITA !  I cleaned up everything nice, new tires and put it on the shelf for the night, enough for today.

I wanted a smoking diesel, so I got this one.  The price was right, but it only has the lead A and B unit. I did see another one in Da BAY for under 400$ with all three units and box etc. Next time, I'll go for a newer RK without the smoke I think , LOL

Well after re-pulling the chip, checking connectors again, I pulled the board out. Seems like GGG is on to something.

The transistor legs seem to have gotten hot at the board and the diodes as well. Some pics...

That is typical look from the soldering process.  There are jumpers you can install to simulate the bottom board operating as a non directional reverse unit. No top board installed.  You can run it that way in forward first.  If it runs fine it could isolate to a top board issue.  If it stops and goes, no reverse unit to drop in neutral, so periodic hesitation and movement again would indicate issue is in the bottom board.  Can be a component over heating and dropping out.

Frankly the easiest method is swapping boards.  To many components can cause this. Diodes, rectifier, relay, transistor.  If you have another PS-1 engine swap the top board in, chip included.  Run it.  Doesn't matter if it is steam or not.  If problem goes away it is the top board.  If it stays, it is bottom board or wiring, so replace bottom board with the original top board and chip test again.   G

Thanks GGG, I don't have another ps1 so I may wait until after the Hampton show this weekend. I may find a reasonable priced "donor" engine there. If so, then I'll swap parts to isolate the issue. Although I'm hesitant to install another PS1, I also thought about sending it to you and have you fix it.  Unfortunately I have the smaller K-line cars which are really o27 sized, so I may just get a RK version PS3 w/o smoke and be done with it and sell the B unit I have to recoup some money. Put the A unit on the shelf for later.

As always, many thanks your help.

Sounds like you live around the corner, I am not sure I can make the Hampton show, but I imagine this is an easy fix.  G

I'll contact you later today for your info. I had you upgrade a Blue comet, early ps2 that fried on me to ps3. Probably just send the boards to you, if that works ?

Sure, my email in my profile if you click on it. G

Big thanks to GGG for fixing the PS-1 Rock Island E-8 for me.

Turns out the battery connector to the board was botched either from the PO or earlier. Naturally I tried to re-solder the connector, hoping that was the issue. Buuuttt ... my soldering skills are very poor and not really being sure if that was it or what other problems it may have, off to GGG it went. Gotta know your limits..

Thanks G !

 G