mth standard guage 400 e blue comet help

I have two MTH Tinplate Traditions 400e PS2 engines. They are great! Two things to consider:

On the PS2 engine, the can motor is in a standard bild-a-loco frame. The collector plate on the bottom is held on by two thumb screws, one on each end.  Sometimes that plate gets a little loose. There is no wire from the collector plate to the motor. It is a friction contact. Try removing and reinstalling the collector plate and check it for any damage in the process. I have had a problem where the collector plate looks to be installed correctly, but it is shorting somehow. A small adjustment made the engine come alive. You should also clean and oil the rollers. I make a cradle for the engine when I turn it upside down. A box filled with foam or a pillow can work. Make sure it is secure and won't tip over and fall.

Second, make sure your battery is fully charged. If the engine dies without going through a full shutdown sound sequence, it needs to be charged. you should charge it for at least 7 hours to get half a charge. Don't charge it all the way if you are planning to store the engine for a long time. The batteries are best stored at half charge.

Let us know how it goes.

George

thanks for the reply George

I have the battery on a wall charger now I will look at the collector plate again I didn't see any this but will look again

kevin

Also on those I've had issues where the plunger on the collector plate is making poor contact with the tab in the motor. Bend the tab up very slightly. I've had to do that on a couple of them that started running/sopping erratically.

Steve

Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:

Also on those I've had issues where the plunger on the collector plate is making poor contact with the tab in the motor. Bend the tab up very slightly. I've had to do that on a couple of them that started running/sopping erratically.

Steve

This may be why a small adjustment to the collector plate makes such a difference. I have had to make sure that plate is pushed up all the way.

George

hello

I found the problem with help from members of the forum. my problem was the collector plate I tried to see if I see anything wrong with it but could not get it apart. I had a extra collector plate from a Lionel build a loco motor and put that on and no more problems I want to thank George and Steve for getting me to look in the correct place to find the problem

kevin 

The spring on the contactor button can also lose its tension especially if you had a direct short. MTH  has the complete contactor assembly available.

I had a bad one when one of mine was delivered years ago and Midge replaced it under warranty.

That contact button is the "Achilles's Heel" of that assembly!

I now keep a spare on hand!