My MTH Engines stay stuck in neutral

tncentrr posted:

I have two MTH diesels that I try to run in conventional mode with Lionel TMCC control. When I power them up, they just sit there and make noise. I try the direction button on the cab-1. I try turning the voltage down and then back up. What am I doing wrong?

MTH motels do NOT respond to Lionel TMCC. In order to run them in conventional using TMCC, you must have one of those devices (TPC maybe?) that vary the voltage to the track by using the TMCC Cab-1.

Yes to add to what Hotwater said, you need a  Lionel TPC Unit ( track power controller) or the newer Legacy powermaster. These units  allow you to very the track voltage via the Legacy handheld for conventional operation.

I have run MTH locos with a TPC unit and they operate very well. You can even operate the electrocouplers and aceess some of the crewtalk.

I should have said that I have a 400 watt power house and a TPC-400 and a TMCC Base unit. I was trying to run these engines off conventional mode. Hitting the direction switch does interrupt the voltage, but when it comes back on, the engine does not move. That is the problem I'm having.

Thanks

It's possible it's locked in neutral.  If these are PS/1 engines, it's also possible they have some other issue.

what are  the engine item numbers will help a lot, otherwise hard to tell what the heck your talking about!

Alan

This engine has a road number 754. The road name is GM&O. It is a model of a GP-38.

Actually, the MTH product numbers is what we really need.

Bet anything it’s a PS3 diesel.  This issue usually pops up in DCS command in lashup mode with another DCS engine.

MTH doesn't list any PS/3 GP-38 engines on it's site, they're all PS/2.  There are 17 Premier and four HO.  None of them are the GM&O road name.

This is why we need actual product numbers!

Here's the MTH info. It's from 1997!

https://mthtrains.com/20-2158-1

IIRC Protosound engines can't have the voltage too high to get out of neutral.

Wait.

I have to ask.  

How old is the battery in these? 

I agree that the voltage needs to be lower to get them out of neutral. You need to read the manual.

Pretty much gave up setting any Proto 1 with a Cab-1.  The only way I could get them to reset was with a Z1000 or a Z750.

He said cutting the power via direction button wasn't working for him and he is running them conventionally.

A direction button cuts power 100% on every one I've seen. So I'd guess (no mth here) battery or board..... or maybe holding the button down too long? Or having the voltàge too high while using the button? 

Don't these start conventionally in Neutral and àlso look at start-up voltage to decide between command and conv.? So too high a voltage while using the button it may re-start in command, no?   (the battery should make it remember, but it seems to not be the case)

Try to lower the voltage to 5-9v and then try the button to test the guess. If it doesn't work... well, that's all i  got

Also,fyi, if you put an early MTH on the rails with a dead battery, you'll have a dead loco too. It HAS to have a good battery or the board is toasted on some, that's what the shock face was about  .... so do that battery check .

Note from ps1 manual and others have noted must have a good battery.

ProtoSounds® is equipped with a microprocessor, that, depending on the

amount of memory it is allotted, allows the user to utilize several remotely

activated functions. In the simplest terms, ProtoSounds® has its own

.Computer" controlling these functions. In fact, the power of this

microprocessor is the same as that of a 286 desktop computer! In order to

access many of these remotely controlled functions, the user must be in the

RESET state to do so. RESET is entered anytime power to the locomotive

has been off for more than 3 to 5 seconds. When the engine first enters

RESET, the microprocessor initiates a system check to determine if the

system, transformer and engine are operating correctly. This takes

approximately 2.2 seconds during which you will hear the engine.s startup

sounds begin. In order for ProtoSounds to properly initiate the system

check, do not advance the transformer throttle past 10 volts when you first

enter RESET, wait for the diesel startup sounds to begin and then slowly

turn the transformer throttle to the off position and then back on again to

enter the forward phase. Interrupting the power too quickly may cause the

system to re-enter RESET (signaled by two dings of the bell). Should this

happen, wait longer before interrupting the power to enter the Forward

phase.

Thanks to all of you that replied. I tried the engine using the instructions above and it seems to work. I hope I haven't damaged the electronics in it. Thanks again.

I ran this engine for an hour and a half tonight with no problems. Thanks again for the help.

Just FYI, in the future if you give more details about the specific make/model of the engines, it makes the help more targeted and doubtless also more useful.