Not too impressed with PS-3

I have one PS-3 engine that I have been running on my layout for a couple of months without problems.  There might be something wrong with your engine right out of the box.  You may want to return it for repair or replacement.

Joe

Sam,

Is this a steamer? f so, odds are that you aren't properly seating the wireless draw bar fully.

Hi Barry,

The diesel is 20-20288-1.  Sounds are great and realistic, and engine is good runner and probably better after more breakin time running.  Just not understanding if PS3 more sensitive to voltage disturbances.  I am sure by now if this was the case there would be people posting here or MTH being aware of a problem. 

Just ran it now with no problems other than the annoying Check Track messages on clean track.  Layout is star wired with lamps and TVS at every track feeder point.  My TIU is one rev lower than current L and software is 4.10.

I have several PS3 engines and I notice those annoying Check Track messages in some of my PS3 engines, however, there are no messages with my PS2 engines, so you are not the only one with those stupid messages, the question is: Why do get those annoying messages with PS3 and not with PS2 locomotives? Any idea? Somebody with the answer?

I have no PS3 engines but am impressed that they got rid of the battery. If I had the $ I would get one but have prior obligations.

Yeah my ps3s have the check track deal going too. Why do THEY make things put them on the market for us to fix? Ho   DCC is so far on every level ahead of their product its laughable except u just paid big bucks for that new eng with ps3 !!and you cant laugh !I would like to see a anouncement from them telling us about the create now and figure out the technology later business model. You can do that when your the only other game in town now having said that i feel so much better ! conrail john 

There are 2 issues of which I'm aware as regards PS3 engines.

One has to do with black screws which, I believe, connect wires to the trucks that then go to the engine's electronics. The other has to do with a wire bundle inside the engine which is routed too close to a toroid.

One or both of these issues occur in some, but not all, early PS3 engines. A forum search should yield more information about these issues, both of which are easy to correct.

I own 8 PS3 engines (2 diesels, 2 electrics and 4 steamers), none of which exhibit any problems whatsoever.

And forget writing to MTH, won't get a reply, or else a DUH answer (clean your track etc)

An Advanced Search for the exact phrase "black screws" turned up this thread.

This should help.

Thanks Barry.  I will "pop the hood" of engine and check harness position and scrape ground lugs and their screws.  Can't hurt.

Well got the hood off and the rat nest of wiring.  found the little torrid coil and with a plastic screwdriver, moved coil as far from the white connector as possible.  Moved the wiring bundle up as far as possible crossing my fingers that the hair fine wires would not break.

Could not see a way to gain access to the trucks to make ground better, that is drop truck out to get inside where wires are. Saw three wires, red&black that I assume are one set of wheels and truck frame for 2 rail operation and a brown for the other wheel set for 3 rail operation.  Hesitate to take trucks apart unless I am sure what screw(s) to safely remove to drop truck.

But I did cut wire to smoke unit heater as I have done for other engines.  The smoke is bothersome and the menu Smoke Min doesn't seem to kill smoke completely, so snip and tape wire.

Well, There is a smoke pot to turn it off for conventional, and for DCS there is off also (not output adjustment).  So you really didn't need to cut wires.  G

Hi,

Well turned smoke pot fully CCW left.  Went to remote and for the PS3 there is only min, med, max, no off.  And there were still wisp of smoke coming out of stack after waiting a few minutes.  So clipped the wires, no more smoke.  When you go back into smoke menu you have no confirmation that remote remembered the min position, ie shows your selection as blackened box.    Wish MTH just had smoke on off switch and be done with it.

After moving wire bundle and torrid far apart, I get 10s all around layout, but lots and lots of "out of rf range" and "check track" and "no engine found" messages.  So now just need someone to tell me how to remove trucks or how to gain access into trucks where ground wires are connected to remove the black finish for better connection.

If you look at button #1 on your DCS remote it says smoke under the button.  Pressing this button toggles smoke on and off.

Remove screw under the truck and that frees motor.  For the rear, you shoul dbe able to lift it out and to the side to access pickup wire screws by sliding truck fwd or aft slightly to expose them.

For fwd motor you may also have to remove the plastic cover that covers motor for cabin view (2 screws) for easier access.  G

Thanks GGG, I will get out my trusty tool kit and have at the loco.  Printing off your instruction and adding to material in Barry's "bible" of MTH/DCS knowledge.

Well got both motors out (boy the grease is definitely packed in trucks (feels like Vasaline almost), scraped the screw threads and under heads.  Lightly dremeled the screw holes to get to metal.  Now get 9-10s all way around.  Still plagued by Check Track and Out Of RF Range messages.

Pressing button#1 always displays Check Track message so not sure if smoke would have shut off.  Pressing vol +/- works most of time.  Only surefire things that work are startup/shutdown, thumb wheel, and coupler open which is all I ever used anyway.  Never really used other buttons except when DCS was first installed just see what effects were, my loss.

So again to all who replied big thank you.  And heres hoping some MTH people read this and other PS3 threads and see why PS3 seem (probably only to me) sensitive.

rrman,

    Your problems with P3 engines are why I have not invested in them to this point, you are not alone with the P3 problems.  I was going to purchase a Black 263E Engine & Tender, with some incredible tanker rolling stock, but held off because of the P3 problems.  My P2 stuff works perfectly!  I really like the idea of the BCR being built right into the P3 engines however.

PCRR/Dave

The ONLY reason I bought the engine was it was P&WV line.  Otherwise I would have not bothered.  At least will look good sitting in yard sidetrack. Well lesson learned. 

Someone needs to bring this topic up at fall York TCA meet with Mike Wolf at the happy "kumbayah" MTH meeting, and not accept a measly "we are looking at it/aware of it" answer, but pin them down on fix problem dates etc.  This is not acceptable way of doing business.  Imagine someone buying a PS3 engine and DCS then watching engine sputter and lurch around track and/or seeing constant check track, out of rf range, no engine found messages. (end of rant) 

It is under warranty.  You can send it back to get it right.  G

GGG,

    You are correct and maybe if enough engines get returned a complete fix will be engineered.  Please do not get me worng I love my P2 stuff the P3 should be even better engineering, and IMO not have these small problems NIB.

PCRR/Dave

Well my dumb fault to open it up so I could get better truck ground and moved the torrid coil and clipped the smoke heater (though could resolder that wire).  No doubt MTH techs could spot it was opened to worked on.

Sam,

Opening an engine doesn't necessarily void its warranty. If you were trying to effect a fix to a known problem or dropping trucks to change traction tires or light bulbs, that's OK.

PS3 engines don't have batteries, however, it was also OK to open PS2 engines to change a failing battery.

Your only issue is that you deliberately cut the smoke unit wire, however,  I think if you explain that you did it and why, it most likely will not present a problem - unless you ask MTH to fix it.