Hi all, I just purchased 2 sets of MTH's new 2 car packs for Long Island Railroad passenger cars.
Problem is, one of the cars always shorts out the track and trips the power brick fuse.
I did a visual inspection, and did not see anything.
Any idea why this would happen?
I guess I am going to have to return/exchange it.
That is 2 MTH products bad from the factory in one week for me.
The other was a PS3 MU loco.
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Chipset: Have you run a continuity test between the roller pickups and the trucks, frame and shell (assuming they are metal)? Are the lights LED? If they are incandescent, try taking out the bulbs and see if the short goes away. If the continuity test doesn't reveal anyting abnormal, you should probably return it for repair or relalcement.
Chipset, I had a similar problem and found the clearance of one of the pick up rollers and the axel caused the short. Fortunately Henning's Trians had shorter pick ups and easily replaced all of them. These can be easily removed and then try running w/o them. I found the problem by manually pushing the roller and saw it hit the axel. Hope this helps.
John
Make sure all the wheels/axles are in the trucks like they should be. I recently got a 5-car set of Weaver N&W cars and one axle was out and below the sideframe and one was out and above the sideframe (different trucks). Both rolled fine, but the one below the sideframe kept shorting out, the one above the sideframe ran fine.
I was surprised they both rolled, but the way the truck is made I can see why.
As long as the frayed wire isn't touching anything I wouldn't think that's the issue, but it may be hanging low enough to drag on something.
Interesting, I will check it in a moment.
These are MTH PS3 passenger cars, so I think they are LED.
Here is a picture of a wire I notice which seems cut or frayed:
If you unplug the pick up, that should eliminate it as the source. Possible that frayed truck ground wire touching center rail?
stupid questions!
HOW did the wire get frayed?
is it possible that the uncoupler tab is too low and hitting the track at some point?
Interesting, I will check it in a moment.
These are MTH PS3 passenger cars, so I think they are LED.
Here is a picture of a wire I notice which seems cut or frayed:
If you unplug the pick up, that should eliminate it as the source. Possible that frayed truck ground wire touching center rail?
The center roller pick up rides on the center rail (hot rail). It appears to be riding against the axle, which then connects to the outer rails through the wheels, there-by causing a direct short. Seems to be a possible if not probable cause.
Isn't trouble shooting fun!!!???
It's probably something simple but patience is required to track it down.
YEARS ago I got a replacement contact assembly from Madison Hardware for a Lionel postwar 2534 SILVER BLUFF streamlined coach. The top of each contact roller touched a "Y"-shaped strip. The other end of the strip was bent upward to touch the bottom of the bulb housing but nothing else. An insulated pad beneath the strip prevented a short with the frame.
When I put it on the track the lights dimmed - a sure sign of a short.
Once in a while I had come across the end of a strip touching the grounded part of a bulb housing and causing a short. A slightly sharper bend solved that problem.
But this problem persisted. I put the coach upside down and placed a 2533 coach upside down next to it. Then I noticed that the tabs holding the insulation were bent inward. On the 2533, they were bent outward. Bent inward, they touched the strip and caused a short with the frame. I bent them outward and the problem was solved.
Interesting, I will check it in a moment.
These are MTH PS3 passenger cars, so I think they are LED.
Here is a picture of a wire I notice which seems cut or frayed:
If you unplug the pick up, that should eliminate it as the source. Possible that frayed truck ground wire touching center rail?
The center roller pick up rides on the center rail (hot rail). It appears to be riding against the axle, which then connects to the outer rails through the wheels, there-by causing a direct short. Seems to be a possible if not probable cause.
That is just the picture angle, as I freaked when I saw your comment and looking at the picture.
Ran upstairs and looked at it and its not close to the axle, its just the angle of the pic.
I might just disconnect that wire and see what happens.
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