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I'm currently "on-location" helping a deceased friend's widow prepare their train collection for its next home.

 

In testing all locomotives, I've run into some issues with MTH ProtoSounds 1.0 locomotives from the the mid-1990's. I'm not familiar with most MTH items (although I do know about the three clangs of death), but here's the problem I'm currently experiencing with several locomotives.

 

The loco powers up and I get two bell sounds, followed by the sound system starting up. Once to this point, I can't seem to get the locomotives out of neutral.

 

Am I doing something wrong, or is there sometime I should be doing differently? Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

The locos affected:

20-1117LP RailKing C&O Allegheny

20-2186-1 Premier Chessie System GP-38

30-2134-1 RailKing Baltimore & Ohio Doodlebug

30-2168-1 RailKing Chesapeake & Ohio SW-9

 

Thanks!

Todd

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Ok I have a MTH chessie F3A engine it done samething the bell ring twice and sounds start up mine didn't do the three clanks but the dealer told me it not come out of reset. He said it would do three clanks sometimes and sometimes not . He said need to put the reset chip in. You can try a 9 volt battery in them just temporary see if that works.  Also you might try a reset now i'm not sure about this your engine could be locked in neutral too.    

-What are you powering up with?...transformer?

-Anytime an MTH PS engine has been sitting over 6 months you should either give the battery a charge via 12ish hours in neutral, charge them by the external charger, use a BCR{60sec quick track charging} or substitute a 9v battery to check the engine.

Anything else could result in scambling a chip no matter how short a run.

I had all sorts of trouble with using a Lionel CW80 - it has a chopped wave output. Any other brand of transformer that chops the waves can cause issues...I'd figure the previous owner would have something compatible there if he ran them- full wave is the way to go.

From MTH site for 20-1117LP

 

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.
 
 
 

Yes, barely turn the power on until the sounds start, let it sit 10 sec, then power cycle.  I had forgotten about this 10 V limit at start up when I got my locomotives out of storage after my move.  So I was in a panic until I reread the manual.  Also, do test them with a new battery, or a 9 V so as to make sure you don't mess the sound systems up.

 

BTW, if by new home you mean they will be for sale, I really, really want the Allegheny (been looking for one), and I might be interested in the GP38 depending on the cab number and price (I have cab #3899 and would love to double head them if different cab).

The reset chip is ONLY for the 3 clanks of death only.  Please tell us you installed a fresh battery before you tried to power these locomotives.  If you have a white battery, throw it away.  That advice goes for early PS-2 boards also.  If the battery is white, please forget gharging it, it is old enough.

 

If you did follow the right proceedure and still have problems, contact a MTH service tech who has the othe 3 reset chips for other issues.

Guys:

 

First and foremost, thanks to all who responded. As you can tell, I'm a bit out of my league on MTH items.

 

I should have mentioned that I used a postwar ZW for all testing, so I know that the problems encountered weren't sine-wave related.

 

Using the instructions mentioned above, I was able to get the Allegheny working again. (I think powering up under 10 volts is what did it.) Unfortunately, the three diesels couldn't be coaxed from their neutral state no matter what I tried.

 

For the purposes of finding a new home for this collection, I'll be labeling them as "possibly needing a chip reset from an MTH service center."

 

Thanks again-

Todd

Did you try getting them out of a possible lockout state in neutral?  On those engines (Using a good battery!  I killed one of my locomotives trying to do a lockout with a bad battery.  A new chip fixed it.) power the track, hold down the horn button, then while keeping it help, power down the track and wait for a short horn blast, then let go of the button and turn the track power back on and it'll move.  I inadvertently put one of mine into locked neutral two day ago.  The horn button stuck on my Z-controller and I shut the power off  while I worked it free, and then when I powered up, it didn't go anywhere.  Had me worried for a bit until I remembered the lockout procedure and away I went.

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