PS-2 engine starts way too fast on conventional??

 Well Tom, first that part number doesn't work.

The fact that the sound doesn't work and there's that fast start problem may mean something's shorting?

 If the protosound 2 board doesn't have a volume pot and the right to pins aren't connected, you won't get sounds in conventional, just in command. When it's running, could there be something binding up?? Are the wheels out of quarter?? side rods OK?? Is there a pronounced ticking when running? Could you open it up and spin the flywheel by hand to see?

 I have not lost a battery yet, so I can't tell you what that is. Mine get used and some are coming up to ten years. Never stored more than a couple months though.

I can comment on the battery life.  If the battery was fully charged, my personal experience has been that 36 months is on the outside edge but should be okay.  Obviously a good charging is overdue.  I've had more than one PS1/PS2 battery die but its usually been significantly longer than that.

John Z.

There should be a hole in the frame with the old PS-1 volume pot knob showing (metal takes flat screw driver).  Turn to the middle or other end and see if sounds restored.

Then perform a transformer reset.  1W and 5 B in rapid sucession, or a DCS reset to see if sounds come back and speed control restored.

If not, may have a bad speaker, blown audio amp, etc...

If the sounds are there but it doesn't ramp up as throttle speed increased sounds like the PS speed control amp is bad or the tach reader is not reading right. (Your speed control issue).

If speaker is good but no sounds, I am guessing a problem occured and blew the audio amp and speed control amp.  Common to see.  G

You mentioned you're running conventional , wouldn't the track voltage control the speed?? what are you using for a var  power supply?

20-3025-2 SP Cab Forward 1998 Catalogue seems to fit.

Try the starting voltage on the Z-1000 first.

edit Read directions and they showed no adjustment for starting voltage.

I bet G is right. We need Tom to give some response.

This could also be a bad tether, Lack of tach signal will make it jackrabbit and have no chuffs / notch changes.

Lack of all sounds can be many things as G said.

Russell,

   I agree 100% it actually sounds like a tether problem to me.

PCRR/Dave

Folks--Thank you for the input.

This is a 1998 AC-6 factory two rail with a PS-2 added by an MTH tech.  Back then there were model issues which were uncataloged.

Gregg, the power supply is a MTH Z-1000,

I run an assortmenmt of PS-2 MTH engines and they all start slow and run evenly up to speed.  This is the only PS-2 engine I have which jump starts instantly from about 1/3 throttle.  When it runs it is smooth and even. no apparent quartering or rod binding symptoms.  Lights switch back and forth for change of running direction.

What does not work when the battery is dead?

Thank you, tt

Not a battery issue since this is running.  The sounds are critical to helping you with this.

But, if it just jack rabbit starts but then is controllable with speed control at mid range throttle, it can be an issue of how the upgrade was done especially the tach tape.  Some early PS-1 models had odd sized fly wheels and the sound file fit for the engine wasn't the best, especially if the tach tape was not custom sized.  They can have jerky actions at low speeds.

Or, this can be an issue of bad tach reader, speed amp, tether, etc...

Does the engine smoke in neutral only, or does it smoke and puff when moving?

Did you find the volume POT?  G

Tom, are you comfortable removing the shells from the engine?  Several of the suspects the guys identified can be determined by visual inspection.