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I upgraded two steam engines from Proto 1 to Proto 2 (this was two years ago) I had a local reputable train guy do the work.

One was a MTH railking C&O Allegheny the other a MTH railking Big boy.

The engines started fine and the sound fired up, smoked worked, moved fine. after several days of operating the sound stopped. everything else still works.

so since that happened I removed them from the tracks. sat on the shelf for 5 months, put back on track, sound worked for about 5 minutes than stopped again.

both engines are doing the same thing (they were both upgraded at the same time). I contacted the installer, he said bring them back and I'll check them out. He did, He found nothing wrong with his work and couldn't explain what happened. (nothing he could do, except charge to install another). So I have them back. I went to Mr. Muffins Trains, Steve placed on his track and used his DCS controller to do a factor reset, didn't work. 

I am frustrated. PS, I did have Ozzie trains check them out too. He removed the cover and checked every wire. all connected, (he didn't charge me either).

Is there anything that is now not working? I don't know what board it needs. so weird since both do the same thing and sometimes they work.

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Do you operate them in conventional or DCS?  I would cycle the volume switch if conventional operations.

 

If sounds come on and off and it is not clickity clack, I would check connector for loose pins, check wires for break, check solder joint at speaker, and test speaker.

 

Now I did have one kit that the coupler was shorted at install and the speaker failed 2 weeks later, so maybe this is a bad speaker with an internal coil open.  It is interesting that both engines have this issue though.

 

I would also find another upgrader,  his work, 2 engines, and he should resolve it.  G

Since using in conventional, you can do a conventional reset of 1W and 5 B in succession.   If successful you hear 2 toots.  I would check your volume pot.  It may be defective, or the wiring off or frayed.

 

Of course when this was tested in DCS and reset at Mr Muffin's, the volume pot is overridden and sounds should have worked fine.

 

I would look closely at the speaker wire connection.  Is the internal coil too close or touching the frame of the speaker?  Any solder or speaker yellow and white wires touching or too close to the frame of the speaker?  If so, it may have damaged the audio amp.  Maybe the tech over heated the speaker wire joint while soldering.

 

I am just throwing this out since both engine seeing the same symptoms.  I really doubt you were unlucky and got two defective speakers/kits, so I the common factor is the installer.  Is he an ASC?

 

An ASC tech can pull the boards and test them separately to see if this is a board issue, or and engine wiring/speaker problem.  Can you open shells on tender and post a picture of the install?  G

Last edited by GGG

Guys, I am just so lost in this. I removed the whole thing, read the directions and installed all over again, pushing in all the pins with a very small screw driver. Even reground the ground again. 

Is there anywhere to send these and get them fixed without paying a fortune? I just hate that I wasted $250.00 each again. the sound worked for about 2 hours of the 5:53. and it didn't stop at once. they would work for a while (like an hour) than stop for 3 hrs than start back again.

Originally Posted by Bill Davis:

Guys, I am just so lost in this. I removed the whole thing, read the directions and installed all over again, pushing in all the pins with a very small screw driver. Even reground the ground again. 

Is there anywhere to send these and get them fixed without paying a fortune? I just hate that I wasted $250.00 each again. the sound worked for about 2 hours of the 5:53. and it didn't stop at once. they would work for a while (like an hour) than stop for 3 hrs than start back again.

 

hi i suggest if you can get a can of circuit cooler and wait until the sound quits and spray the sound chip,if cooling the chip brings it back to life you have a bad audio IC.

also try making the sound work and use a lower track voltage , which would lower the current draw  and see if the sounds stays on at a lower voltage,!less voltage means less current draw! hope this helps you. have a nice Christmas Alan

Ohms Law states the relationship among voltage amperage, and resistance.  Amps flowing in a circuit = the voltage divided by the resistance in ohms.  If the voltage is increased, the amps increases if the resistance doesn't change.

 

Ohms Law can also be expressed as total resistance in a circuit = voltage divided by amps, or voltage = amps times ohms.

 

I would add that amps times volts equal watts.  Applying Ohms' Law means that the amps times the amps (amps squared) time resistance equal watts.

 

Note that resistance in a circuit includes the load, the conductors, and the resistance internal to the power source.

 

If a motor is in a circuit, the rotation of the motor generates a reverse voltage, which reduces the amperage flow.  This reverse voltage increases as the motor speeds up and reduces as the motor slows down.  Thus, if you slow down a motor, not by reducing applied voltage, but by increasing the load, the amperage will increase. 

 

Last edited by RJR

I have finally got these two Steam engines fixed.

Thanks due to 

George at: gcubed@cox.net

MTH Authorized Service Center and Technician

Lionel Independent Repairs

I can tell all of you this, He got the engines and emailed. He had them fixed by that night at 5 pm, which i got another email. I Paypal the money, he send them back, they worked. all this with one week, I am sure not everything goes that way, But I have tried several other people and no one could figure it out. 

thanks for a great job George.

 

Bill,

   GGG is one of the best Tech around, OGR is very lucky to have him, Guns and WillyGee participating here on the forum, glad everything is working correctly now, IMO if you want something done in the future, go back to GGG and stay away from where ever you had the original work done.  IMO none of this should have happened, if the work had been done correctly the 1st time.

PCRR/Dave

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