Railking Santa fe Northern PS2 Dead!

Any thoughts anyone Please?

CHEERS MIKE

My locomotives are all MTH Rail King with PS2 and PS3. I am not an expert when it comes to an electronics malfunction, so I usually consult GGG on the forum. I also refer to Barry Boskowitz's DCS O Gauge Companion.

Also post your problem on the Control System Forum under DCS PS2 & PS3. That is where the highly skilled electronics wizards lurk on the OGR Forum.

Best of luck getting her running again.

Sounds bad alright.

Have you greased the drive gears anytime recently?

Rod

I think you best bet is to ask VAGolfer1950.  Paul had it apart once before and may recall something, and he certainly knows as much about the innards of PS1 and 2 locos as anyone else I know.  Frankly I have always been very reluctant to convert older locos to newer electronics because I worry that too much of the old is still worn and will fail anyway.  But good luck with it.  

Mike from what you have described you may correct and something in the boards may have gone belly up, but it could be a simple issue also, the problem in trouble shooting across the pond you first have to determine if possible what caused the problem that would blow a component on the boards. I can send you a new set of boards with the correct sound file already loaded, but without knowing what caused the problem it very well may toast when you fire it up. You are going to have to check continuity on every wire that comes off the board to its source to see if you can find the short.

   The upgrade was done in 2006 and I remember the tether going bad a year ago, so you may want to start checking through there. I know you love the engine, and have logged a lot of miles on her my friend let' see if we can bring her back to life.

Hi Paul,

Thanks you for the reply I deliberately didnt e/mail you direct as I am very conscious the I am always asking you questions.

I will look again at the engine - particularly the tether. I also wondered if there could be a bad joint or similar on the plug in the engine although I can't see anything obvious like a short or bad connection. I will report back.

Whats the rough cost of the boards if I need them please? - They just don't exist over here!!!

Thanks Paul.

CHEERS MIKE   

Also thank you to the others who posted, The rest of the engine is in fine condition and well lubricated - its my best running loco when it works.

Mike do you have a good ohm meter? We really need to be certain as to what caused the boards to go, and they might be still good/salvageable, Until we can find out what happened replacing the boards may just cost us a second set of boards. With the fast approaching holidays, and we leave for Florida this week, I am really limited with time to after the holidays, is it possible to pack up the engine and send back across the pond? I will do whatever I need to restore it back to perfect running condition, to include replacing the boards if necessary, if you just pay the shipping both ways, parts and labor on me. Email me with your phone number and a time that is good for me to call(4:30AM to 9PM EST)and let's get this engine back on the tracks and running. I can send the boards only if you want, loaded with the correct sound file for the shipping cost only, but I strongly do not recommend swapping them out until you know what blew and why.

Lee I have done many upgrades on older PS-1 and Weaver engines and never found a problem with the few older parts that are used in an upgrade going bad.

Hi Paul,

Thank you for the further post. Your offer is more than generous - I would have to pay all the costs  - you have already done so much to help me with my train problems.

I know virtually nothing about what I should be checking for but my brother may well be able to check the boards. I have sent you an e/mail re all this .

CHEERS MIKE

Lee, Ditto what Paul stated.  Really all you need to check is the motor drive train and smoke unit.  If they are in good shape in the engine, everything else is new.

Additionally motors and smoke unit overhauls have to be replaced/done anyway occasionally.  So as long as the wheels and drive gears are good, there is no risk on an upgrade.

Now if the engine has been run into the dirt, that is a different story.  G

Mike received your email and will ring you up today.

Back from vacation, holidays are over and your Northern is all better and on it's way back to merry old England my friend. All wiring, boards replaced, smoke unit has been redone so it smokes even more then before. With all the flooding over there Mike, I hope it gets to you in a timely manner.

Hey Paul I didn't realize you were going to post that on the OGR!!

As you have I will say again a big "thank you" again for all your help here - I couldn't have got it economically fixed over here in England with all the work you have done. 

When we spoke on the phone yesterday I updated you briefly on the flooding - still pretty bad. In My village - Bourne End all the fields and the marina on the river have disapeared under water - luckily I live on a hill.

My good friend Eric (masoner on this forum) lives in the village of Cookham Dean across the river from me - luckily for him his village is also on a hill. The village in between us - Cookham -  is completely cut off by water with only an old and rarely used causeway open a couple of hours a day for access

I went over to Eric's to run trains last night  - it took me a good while to drive all the way round the flooding!!

If you "google " River Thames flooding you will see.........

CHEERS my Friend.

MIKE