Railking Triplex chugs intermittently

Phil,

 

I assume the chuff and smoke still occur concurrently?

 

Those features are controlled in the software and I can't think right off of anything mechanical that would cause intermittent operation.  I would try changing the Chuff Rate to see if the software reacts to that command.

 

MENU/SOUND/CHUFF RATE

 

If a bit or byte was somehow dislocated this may work.    At least it will be a data point if you have to talk to MTH tech support.

 

The next step for me would be to do a Factory Reset.  If that didn't help I'd reload the engine's personality file.

Hi Phil,

 

When it's sitting still do you have constant smoke?

 

If it's intermitten when running it could be the fan impeller is loose on the shaft and needs to be replaced. I have them at the store and I will be in on Thursday if you want to bring it in.

 

Another thought would be the black stripes on the flywheel might have gotten scratched or something.

 

Ralph

Does the engine have speed control?  the chuff and smoke are triggered by the tach reader through a speed control chip on the power supply.  This could be anything from a wire issue from tach, tach reader, tape, chip, or the sound file.  I agree with trying a reset, then make sure the tach reader is installed correctly(looking for obvious problems with wiring, flywheel tape, tach reader location), then a reload of the sound file.  After that probably need to test the boards in the test fixture to help isolate the problem.  G

The ADD problem is usually a low DCS signal issue.

I finally did get it to add, so it works again.  However smoke and chuff problem persists.  Changing the chuff rate does not seem to make a difference.  Smoke rises from stack in idle with no fan blowing it.  When I get it going the smoke puffs weakly in sequence with the  intermittent chuffs.  I will inspect the other components listed in your various comments and talk to the guys at York.  Phil

 Smoke output seemed a little weak compared to what I had come to expect.  Also, now when I press direction  the engine stops rather suddenly with very little brake squeal sound.

 

Stopping rather suddenly could be that the deceleration rate needs to be adjusted.

 

By the sounds of it I'd bet that your smoke unit needs rebuilding as in re-wicking and maybe a new motor or just oiling the bushing that's under the impeller.

From the intermittent chuffs, I'd have to be leaning to some other cause.  I'm not sure how the smoke unit could affect the electronics in that fashion, there is no feedback from the smoke unit.

Exactly...maybe just setting the chuff rate will put it back in sync...then again a failing motor wouldn't get the chugs up to speed.

Be nice if Phil could post a video.

Doesn't the Triplex have 2 smoke units?

 

Since he did a factory reset and the chuffing did not improve, I doubt the issue is setting rates.

 

A bad fan motor has been know to cause damage to components on the board.

 

I would measure the fan motor resistance (around 12ohms) and test with a 3V source to see how it spins.  Again, chuff and smoke puff are syncronized and if both missing it usually is the tach circuit.

 

Since no smoke in idle other than wisp from the heater, the fan motor can be bad and shorting the 5V power supply effecting the tach circuit and the chuff.  So I would add the smoke fan as a higher possible cuprit since it doesnot run in idle either.  G 

If you turn OFF smoke, do you still get intermittent chuffing sounds?

 

Do you have a way to confirm scale speed control?  For example, does the engine travel 36.7 inches in 10 sec when set to 10 sMPH (i.e., 0.367 inches/sec/sMPH)?  With smoke OFF does the speed change?

 

As mentioned, rather than a magnetic switch as used by some manufacturers, MTH uses flywheel stripes and optical sensors to control engine speed and synchronized chuffing-puffing.  Intermittent chuffing-puffing can be a consequence of a problem in the speed control.  If you're lucky, simply cleaning the flywheel stripes or making a minor adjustment to the sensor assembly can solve this.

 

Bottom line: first step is to confirm proper speed control operation

I like where Stan is going, that's my thinking as well.

I think you need to reread my earlier post as I addressed this.  Engine speed control is an important question but even when it is bad the fan on stm runs at idle.  Infact only time it runs.  Since the fan doesn't run at all and chuff is intermitent, something else is wrong too.  Possibly a bad fan motor that is dragging down power supply and or damaged u-12.  If obvious issue is not found you need to divide problem by testing board out of engine.  G