After I hit start up on the handheld, the engine comes to life with no problem, but when I advance the thumb wheel to the first notch I get a delay before it moves. When it does start to move it's with a small jerk and not smooth. After it starts to move it is a short series of jerky motions for the first 3 speed steps then it smooths out and all is fine.
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I've seen this before and, in fact, I have a Premier E33 that does something similar. Note that MTH guarantees that all PS2/PS3 engines will run smooth at 5 SMPH.
I've been told that it can be caused by an issue with a motor being too deep in the gearing, or something to that effect. However, it's never bothered me enough to cause me to try to correct it.
Most of my DCS locomotives don't smooth out until scale MPH of 3 or 4, this seems to be normal and expected.
I have some early 1990's Weaver diesel locos that I converted to PS3. Being of that age, the mechanism is well broken in and they will run at slow speeds, rough at 1smph, smooth at 2 or above. You'll find that as locos rack up the hours, they can run more slowly.
I do have several that will run pretty good at 2 MPH, don't know any that will run smooth at 1 MPH, though many will jerkily run at that setting. By 3 MPH, most of them are running pretty smooth.
Most of my Legacy stuff will actually run smoothly at the very first speed step, of course it's not scale MPH like MTH. However, the Legacy locomotives are running smoothly at a considerably slower speed than the MTH for the most part.
This whole issue is a bit like picking nits, as the low speed performance of both types is good enough for 99% of the users.
Thanks for the replies everyone. The problem is only on one engine that is relatively new with low running time on it. It is something that I can live with because it's really not that big a deal. I was just worried that I had did something wrong. I am a total rookie when it comes to this O scale 3r stuff. But learning quick it can be a lot of fun and frustration all in one shot. At least it's easier for these old eyes to see compared to my HO layout. Thanks everyone again and I am sure there will be more questions to come.
I have some early 1990's Weaver diesel locos that I converted to PS3. Being of that age, the mechanism is well broken in and they will run at slow speeds, rough at 1smph, smooth at 2 or above. You'll find that as locos rack up the hours, they can run more slowly.
Did you mean converted to PS2?
Yep. Another typo. My typing may be bad, but my proofreading is worse.
The latest word on PS3 Upgrade kits is no sooner than late Fall 2014. I just got the notification from MTH yesterday.
If one of you could design a model locomotive with an operating transmission I'll bet you could get a smooth ride at even less than 1 smph.
The latest word on PS3 Upgrade kits is no sooner than late Fall 2014. I just got the notification from MTH yesterday.
And the tone of that projection was pretty pessimistic, so I'm thinking that's probably sooner than reality. 
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