Trouble with MTH Niagara

Get rid of the CW80...nothing but trouble with MTH engines and are not on MTH's recommend transformer list that is (was?) in the back of all instruction manuals. MTH transformers are usually the most user friendly and compatible with all makes/models. Something the CW80 is not. 

MTH does not recommend that transformer with their engines. Some have no problem but that is their recommendation. This topic has been on the forum for years. Do a search and see what others have said.

My other MTH engines work fine with it. He said the last Time he ran it was with DCS. To my knowledge there's no switch or anything leaving it stuck looking for a remote right? 

Just try a different transformer. No switch for DCS.

Is the battery good?  If not it won't run in conventional. G

https://mthtrains.com/20-3047-1

GGG posted:

Is the battery good?  If not it won't run in conventional. G

Would it still make sounds and smoke unit work? I've tried multiple transformers and to reset it to factory settings with one whistle blast and 5 quick hits to the bell button and nothing. 

This engine is 16 years old with 5 V boards. Best replace the battery before you blow up the boards if they haven't already been damaged.

Pete

Yes it would.....Here's an easy battery test..  power up the engine with sound.....now turn  the track power completely off .

The sounds should continue on for at least 5 or 6 seconds with no track power,,, If  the sound shuts immediately off the battery is for lack of a better word  kaput. Need a battery to get out of neutral.

Yep sound dies after power is off. Would a standard 9-volt work as a stand in till new battery arrives? 

The Bellcaptain posted:

. I have a Lionel CW-80 Transformer and the engine doesn't move with it. It just sits and makes noise. It responds to the controls of bell or whistle. But it won't move. I am trying to run in conventional and cannot see anything preventing movement. Thoughts?

Ive also tried adding a lighted caboose or another engine and no luck. 

The Bellcaptain posted:

I've tried multiple transformers and to reset it to factory settings with one whistle blast and 5 quick hits to the bell button and nothing. 

I like when the story gets better. It makes troubleshooting a total stab in the dark. 

The Bellcaptain posted:

Yep sound dies after power is off. Would a standard 9-volt work as a stand in till new battery arrives? 

I wouldn't do that. It's a 5 v board as mentioned above. Although I haven't dealt with many MTH engines so I could be mistaken. 

I have this one Proto One engine that actually works better on a Cw80 than it does with one of my ZW's. I thought that was kinda odd as it was always the opposite before the last time I used the engines. I'll put a bcr in it if it ever bothers me too much. But yeah cw80s are horrible more or less. They're great for what they are, a transformer for starter sets. But even with that, mine died about a year after I first used it. I ground an old screwdriver to a triangle head and took out the fuse that burnt up and wires it directly, now it works. I only use it for a test track now though. 

The Bellcaptain posted:

Yep sound dies after power is off. Would a standard 9-volt work as a stand in till new battery arrives? 

I'd probably go for it just to see if it works....   then  immediately take it out and wait for the new one.

New battery is ordered. Sorry to hear that the CW-80 is so bad. It's been my only transformer for power since I got it back in 04-05. Guess this means it's time to start getting real and finding a far better transformer. 

The Bellcaptain posted:

New battery is ordered. Sorry to hear that the CW-80 is so bad. It's been my only transformer for power since I got it back in 04-05. Guess this means it's time to start getting real and finding a far better transformer. 

If you don't have a large layout, and the cw-80's not giving you any problems, by all means, use it. I probably shouldn't have used the term horrible, but it is what it is. I still use mine. Like i said, if it blows the fuse (which is a common probleml), it's really easy to repair. It's a nice little transformer, when it works that is. 

Whelp I'm making the jump to larger full on layout. Got a whole pole barn to fill. Any recommendations on a good transformer? I have more MTH engines than Lionel so I'd probably go that route. 

Thanks to everyone here with the help. I'll ask again if the issues continue.