Turn off Smoke unit without DCS

That frame rail can snap in place.  Align it and press firm.  I would not glue as it must come out later if shell needs to come off.  Usually the issue is they are hard to get out:-)

When using DCS Remote Commander, you need to turn smoke off before applying power.  Normally, smoke and volume off is CCW.  Then put on track and apply power.  The Engine will read the setting of the smoke and volume switch and use those settings.  Sounds like you finally got it.  Once you make a setting change you do need to wait at least a minute before trying again.  The processor can still have power and be running with previous settings.  If you apply power too early, it won't use the new settings you did.

There was an issue with early PS-3 that the smoke unit would still run at a low volume, but that was fixed with new flash code.

As far as Cab Light, the PS-2 RS-3 I have worked on did not have one,  Either take the shell off, or take the advice of those that have one.

As far as warranty work, I do not mind doing it for my customer, but in general I do not other than warrantying my work and parts.  When your really busy doing a job for nothing, and creating a back log for billable customers does not make sense.  Helping your own customer always makes sense

MTH warranty turn around is pretty good right now, plus if your into cosmetic issues they are the only ones that can get it done right.  They have access to the parts that are in the pit and not placed in the computer system.  A NASC and ASC are at a disadvantage.  So it would take much longer to get fixed, especially if parts not stocked.   G

Does your RS3 have cab figures? My PS2 version does not and I've typically found that if there isn't a cab figure, there isn't an interior light.

However, I expect that there may be some exceptions.

Mine is a 30-20215-1, PS3 from the 2014 v1 catalog, delivered Sept. 2014. It has no cab or cab light. I also looked through the DCS remote and found no reference to a cab light or command to control one. Also as Barry says, the MTH web page for my engine does not list a cab light. The manuals are not always accurate, I think they use generic text and copy and paste for the manuals and I believe some manuals are used for multiple engines, not always edited properly for engine specifics.

When I got mine, as I recall there was a discrepancy as to whether it had a smoke unit or not. Seems like smoke was listed in some places and not in others. When I noticed the smoke fluid on the bottom of the engine I questioned whether it even had a smoke unit? That got me looking at all the info for the engine. I finally took it apart and that is when I found the gasket and smoke funnel mis-aligned and the smoke fluid running down the shell instead of going to the smoke unit.

As for the MTH personnel, they have so many engines I imagine they get them mixed up once in a while. Maybe he was thinking of the premier version or possibly some other unit? They have an awful lot of things to try and remember and I am sure it is difficult to keep it all straight sometimes.

Here is a picture of mine showing no cab or cab figures.

GGG posted:

That frame rail can snap in place.  Align it and press firm.  I would not glue as it must come out later if shell needs to come off.  Usually the issue is they are hard to get out:-)

When using DCS Remote Commander, you need to turn smoke off before applying power.  Normally, smoke and volume off is CCW.  Then put on track and apply power.  The Engine will read the setting of the smoke and volume switch and use those settings.  Sounds like you finally got it.  Once you make a setting change you do need to wait at least a minute before trying again.  The processor can still have power and be running with previous settings.  If you apply power too early, it won't use the new settings you did.

There was an issue with early PS-3 that the smoke unit would still run at a low volume, but that was fixed with new flash code.

As far as Cab Light, the PS-2 RS-3 I have worked on did not have one,  Either take the shell off, or take the advice of those that have one.

As far as warranty work, I do not mind doing it for my customer, but in general I do not other than warrantying my work and parts.  When your really busy doing a job for nothing, and creating a back log for billable customers does not make sense.  Helping your own customer always makes sense

MTH warranty turn around is pretty good right now, plus if your into cosmetic issues they are the only ones that can get it done right.  They have access to the parts that are in the pit and not placed in the computer system.  A NASC and ASC are at a disadvantage.  So it would take much longer to get fixed, especially if parts not stocked.   G

Thank you for the detailed reply GGG, I appreciate it. Completely understand on the warranty part. That's good to know about it snapping it. I'm still waiting on Midge for a replacement railing request, as it's scuffed a lot, but it looks like the railing is easy to remove from the posts to add in again.

Thanks, I tried that, but the only thing that worked was turning the switch clockwise, then counterclockwise again. turn on, let it smoke. turn off, wait, then turn the train around (the key part for me,) then it stops smoking, not turning it around results in smoking again.

Thanks on confirming that too and I think everyone is right, this doesn't have a cab light...but it's very odd not to have it, esp. given the lights it has for it already, even the LC+ RS3's have them.

rtr12 posted:

Mine is a 30-20215-1, PS3 from the 2014 v1 catalog, delivered Sept. 2014. It has no cab or cab light. I also looked through the DCS remote and found no reference to a cab light or command to control one. Also as Barry says, the MTH web page for my engine does not list a cab light. The manuals are not always accurate, I think they use generic text and copy and paste for the manuals and I believe some manuals are used for multiple engines, not always edited properly for engine specifics.

When I got mine, as I recall there was a discrepancy as to whether it had a smoke unit or not. Seems like smoke was listed in some places and not in others. When I noticed the smoke fluid on the bottom of the engine I questioned whether it even had a smoke unit? That got me looking at all the info for the engine. I finally took it apart and that is when I found the gasket and smoke funnel mis-aligned and the smoke fluid running down the shell instead of going to the smoke unit.

As for the MTH personnel, they have so many engines I imagine they get them mixed up once in a while. Maybe he was thinking of the premier version or possibly some other unit? They have an awful lot of things to try and remember and I am sure it is difficult to keep it all straight sometimes.

Here is a picture of mine showing no cab or cab figures.

Thanks RTR, very nice RS3! I took a flashlight to the cab yesterday and mentioned yesterday just like yours I see now, the body runs right through the cab too, no space for cab figures.  Based on how adamant the tech at MTH was, I thought, ok, it has it, may it just illuminates from the top or sides or both, but that would look a little silly since the body runs right through it.  You're right, he may have thought it was a Premier version if they normally have it compared to the RK version, I asked the tech if he wanted to know my exact model number, he said he didn't need it. Good catch on the smoke unit on yours!!

Barry Broskowitz posted:

Does your RS3 have cab figures? My PS2 version does not and I've typically found that if there isn't a cab figure, there isn't an interior light.

However, I expect that there may be some exceptions.

Hi Barry, yep, no cab figures, just the body running straight through the cab. I'm going to let it go at this point, there's no light

Thanks everyone!

Gigabyte posted:

GGG posted:

That frame rail can snap in place.  Align it and press firm.  I would not glue as it must come out later if shell needs to come off.  Usually the issue is they are hard to get out:-)

When using DCS Remote Commander, you need to turn smoke off before applying power.  Normally, smoke and volume off is CCW.  Then put on track and apply power.  The Engine will read the setting of the smoke and volume switch and use those settings.  Sounds like you finally got it.  Once you make a setting change you do need to wait at least a minute before trying again.  The processor can still have power and be running with previous settings.  If you apply power too early, it won't use the new settings you did.

There was an issue with early PS-3 that the smoke unit would still run at a low volume, but that was fixed with new flash code.

As far as Cab Light, the PS-2 RS-3 I have worked on did not have one,  Either take the shell off, or take the advice of those that have one.

As far as warranty work, I do not mind doing it for my customer, but in general I do not other than warrantying my work and parts.  When your really busy doing a job for nothing, and creating a back log for billable customers does not make sense.  Helping your own customer always makes sense

MTH warranty turn around is pretty good right now, plus if your into cosmetic issues they are the only ones that can get it done right.  They have access to the parts that are in the pit and not placed in the computer system.  A NASC and ASC are at a disadvantage.  So it would take much longer to get fixed, especially if parts not stocked.   G

Thank you for the detailed reply GGG, I appreciate it. Completely understand on the warranty part. That's good to know about it snapping it. I'm still waiting on Midge for a replacement railing request, as it's scuffed a lot, but it looks like the railing is easy to remove from the posts to add in again.

Thanks, I tried that, but the only thing that worked was turning the switch clockwise, then counterclockwise again. turn on, let it smoke. turn off, wait, then turn the train around (the key part for me,) then it stops smoking, not turning it around results in smoking again.

Thanks on confirming that too and I think everyone is right, this doesn't have a cab light...but it's very odd not to have it, esp. given the lights it has for it already, even the LC+ RS3's have them.

 

The turning around the train is not making any sense.  Did you mention that to MTH, I would love to hear an answer on that.

Yes on LC+ but some steam LC+ do not have back up lights despite a lens  G

Thanks GGG, sorry, I didn't mention that to them because I got it to work prior to calling them, my call was just for the cab light and railing follow-up. When we did the reset the smoke came back on, but I did what I did the last time and got it to work, but that was after the phone the call.

Gotcha on the LC+ difference; I'm also disappointed that Lionel didn't release any RS-3's in their new 2017 catalog.

Thanks! It is one of my favorite engines. That RS-3 wasn't even on my want list, until someone posted a picture of it here, that was all it took, I had to order it right after seeing the picture. You have to really watch it around here, they will do things like that to you when you least expect it. 

Hi GGG/RTR, would either of you know that with the LC+ series, specifically the RS-3's, does the external exposed gears come pre-greased? I'm wondering if I was sold something stated as new but was actually used / defective and resold to me as new. I have a few LC+'s and the new MTH I mentioned here, and none had the exposed external gears greased, that was something the end user/customer would need to do. I think with newer MTH locomotives, there's a time usage counter, but I don't think you have that with the LC+, and even so, I don't know how you would access that information.

I don't have any LC or LC+ items so I don't know how they come as new? My LHS doesn't do this, but some dealers may lube the engines they sell? Not sure that is feasible for them to do, but you never know? I have gotten most of my engines from my LHS so I have never seen one greased out of the box. Most of mine are MTH with only a couple of Lionel Legacy engines.

rtr12 posted:

I don't have any LC or LC+ items so I don't know how they come as new? My LHS doesn't do this, but some dealers may lube the engines they sell? Not sure that is feasible for them to do, but you never know? I have gotten most of my engines from my LHS so I have never seen one greased out of the box. Most of mine are MTH with only a couple of Lionel Legacy engines.

Thanks RTR, sorry for my delay in replying. Thanks for sharing that. I contacted Lionel, and they said they do (they didn't specify which parts), but I pointed out that they don't for the idler gear, even Mike Reagan on one youtube mentioned do not grease the idler gear because of dust/debris, etc... (I still do, but that's beside the point.) I assume it would also get into the wrapper it's wrapped into and eventually get over the locomotive during shipment (the external gear, not internal worm gear)

I've decided to return both items to the dealer, after I offered a cross shipment for replacing both items, charging my card again, and get credit once they receive the original items (at my expense, as they never even offered a prepaid UPS postage for both defective items)  and never heard back from them. I wanted the cross ship because I would use their larger box to ship back both items in to save money instead of two boxes. I'll just stick with MTS going forward, as I've been burned by $50 in UPS postage, so I won't buy again with that dealer, no matter how good of a deal.

I have purchased very few major train items that needed to be shipped to me. As I said earlier, I get most everything from my LHS. I think it's customary to have to pay return shipping with most dealers though, as least it seems that way from reading about these things here. Shipping is getting to be a pretty big expense these days, especially an individual with no account shipping UPS. And I'm not sure, but I think the UPS stores may charge more than taking it directly to UPS. My LHS has even told me the shipping charges are really getting high for them too.

rtr12 posted:

I have purchased very few major train items that needed to be shipped to me. As I said earlier, I get most everything from my LHS. I think it's customary to have to pay return shipping with most dealers though, as least it seems that way from reading about these things here. Shipping is getting to be a pretty big expense these days, especially an individual with no account shipping UPS. And I'm not sure, but I think the UPS stores may charge more than taking it directly to UPS. My LHS has even told me the shipping charges are really getting high for them too.

Hi RTR,

So sorry, I missed this reply too. Thanks. The Big G sent me replacements, but the replacements have issues too. The replacement Christmas Diesel has a bent frame and white LED lights exposed in the frame (the original one sent back, the MTH tech had to replace the board, so I sent an email to get an RMA to repair the bent frame....on the first RMA request, they said 6 to 10 weeks to fix it!) and the RS-3 Lionel LC+ is stuttering again, but I think I found the issue and posted a reply here (another topic) asking if anyone thinks its what I think and if I can repair it myself [ https://ogrforum.com/t...02#70974704583341602 ]

I hear you on the shipping, but my LHS (TrainWorld) is very expensive and with Tax, it's unaffordable. The next time I make a big purchase on a locomotive, it will be through MTS.