Okay, this is a weird one. One of my three Weaver GP38-2s intermittently has problems maintaining speed. It occasionally drops to half its normal speed, which for some reason causes the horn to blow in the sound car. I'm not sure whether it's a mechanical or electrical issue, but I have never heard of an issue like this. I will also mention that I will NOT be upgrading these units with command control, unless I can find an old EOB kit.
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your R2LC radio board is going if it has tmcc. change it out with one from your other 2 engines and see if it happens. if it does happen, then it might be the motherboard.
It sounds electrical. The motor dropping to half speed and blowing the horn suggests that maybe the motor drivers are providing an unbalanced load during the failure and causing the horn circuit to see the DC offset that will trigger it.
DL&W Pete posted:your R2LC radio board is going if it has tmcc. change it out with one from your other 2 engines and see if it happens. if it does happen, then it might be the motherboard.
They are conventional
gunrunnerjohn posted:It sounds electrical. The motor dropping to half speed and blowing the horn suggests that maybe the motor drivers are providing an unbalanced load during the failure and causing the horn circuit to see the DC offset that will trigger it.
So exactly what component is causing the problem?
Not knowing exactly what electronic package is in that engine, I can't be specific. I'm just suggesting that the motor driver board seems to be injecting the offset, probably due to a component failing. That reduces the power to the motor and also results in the DC offset to blow the horn. I'm not seeing a great likelihood that this is mechanical.
gunrunnerjohn posted:Not knowing exactly what electronic package is in that engine, I can't be specific. I'm just suggesting that the motor driver board seems to be injecting the offset, probably due to a component failing. That reduces the power to the motor and also results in the DC offset to blow the horn. I'm not seeing a great likelihood that this is mechanical.
Okay. Thanks for the help. A few ideas here, I have a few other old weaver engines I'm willing to convert, could steal electronics from them. I bet I could also grab a few off the forum if there are other people upgrading old weavers like these.
I'm sure there are plenty of conventional electronics packages available. I posted one a while back from an Atlas diesel. It was a combined reverse unit with multi-chime horn and bell on a single board.
QSI electronics were in a lot of conventional Weaver models that I upgraded. Some even had sound systems with an add on board.
Mike CT posted:QSI electronics were in a lot of conventional Weaver models that I upgraded. Some even had sound systems with an add on board.
The GP38s do not have QSI electronics, at least not as far as I know. They are some of the earliest engines Weaver released, early 90's.
My E8's and C630's were also early 1990's and had the QSI electronics. Six board in this box all QSI. There yours, if you want them, not sure if they work, or what unit locomotive they were part of, I've done quite a few upgrades.
Mike CT posted:My E8's and C630's were also early 1990's and had the QSI electronics. Six board in this box all QSI
Okay, I can take a second look on Wednesday when I'm back at my dad's house.