Problems with MTH Loco-Sound locomotive

[shay6]

I am experiencing two problems with two of my original Loco Sounds locomotives from MTH.  I thought maybe someone here could offer some insight. 

#1) I have one locomotive that "Screeches" sometimes when power is applied to the rails.  It's not consistent.  And sometimes if you leave it sit and come back to it later, then the engine will chuff normally.  But sometimes when you power up, you get an awful screeching noise out of the tender. 

 #2) I have a Santa Fe 2-8-0 that smokes, but very weekly.  The loco in question 1 will smoke you right out of the train room (It's a PRR Turbine).  But my other loco smokes very weekly if at all.  Can this be "turned up" somehow like can be done with the PS-2 locos?

 Thanks for any ideas you can offer. 

[phillyreading]

For an answer to problem one, have you tried charging up the battery in the tender?  You may have to let it sit for about five or six hours with track voltage applied and the locomotive in nuetral or you can buy the MTH battery charger from your local hobby store, MTH part # 50-1019.

Most MTH and Lionel trains may sit on the dealer shelfs for six to eight months and with MTH's DCS system the batteries will have a very low charge.

To answer problem two, you are sopposed to be able to adjust the smoke through the DCS handheld unit.   MAKE SURE that ALL batteries are fully charged before attempting this!  The batteries in the remote control(I recommend fresh Duracell batteries) and the locomotive batteries in the tenders, also read the instruction booklet that came with the DCS unit, may help to have the DCS instruction booklet next to you when doing the smoke adjustment.

If you have any more problems the track may not be connected the way that MTH recommends or the track may need cleaning.

Jefelectric on this forum may know more about the DCS system than me and can help you better if needed.

Lee F.

[shay6]

Thanks PR- but I don't think the DCS plays a role here since these are LOCO sound locomotives.  These things predate even PS1.  Am I mistaken?  I didn't think they have the same functionality as the PS locos.  To that end, I don't think they even have the PS rechargable battery. 

 Could be mistaken though . . .

[phillyreading]

I am not sure about PS-1 locomotives, but those that were before PS-1 may have a battery somewhere inside the locomotive(diesel) or tender(steam) shell.  Usually the shell has about four to six screws to take out, sometimes only one screw, may be really small screw heads.   The batteries or battery pack may look like a cordless telephone battery(not like a cell phone battery), be careful about battery polarity if the mini cable does not have a small notch for alignment. Should be the same battery voltage if replacing the battery or batteries, two tenths of a volt higher may be alright, don't go lower as the battery won't perform the job it needs to.

Lee F.

[jimhaleyscomet]

MTH still makes Loco Sound locomotives.  They are the less expensive non-PS2.O units.  If the sound continues on for a shutdown sequence after you cut the power then you have a battery. 

 

Jim H 

[kblester]

My Locosounds 2-8-0 would not operate on my MTH Realtrax loop, but would sound fine on my Lionel 031 track and switches. Sounded like radio static with sqawks and screaches on the Realtrax. I contacted MTH techs and they could not offer a reason. They said my fault, bad wiring connections, transformer, rail joints, dirty track, full moon, etc. Not their fault.

What fixed the problem was taking a brite boy eraser and removing all the black coating from the top of the center rail of the Realtrax, and cleaning the track, wheels, and rollers again. All is well again. Except that horrid whistle sound they try to pass off as a real recording of a train whistle. Give me an old air whistle any day.

Ken

[spankybird]

In your first engine, is the sound you hear when you are changeing power, it maybe the sounds of the breaks. This is normal in both PS1 and PS2 engines.

 

In your second engine, it sounds like the wick needs to be replace in the smoke unit.