I am frustrated. I have an Atlas Gold Series Trainmaster that was running wonderfully, with excellent sound and realistic slow mo operation. It seems to suddenly have developed a problem which I cannot figure out either the cause or sollution.
Here are the symptoms: I place the loco on the layout and select it on my Digitrax system. It goes through startup, lights come on, prime mover rumbles to life and idles peacefully. As soon as I move the throttle, it starts to move and instantaneously shuts down...motor stops, sound quits, lights go out. A second or two later it tries again, lurching forward a 1/4 inch or so, and shuts down again. This goes on until I can't stand it anymore.
Other locos run fine on the same section of track. I have cleaned the track and wheels. I have reset the decoder to factory defaults. I tested the loco on a separate test track using an MRC system and the same symptoms occur. Strangely, when I put the loco on a Tiddy Track wheel cleaner or a test stand, it runs perfectly. I inspected the mechanicals and see nothing out of the ordinary. Now, the same symptoms have appeared on an Intermountain F7. Both have QSI decoders, but that may be coincidence.
Can anyone help me? What else can I do?
Thanks in advance.
It sounds like a decoder pb. It may be a function button/setting, not just CVs. It's been a while since I worked with QSI(I've replaced them) but I had a similar pb and kind of remember it being a function issue, not CV. It should have cleared up with a reset, but QSI decoders don't always reset well, at least that's been my experience. Reset it a couple of times in a row, then confirm settings.
Richard
alfanzOther locos run fine on the same section of track. I have cleaned the track and wheels. I have reset the decoder to factory defaults. I tested the loco on a separate test track using an MRC system and the same symptoms occur. Strangely, when I put the loco on a Tiddy Track wheel cleaner or a test stand, it runs perfectly. I inspected the mechanicals and see nothing out of the ordinary. Now, the same symptoms have appeared on an Intermountain F7. Both have QSI decoders, but that may be coincidence.
Review: Both locos started acting up after they had been cleaned on the wheel cleaner?
Both locos work correctly on wheel cleaner or test stand, after they started acting up?
Could the decoder be over loading when the loco motor is put under under load on the rails?
Why would cleaning, do this to the decoder? Bits of brush wire in the gearing lube?
I have had a rough running loco because of a tiny bit in the gear teeth lube.
Anyway, good luck. Have a set back and contemplate.
Lee
Do the wheel cleaner and roller units run on DC, or are they connected to your DCC system?
Also, have you tried running in both forward and reverse?
When you say it "shuts down," is it just the locomotive, or is the DCC system itself shutting down. It sounds like you've got a short if the whole system shuts down. This could be a loose wire inside.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Are both trucks supplying power to the motor?
Jim
Current flows from track to wheels to bearings to truck side frames to wires that use those little plastic retainers. As the truck swivels back and forth and rocks side to side it is more than likely a wire off of one of the truck frames. Do yourself a favor and solder the wires to the truck side frames.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, the problems started before I cleaned the wheels. I tried cleaning them after they started acting up. Crazy, but when I put them on the Tidy Track wheel cleaner they run perfectly. Put them on the track and the start/stop problem persists.
Thanks for the reply. The wheel cleaner and test stand run on DCC power. The booster does not shut down, so it doesn't detect a short in the system. The power to the decoder is being interrupted and when it comes back on within a few seconds, the loco goes through the startup sound cycle.
That leads me to think you have a wire connection issue. Look to my previous post.