This us just a follow up to a previous post about an MTH steam engine that was having the sound cut out with activation of smoke generator. It took about 6 weeks from start to finish and ended up being a draw bar pin wire that needed replacing. It works fine now. I was pleased with the service and learned from it.
Eisen This us just a follow up to a previous post about an MTH steam engine that was having the sound cut out with activation of smoke generator. It took about 6 weeks from start to finish and ended up being a draw bar pin wire that needed replacing. It works fine now. I was pleased with the service and learned from it.
That's good to hear. I have sent many engines to MTH for service over the years, and always got good results when the engine returned. I gotta tell ya bub, your not going to get many responses because it's about MTH and it ended alls well. I guarantee you if you would of started this post bad mouthing MTH and their service, this would be the the biggest thread for the week LOL!
Joe C
Wouldn't dream of bad mouthing them. However after a day it is having the same problem. I did tell them that the sound and smoke would begin to hesitate intermittently when the smoke generator F8 was enabled. They fixed the draw bar wire. It's still doing it. I guess back again. Not happy at this moment.
Eisen Wouldn't dream of bad mouthing them. However after a day it is having the same problem. I did tell them that the sound and smoke would begin to hesitate intermittently when the smoke generator F8 was enabled. They fixed the draw bar wire. It's still doing it. I guess back again. Not happy at this moment.
Sorry to hear that. What engine is it? Is it constant or at certain points on the layout? I have a challenger that does it with the sound. Your actually losing contact but only for the slightest moment that the engine actually keeps moving. It might be bad contacts with the tender wheels. I once was told that the catipillar tenders on the challenger and big boys have a small design flaw. The flaw does two things. The wheels can slightly lose either contact with the wheels or with the pickups in the tender. What ever engine and if it's at certain points, go very slow past the point and notice the wheels. If it's constant, it can be a number of things.
JC
It's the HO 4-8-4 J Norfolk Western. I haven't been able to pin it to certain spots but there are some areas that seem to be more common. I will pay closer attention to it tonight. I clean the track weekly. The weird part is it begins with enabling the smoke generator and stops when I disable it (F8). Doesn't that make wheel pickup issues less likely?
I don't know. that just seems weird. So your saying that when you have the smoke unit off, there is no problem? I have many MTH's and I never experienced a combination problem as yours. Wonder what they did the first time to try and fix the problem? Send it back and demand a new board. That's probably the only fix. Or (which I wouldn't settle on either) just don't run the smoke unit.
Yes. I agree. It is weird. But very reproducible. Happens in different spots. Not at turnouts only. Often in middle of flex track sections. I think it is the decoder. I noticed after sitting for awhile it may run around the layout once before starting. Maybe related to heat? My BLI K4 runs fine. I did include a description of the problem but they fixed the draw bar wire. Maybe that needed fixing but obviously not the problem. I wish I knew someone with a DCC layout I could test it on.
Ohhh, I'm sorry, I assumed you were running in DCC. Ya kow what, you can run MTH engines in DC but I always heard that they were quirky in DC. Is there a hobby shop nearby. I'm sure they have a layout and it might be in DCC.
As I read this thread, I find that anybody posting a post bashing MTH would be unnecessary.
Fla
Do you think its the decoder? Do you run in DC? And if you do what brand of engine works best in a dual mode?
I am running in DCC. I just meant I'd like to see if it happens on a different layout. I've done evrything I can think of to prevent electrical problems on mine but you never know.
I do think it's the decoder. Ran my BLI K4 simultaneously with My MTH 4-8-4 (the problem loco) and when the sound and smoke problem occured the K4 continued on without a hiccup so I think it's safe to say it's not a short.
floridaflyer As I read this thread, I find that anybody posting a post bashing MTH would be unnecessary.
EisenAs I read this thread, I find that anybody posting a post bashing MTH would be unnecessary. I appreciate your opinion but I don't agree. I'm sure every company produces products that do not always work as intended. I have found MTH to always stand by their products. I feel their movement is smooth and more realistic out of the box then my other locos. I find their sound superior but I will say some of the latest BLI locos sound very good. I've owned Athearn, Atlas, Proto2K, and Rapido products. Love them all but MTH has always been special.
I appreciate your opinion but I don't agree. I'm sure every company produces products that do not always work as intended. I have found MTH to always stand by their products. I feel their movement is smooth and more realistic out of the box then my other locos. I find their sound superior but I will say some of the latest BLI locos sound very good. I've owned Athearn, Atlas, Proto2K, and Rapido products. Love them all but MTH has always been special.
I totally agree with what you said and I must say you handled the not relevent opinion rather well