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Atlas HO scale EMD GP40-2(W)

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  • Member since
    December 2013
  • From: Pickering ON. Canada
  • 30 posts
Atlas HO scale EMD GP40-2(W)
Posted by Duker on Wednesday, March 25, 2015 7:38 PM

I have a Emd GP 40-2(W) loco and i have sound lights, but the loco does not move, it just does very tiny intermittent movement, i have tried the reset uisng the wand and reed to no avail, is there somethiong else i can do to bring this loco back to running order.

  • Member since
    November 2006
  • From: NW Pa Snow-belt.
  • 2,216 posts
Posted by ricktrains4824 on Thursday, March 26, 2015 12:23 PM

When it moves slightly, does sound and lights stay on when it stops? This is very important... If lights/sound stay on:

Have you changed momentum settings? I have seen momentum settings so high it will take FOREVER to move... That's cv 3&4. CV 3 is acceleration, 4 is decceleration or braking. Set both these to a very low number, even zero to see if this is the issue. 

Other things to check, are contact issues between decoder and motor, or a binding drivetrain. 

If lights/sound shuts off with the stopping motor:

Dirty wheels/track, dirty contacts in trucks, power continuity issue between rails and decoder. Also, possibly shorting out somewhere, as stalling looks a lot like a short.

Ricky W.

HO scale Proto-freelancer.

My Railroad rules:

1: It's my railroad, my rules.

2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.

3: Any objections, consult above rules.

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Heart of Georgia
  • 5,397 posts
Posted by Doughless on Thursday, March 26, 2015 2:00 PM

You said "tried the rest using the wand to no avail".  Does that mean you succeeded in resetting the decoder and that you still have the running problem, or that it did not reset?   You can also use your DCC system (assuming you have one) to reset QSI sound decoders by programming the following CVs to their respective values in the following order: CV 49 to 128; CV 50 to 255; CV 56 to 113.

When successfully reset, you should either hear a voice say "reset", or the horn toot 3 times.  If you did not hear either of these sounds you did not reset the decoder.

I have had a problem where the lights worked the sound worked and the motor sound even revved as I increased the throttle speed, but the loco's motor did not engage.  Is this the problem you are having? I carefully inspected all wires and noticed one was pinched quite badly.  Easing the strain erased the problem.  Sometimes the wiring and the connections can be phinnicky.

- Douglas

  • Member since
    November 2006
  • From: NW Pa Snow-belt.
  • 2,216 posts
Posted by ricktrains4824 on Thursday, March 26, 2015 10:26 PM

One other thing I just thought of. The "shut down procedure" on QSI units... Try double pressing F6 while throttle is set to zero.... If the decoder is in the "disconnect" mode, you will get sound, and lights, but the loco will flat out not move.... You enter into "disconnect" mode by double pressing F9 while throttle is at zero, and it will simulate how the real guys and gals test the dynamics, where the prime mover will load up, dynamics will also load up, but no power is supplied to the traction motors, so it will not move... Same on our QSI equipped models while in "disconnect" mode. You get full sound and lights, but no "power" to provide movement.

This should have clicked when I first read that it was Atlas sound equipped.... For some reason, it didn't... Dunce

Ricky W.

HO scale Proto-freelancer.

My Railroad rules:

1: It's my railroad, my rules.

2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.

3: Any objections, consult above rules.

  • Member since
    December 2013
  • From: Pickering ON. Canada
  • 30 posts
Posted by Duker on Saturday, March 28, 2015 3:49 PM

yes the sound and lights stay on, i have changed the CV 3 and 4 to be zero's, contacts are ok between decoder and motor i have cleaned wheels and trucks polarity is ok,, several other locos all ok...still can get this Atlas to reset, maybe i'm not holding the magnetic wand in the right spot??  

  • Member since
    December 2013
  • From: Pickering ON. Canada
  • 30 posts
Posted by Duker on Saturday, March 28, 2015 3:52 PM

i cannot reset the decoderi tried resetting cv 49 50 and 56 still no luck, this loco has lights sound motor does rev  but motor does not move, i have inspected wires all seem ok not pinched.

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Heart of Georgia
  • 5,397 posts
Posted by Doughless on Monday, March 30, 2015 5:29 PM

Probably have to call or email Atlas or better to QSI.  I think your situation has probably occurred before, so hopefully they will be able to guide you.

- Douglas

  • Member since
    December 2013
  • From: Pickering ON. Canada
  • 30 posts
Posted by Duker on Monday, March 30, 2015 7:15 PM

Thanks to Douglass and Ricktrains, i tried all of your suggestions nothing work, but tried once more to rest my NCE to factory defaults and for some reason Loco is now working. Thanks again to you both for your assistance.

Brian

  • Member since
    December 2013
  • From: Pickering ON. Canada
  • 30 posts
Posted by Duker on Monday, March 30, 2015 7:17 PM

Doughlass

Sorry in my reply i typed your name wrong.

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Ontario Canada
  • 3,571 posts
Posted by Mark R. on Monday, March 30, 2015 7:29 PM

Did you just LOOK at the wires, or did you actually test them ? Either there is something wrong with the motor drive circuit in the decoder, or there is a connectivity problem in the wiring between the decoder and the motor.

If the lights and sound are working fine, there is no problem from the wheels to the decoder. The problem is between the decoder and the motor.

Mark.

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

  • Member since
    November 2012
  • 613 posts
Posted by UPinCT on Monday, March 30, 2015 10:37 PM

Duker

I have a Emd GP 40-2(W) loco and i have sound lights, but the loco does not move, it just does very tiny intermittent movement, i have tried the reset uisng the wand and reed to no avail, is there somethiong else i can do to bring this loco back to running order.

 

I have a similar Atlas GP40-2 that seems to either short or develop a mind of its own.  The wand reset trick should work.   Make sure you follow the reset instructions exactly.   It took me a couple of times to get it right .  What DC power pack are you using for the reset? 

If you're sure of the reset procedure and you still have a problem both Atlas and QSI are quite helpful. 

Let us know how you make out 

Derek 

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