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Athearn Genesis SD70 Pickup Problems

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  • Member since
    December 2007
  • 993 posts
Posted by hobo9941 on Monday, November 29, 2010 9:03 PM

I'll try a reset, but with the little red power light on the decoder going on and off, it indicates a power problem.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 1,932 posts
Posted by Stevert on Sunday, November 28, 2010 10:25 PM

hobo9941
There is nothing to reset, since I haven't changed any of the CVs yet.

  How do you know some CV's weren't set to a non-default values during factory testing, or if a static discharge or an irregularity in your DCC track voltage didn't scramble something?

  I'm not saying that a reset will fix the problem for sure, but I have heard of situations where it has helped. 

  It only takes a moment to reset the decoder and rule out a possible issue in that area, so what do you have to lose?

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • 993 posts
Posted by hobo9941 on Sunday, November 28, 2010 9:16 PM

My whole layout is DCC, so I did not try the SD70 before I installed the Tsunami. It does jerk and stall with no cars, on clean track where other locos run fine. When it stalls, the little red power light on the circuit board goes out. And it just sits there, until I nudge it, or move it. So I know it isn't getting power. And while it jerks and stumbles on straight track, it stalls completely on curves. As it is stumbling down the track, the red power light on the Tsunami is blinking on and off, along with the headlights, so I'm sure it is a power pickup problem. I will try it with some cars, and see what it  does.

There is nothing to reset, since I haven't changed any of the CVs yet. The engine is fine, sitting there in neutral. Horn, bell, lights, etc all work OK. It just  doesn't run worth a $#@%&

I was looking at the trucks, and I see the power wires are connected with those press on fasteners. I guess my next move will be to solder the pickup wires to the trucks. But still, with power pickup on both sides of the front and rear six wheel trucks, it should not be a problem.

  • Member since
    May 2008
  • 4,612 posts
Posted by Hamltnblue on Sunday, November 28, 2010 9:41 AM

Also try resetting the tsunami. 

I've had decoders go crazy in the past where they jolt and skip like they're dirty.  A reset usually fixes it .

Springfield PA

  • Member since
    July 2007
  • From: Bergen County, NJ
  • 201 posts
Posted by elansp on Saturday, November 27, 2010 9:01 PM

1st question - how did it run before installing the tsunami ?  is engine being tested without any cars  coupled to it?   tsunami is sensitive - poor contacts - wheels or track - can cause it to restart.  resistance will also reset it.  if all of these are good, then you could have a defective board - i'd try another tsunami board and send this one back - soundtraxx is very good with repairs/replacement.

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • 993 posts
Athearn Genesis SD70 Pickup Problems
Posted by hobo9941 on Friday, November 26, 2010 5:56 PM

I just installed a Tsunami decoder in an Athearn Genesis SD70, and it has pickup problems right out of the box. The Tsunami is installed correctly, and is fine standing still. But when it moves forward or back, it stumbles and stalls. The track is clean and other locos run fine on the same track. Particularly annoying is the Tsunami going through the entire startup sequence every time the loco stumbles.

I" m aware of the power pickup problems with the Athearn Ready To Roll locos. Is the problem also common to the Genesis line? Am I going to have to dissassemble the trucks and scrape paint from the sideframes on a Genesis unit? Is there any way to prevent the Tsunami from going through the whole startup sequence every time the loco stumbles?

Thanks in advance, Rich

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