Hi,I just want to give you a short report. Problem solved ! Both models run smoothly again.
I looked under the shell one of models but the circuit board in Proto 2000 is very tidy. Very is no plastic clips to hold wires. All connections are soldered or they use small professional plugs. I didn't find any suspicious place which could be a reason of problems.
There was a wondering fact that both engines run well when I press them to the track. So I disambled a locomotive's truck. There are some small part on axles ( I am not sure how to call it in English so I pointed it with red arrow on the first picture) which conduct power from a wheel. This part is touching a small metal strip which is further connected to the circuit board. On the beginning this metal strip was placed horizontally. My idea was that maybe this strip didn't touch the metal part on the axle enough so I bent it a litte down (up on the picture 2 - the model is upside down). I did it for all 4 axles in each model and it helped.
Hi,Unfortunatelly, I have a very busy week at work and no time to check models. I am going to fix them on weekend.I will let you know about results.
Hi Erik: just curious for an update on those f-3 units...Jerry
I agree with Cacole,the problem is under the shells
I well add though I bought a auction new f-3 B unit in wrong livery but cheap price . It did similar as you described, that one turned out to be a drive shaft came out of the moter connector and the bind was thowing fits with the qsi board ...easy fix ,Once I removed the shell..never could figure out how the shalf came out on a "brand new ,still in plastic wrap unit " BUT it was the F3 and I have a bunch of f-7 same chassis with NO problems ,Take a look ...Jerry
If these are like all other models coming out of China in the past few years, they don't solder the pickup wires to the truck side frames or decoder/light board, but use small plastic clips to hold the wires in place.
It is possible that the plastic clips have slipped off the trucks or decoders, causing erratic electrical pickup. The only solution to this problem is to disassemble the models and solder all the connections.
Hi,I am looking for a solution to problem with power pickup in my F3 A-B set. I have been buliding my layout for last 3-4 years so mostly I buy models and collect them in boxes. I am going to run them when the most dirties works will be finished. I run some models occasionaly to test new parts of my layout. I tried to run the F3 set last weekend. It is a brand new set which I bought about 1,5 year ago.This is what I have: http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/920-41271 I checked models when I received them and since that time both engines just waited in boxes.
Unfortunatelly, I wasn't able to run them yestarday. It looks that both units have problem with power. There are power cut out and cut back in. Because of this power cut out decoders are reseting before models even start moving. I cleaned the wheels and tracks and still the same. Both engines are not able to start run. After some cut out and cut in they finally go off. It is possible to start them if i push on them hard with my hand. After they get some speed they run smoothly but problem is back when I stop them and try to run again.
Any suggestions what might be wrong with these models? I found an article about similiar problem with Athearn Genesis F3 but nothing about Proto 2000. I have also a set of F7 from Proto 2000 and there is no problem at all. Both F7 engines run very smoothly.
Regards,Arek