I have an Athearn Genesis GP9 with a strange problem. It has been running great until last night when I put it in reverse and it shut down (shorted) the section of my layout it was on. I know it is a short because the the PSX ckt breaker board indicated it as such. This only happens when I try to run it in reverse. Forward is OK. I have another loco exactly the same, and it is fine. When the reverse key is pressed, it is OK....but when you go to throttle it up, the short occurs....strange. This is the only loco that this happens to.
I bought it at Caboose Hobbies about 2-1/2 years ago. I emailed them and one of the suggestions was to reset it to factory settings. I did, and that did not work.
It has a Soundtraxx decoder with sound. Could the decoder itself be bad? Any suggestions out there? Never had this happen with any decoder in any of my other locos.
Thanks for any help or suggestions!
-Al
Al,
ISTR hearing something about some Genesis locos having their motor short to the frame when torque caused the motor to shift slightly.
Not sure if it was GP9's or not, and I don't recall where I heard it. Unfortunately, too, a quick Google search didn't turn anything up.
I know that's not much to go on, but maybe it'll be helpful...
Take off the shell to see if the motor shifts or to see if anything sparks.
It sounds like something is loose inside. Look for a damaged wire or other problems like a metal shaving causing the short. Tighten the motor mount.
Actually, the loco doesn't even move or make a sound. All you have to do is turn the knob (I use Digitrax) and the layout shuts down and the circuit breaker shows a short. After about 10 seconds, the short ends. Just wondering if there is some kind of electronics anomaly going on.
I will take off the shell and see if I can see something though. Thanks.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
Yup - start at the motor and work your way back to the trucks until the short goes away. I've seen Athearn engines with broken wires from the trucks. Could be the case - in reverse the wire moves a bit and shorts out on something.
Divide and conquer ....
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
I would also check the gauge of the wheel-sets....It's quite possible, that You have a cracked axle gear and when running forward it appears ok, but motor direction causes the split axle's cracked gear to widen causing the split axle's to touch, causing a instant short, when motor is stopped, the axle gear relaxe's and the short goe's away. Something to think about. I had one do that, but it was DC, easier to find.
Good Luck!
Frank
I removed the shell and took a look. When put in reverse, the motor doesn't move at all. After pressing the reverse button, nothing moves, then the short starts. I will keep looking. All the wires look OK.
Al
While You have the shell off....disconnect the drive line and then test for forward/reverse motion, if it turns freely...it must be the gearing. Also try with drive line disconnected to move engine back and forth by hand, rolling it on a flat surface. If You find that You cannot move it boths ways and feel a bind, that is causing Your short.....When motor trys to go in reverse, gears bind stops motor, but current still flows to motor, until it shuts down. Any motor that will not turn freely will draw more current, resulting in system shutting it down, to protect itself. Just from Your explaination....that is what I feel is going on.
Like I said in My post....I had two brand new in box...one ran perfect...the other did what You are explaining.
Haven't had a chance to try out the recommendations yet. Will after the holiday. I will let you know. If nothing works, I may take it to someone to look at it. They are a whiz at this kind of stuff.
Thanks for the info. -Al