Need some help!

[C.M.E. Trainmaster]

My loco stopped dead on the mainline two weeks ago.I tried tweeting joiners,taking apart and putting track back together.Now my MRC Tech 4 is acting up.The pilot light dims as the throttle goes up to 100 and brightens as I move it towards 0.There is barely enough

[BigDaddy]

to the forum.  Your posts are moderated for the first handful so there will be a delay before it appears.

You will be better served if you pick a more specific title and give us more information than you think we need.   Your post ends with an incomplete sentence.

Is this the only loco you have?  What brand and type loco is it?

Before things stopped working, had you done anything like adding new track?

The pilot light dimming when you increase the throttle is a sign of a short circuit.  That can be something as simple as a pair of pliers on the tracks to a problem with the motor in the engine.

 

 

[davidmurray]

A couple trouble shooting suggestions:

1) remove loco from track, crank throttle up, if light dims, it is not the loco.

2)  if you have a multi meter, set voltage to half, check voltage every foot, When it drops, check connections.

3) using multi meter and with power off, set for resistentance, should be infinite.

   Again check every two feet. If you find a reading, you have a short, probably wiring problem.

 

Dave

 

[C.M.E. Trainmaster]

Thanks for the welcome.Bit of a shame I came to the forum to solve layout issues.Lots of people here.i have been a subscriber to MR (mag) for years.I would ask them but who knows if they would even print it.Besides can’t wait months to solve this problem.I need to run Dontrains.I checked the tracks for loose metal debris,tools,etc.I ordered a new ALCO RS3(the old one was accidently drop to the floor(b4 issues started)I also ordered a new dual power throttle(MRC TECH 7)I don’t have a multimeter.But with above replacement parts ordered and fingers crossed I hope for the best!IT’s almost Christmas time and I was hoping to soon have new wheels under my current fleet of rolling stock.If a new loco and new throttle dosen’t work it’ll be back to search and fix(/w/ multimeter in hand.Thanks for taking time to answer.It drives me nuts to not be able to operate.Hope you can between the rails

[SeeYou190]

.

I know your posts are still being moderated, so it will take a while for your answer to appear.

.

1) Does this same locomotive work elsewhere on the layout?

.

2) Does another locomotive have the same problem when placed on this section of track, or will it function OK?

.

3) If all locomotives are removed from the layout, does the pilot lamp still dim when the throttle is turned up?

.

-Kevin

.

[mlehman]

Is there only one set of power leads to the track - or more than one? If more than one, check that all are correctly attached. If you have somehow hooked up the  + to the - and vice versa, that could cause the issue you're experiencing.

Also check for any unanticipated return loops, etc. Reversing sections require special wiring on most layouts.

[richhotrain]

BigDaddy

You will be better served if you pick a more specific title and give us more information than you think we need.   Your post ends with an incomplete sentence.

Ya think?

I realize that this is the OP's first post, but the way the problem is presented will only lead to endless speculation without more information.

Rich

 

[BigDaddy]

C.M.E. Trainmaster

the old one was accidently drop to the floor

Little bits of information like that make a difference. If it ran before that, I suspect that if you take off the shell of the loco, you will see broken bits or wires.

Your shotgun approach to solving the problem may well work, or you will run out of money.  For the price of a six pack of bad beer you can get a Harbor Freight multimeter.

I don't know if you are posting by phone or not, but a large block of text, with run on sentences is hard to read for some of us.

Hope you are up and running for Christmas.

[tstage]

BigDaddy

I don't know if you are posting by phone or not, but a large block of text, with run on sentences is hard to read for some of us.

Agreed.  Even a space or two between periods would help immensely with ease of readability.

[MisterBeasley]

BigDaddy

 

For the price of a six pack of bad beer you can get a Harbor Freight multimeter.

I would rather sit at a bar with a multimeter than bad beer.