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Post by Adam on Jan 10, 2024 14:57:19 GMT
I've got a strange issue with my MTH PS3 ACL E-6 (A-A Set) engine (30-20250-1). It starts and runs fine for about 10 minutes. Then it slows down and struggles to get around the loop. This happens with or without anything behind it.
I've done and checked the usual suspects. It has been lubed up, new traction tires (it isn't slipping), cleaned, track cleaned. The motor doesn't seem to be getting hot (again, it has fresh lubrication).
This is an early PS3 Engine from what I can gather. Is this something known? Google search turns up nothing from what I can see. Only engine that does this.
Ideas?
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Post by healey36 on Jan 10, 2024 15:05:10 GMT
You already did what I would have suggested...checked the motor to see if it was hot. Wiring resistance increases with temperature, so sometimes that manifests itself in slower motor speeds. I see this frequently with some of my prewar open-frame motors, but this is a can motor, so it should be much less likely to be a problem. I would recheck lubrication of the drive-line, gears, bushings, etc. Other than that, I got nuthin'.
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Post by Adam on Jan 10, 2024 15:15:31 GMT
You already did what I would have suggested...checked the motor to see if it was hot. Wiring resistance increases with temperature, so sometimes that manifests itself in slower motor speeds. I see this frequently with some of my prewar open-frame motors, but this is a can motor, so it should be much less likely to be a problem. I would recheck lubrication of the drive-line, gears, bushings, etc. Other than that, I got nuthin'. I will do more testing to see if temp is an issue. I did that a while back and didnt see it, but that feels like the thing that could be the issue.
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Post by josef on Jan 10, 2024 16:17:51 GMT
Did you check the motor mount screws? I had an engine, F3 early PS1 that did that. Took body off and ran on test track and saw motor moving and kind of binding. Tightened screws, lubed, etc. Still running with ERR boards installed now. That was over 5 years ago and still running strong. If I hadn't found it, might have damaged the gears.
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Post by david1 on Jan 10, 2024 16:53:46 GMT
Make sure nothing is jammed in the idler gears on the side of the trucks. Use a small flashlight to check. Look close because items could be small.
Dave
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Post by josef on Jan 10, 2024 16:57:36 GMT
Also. Did you try a re-set?
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Post by Adam on Jan 10, 2024 17:14:04 GMT
Thanks for the additional ideas. I will check these this evening.
I did a reset this morning and the problem persisted. I reset always when I get a new to me engine, so I know I did this before as well.
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Post by Adam on Jan 10, 2024 22:13:13 GMT
I did another cleaning/lubrication of the engine which did nothing.
But I may have solved this mystery. I’m used to my MTH engines pulling great at slow speeds. The test I was run in was at 10 scale MPH per the MTH system. It eventually would slow down.
So, I decided just to run it faster and picked 25 MPH. It has been running steady for a good 15 min, well past when it would normally slow down. The speed isn’t what I would expect at 25 and other engines would be flying by, but it’s running.
This is a very early PS3 so I wonder if that was a calibration error or underpowered can motors on some early PS3 engines? Maybe just a flaw on this specific model.
Anyway, I’m happy enough with this “solution”.
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Post by Traindiesel! on Jan 11, 2024 4:56:46 GMT
I have a MTH SD70-2 from 2009 that had this problem. When it would stop the shell would be hot to the touch. Since it was new and under warranty I took it straight back to the dealer. Kirke Mitchell of JusTrains in Delaware personally took it to Columbia, Md. and handed it to Mike Wolf. But when I received it back, it did the same thing.
I didn’t test it for a couple weeks after getting it back because I thought it was fixed and I had other new locomotives I wanted to play with. Supposedly it received a new motor but I don’t know. I figured it at least would run for twenty minutes before stopping so I put it back in its box and would get back to it later. But more preorders kept arriving and I didn’t open the SD70-2 again before we moved.
I’ll get to it eventually as I service all my engines to test on my under construction layout.
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Post by Adam on Jan 11, 2024 12:03:41 GMT
I have a MTH SD70-2 from 2009 that had this problem. When it would stop the shell would be hot to the touch. Since it was new and under warranty I took it straight back to the dealer. Kirke Mitchell of JusTrains in Delaware personally took it to Columbia, Md. and handed it to Mike Wolf. But when I received it back, it did the same thing. I didn’t test it for a couple weeks after getting it back because I thought it was fixed and I had other new locomotives I wanted to play with. Supposedly it received a new motor but I don’t know. I figured it at least would run for twenty minutes before stopping so I put it back in its box and would get back to it later. But more preorders kept arriving and I didn’t open the SD70-2 again before we moved. I’ll get to it eventually as I service all my engines to test on my under construction layout. Interesting. Mine isn't getting hot. I ran it for 20 min with the shell off so that I could see if the motors were heating up, but they were cool to the touch. Strange. It seems to run fine at 25+ MPH, but slower than I would expect at that speed setting. Good enough for now. My suspicion is that motors are under powered, but that is just a guess.
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Post by Adam on Jan 11, 2024 12:18:56 GMT
Looks like you have done the obvious. You say it runs OK for 10 min which I never heard of that. Otherwise, I have 3 other answers I have encountered. What happens if you run the diesel backwards? Hmm, interesting question and experiment. Will give that a try this evening.
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chuck
New Member
Posts: 47
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Post by chuck on Jan 11, 2024 14:21:13 GMT
Few questions...What track voltage are you using and what kind of power? Since that is a AA set try just the lead A unit without the slave equipped trailing A to see if things change.
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Post by Adam on Jan 11, 2024 15:09:34 GMT
Few questions...What track voltage are you using and what kind of power? Since that is a AA set try just the lead A unit without the slave equipped trailing A to see if things change. I'm using MTHs DCS system with their largest power brick (don't recall the voltage). I don't think power is an issue as all my other MTH engines run without an issue. you did give me another idea to try There is a connection between the two A units because the non-powered one houses the speaker system. I don't know if the powered unit will run independently but I will give that a shot.
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Post by curtis on Jan 12, 2024 0:19:18 GMT
I also was going to suggest the tether connection. I personally had that happen to me. I thought it was in all the way but wasn't. Weird art was it always stopped in the same spot on the layout leading me to believe I had track or power issues. And it was on a straight piece.
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Post by Adam on Jan 12, 2024 0:37:12 GMT
The mystery deepens. I ran it backwards for almost 20 minutes without issue.
Then I ran it forwards for 15 minutes, again, without issue.
Both at 10 MPH.
Strange. I’ll run more tests over the weekend.
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