Hard headed..........

Randy Clark Oct 1, 2018

  1. Randy Clark

    Randy Clark TrainBoard Member

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    I fully admit now, that my head is like a rock! Even with all the comments I researched about a recent purchase (4-6-6-4), I found someone that still had new units in stock so I jumped on one. Even with the reviews, I did it anyway. We all think we are better than the rest at making things work. LOL!!!

    Once it arrived, out of the box and onto the track for break in, how true a statement. It moves 6 feet and threw the rear side rods flipping the unit on it's side. After s short tantrum and search for the pin holding the rods to the drivers, I went to my parts box as I knew I had just bought a load of parts for my Kato FEFs and GS4s. Amazingly it fit! Back she goes on to the tracks.

    Amazingly after a week of fiddling with her I manage to get all the running gear running free with no knocks or binding and I am happy as I could be. Another great running steamer for my collection, then disaster hits!

    The lead truck on the tender hops the rails, and as I am across the room with my controller, I simply hit the E Stop Button to stop movement. Bad move!

    Even with my old age it did not dawn on me that there is still 12 VAC running through the tracks and the lead tender truck melted down!

    Fortunately I got in touch with the builder and they offered to repair at no charge. Great service offer. It wasn't their fault it was mine.

    Instead of sending it back and waiting an extended time since they return the locos to the point of manufacture I asked for them to sell me 2 trucks and I would repair myself. One to replace and one for the next time I get stupid again.

    Well, the replacement trucks, they are sending me 2 for my efforts to reduce the cost to repair, are on the way and after a 5 min truck replacement, hopefully that beautiful Greyhound will be rolling again. Will keep you informed.

    Meanwhile, I need to wire up a circuit to stop the scenario from happening again! Any suggestions?
     
    EMD F7A likes this.
  2. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    Thankfully, a good outcome. What brand was this engine?
     
  3. Randy Clark

    Randy Clark TrainBoard Member

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    Athearn. I have other units of their that perform flawlessly and given time, this one will too.

    I bought through one of our advertisers and they offered to take the unit back and replace it but I replaced the pin and got the unit tuned up before they would have even received the broken unit for replacement.

    Kudos to both the Trainworld and Athearn.
     
    Hardcoaler likes this.
  4. Randy Clark

    Randy Clark TrainBoard Member

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    BREAKING NEWS! Hah! Parts arrived today, thank you Athearn. Replacement truck soldered on and the loco is running perfectly. Thank you Athearn for the excellent service.
     
    BNSF FAN likes this.
  5. Run8Racing

    Run8Racing TrainBoard Member

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    With all the whining we all do here about everything and everybody, it's GREAT to hear that everything went well !!! I hope you're able to put a million miles on that locomotive !!!
     
  6. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    This sounds like one of those situations where being hard headed turned out to be a good thing. :D
     
  7. Randy Clark

    Randy Clark TrainBoard Member

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    People forget, model trains are MACHINES! All machines require maintenance and will break. We no longer have the luxury of running down to the hobby shop and getting personal service. Send it back to the manufacturer or do it yourself. IMHO, diesels are never a problem. Fix them yourself. Steam on the other hand is a more delicate issue. I am most grateful to the people at Athearn for responding so quickly and 3877 is racking up the miles!

    (I still wish it had a little faster top end)
     
  8. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    This is an impressive locomotive. Even us old skool DC guys can enjoy sound, including a programmable chuff rate and a remote control with throttle, reverse, whistle and bell. It even runs happily on 11" radius curves in both directions, no sweat. With it running on DCC, I'm sure it enters a whole 'nother dimension.
     
  9. Massey

    Massey TrainBoard Member

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    Both Digitrax and NCE make power managers that will protect your DC layout. The EB1 by NCE does one district per unit. It is all solid state and can be adjusted for trip current. With a DCC command station other settings can be made as well.

    Digitrax has a power manager that will handle 4 districts at the same time. The PM42 can not only be a power manager but a reverse loop circuit as well. Each of the 4 channels can be managed in any configuration, and it can also handle up to 4 controllers. The device is very flexible and very versatile. It is relay controlled, and will handle DC or DCC. Settings are done by wiring the header to suit your needs, some settings can be adjusted with a DCC command station.

    Both units are well tuned out of the box for DC or DCC operations, and are easy to install. The PM42 is a bit more expensive if you only need 1 or 2 channels but if you need 4 or more it's the cheaper option. It is also the most versatile as it can replace up to 4 AR1s if you have reverse loops.

    My old PM42 was set up for 3 power districts and one reverse loop at the same time. It did the job great. My current layout only needs 2 power managers and I choose the EB1s for the job and once again I'm very happy with my choice.
     
    Rich_S likes this.
  10. EsK

    EsK TrainBoard Member

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    Hello,
    I am new at this. Have started building my simple DCC track plan with Kato, N scale, using JMRI, DecoderPro throttles. The track plan has a self loop. So I am told that it needs something like a PM42 for auto-reversing. But I also understand that the PM42 needs to be configured and it cannot be configured through JMRI. It needs a Digitrax Command Throttle which I do not intend to have. Does it also need a break-out board to connect it to anything?

    I wrote to Digitrax and they got back saying that they do not provide technical support for using PM42 with JMRI.

    I intend using PM42 because it takes care of future expansion plans.

    I did try to read online about using PM42 with JMRI but I didn't understand something about it needing the LocoNet or at least LocoNet Data Signal termination. I am confused. I have no LocoNet, the only other item from Digitrax that I have is DS64 turnout controller and it works well on JMRI DCC as is.

    Is there a simpler way to take care of auto-reversal? Or rather, which is the right way for a not too complex layout.

    Thanks,
    EsK
     
  11. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    It may be simpler and easier to just use the DCC Specialties PSX devices. They are much simpler and better performing than the Digitrax PM42
     
  12. EsK

    EsK TrainBoard Member

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    PSX AR for a single auto-reverse is $54. For a home layout, wouldn't Digitrax AR1, $25 make more sense then? I am using SPROG3 which already has a built-in circuit breaker so what is needed is a simple AR.
    Your thoughts, please.
     
  13. papahnash

    papahnash TrainBoard Member

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    I use a simple SPST switch that I can reach easily to turn off all DCC power to the track along with 12v auto bulbs in series to each detection section. The bulbs act as a cushion so that the whole layout doesn't shut down with a short and indicates where to look for it.
     
    EsK and Hardcoaler like this.
  14. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    I have never found the Digitrax PM42 or the AR1 be very reliable and slow reacting. The PSX devices are all solid state and respond 100 times faster than the PM42. They are also custom configurable as well.
     
    papahnash and EsK like this.
  15. Carolina Northern

    Carolina Northern TrainBoard Member

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    The AR-1 has a long documented history of causing problems on layouts. It would be my last choice for a reversing tool.
     
    papahnash and EsK like this.
  16. Massey

    Massey TrainBoard Member

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    The PM42 can be configured through JMRI but I have found that the PR3 doesn't like to allow it (cant say for the PM4 as I don't own one). I have used the LocoBuffer from RRCircuits and it allowed the configuration of my PM42 just fine. You do have to tell the JMRI that you are working on a PM42 (I cant remember how it's been too long since I last did this can some one chime in and help me here!). Also DON'T have the SAME PM42 be both a power manager and a reverse loop manager for the same section of track. The complaints that people have with the PM42 not being able to do both is because it is a "slower" unit and it cant manage the district and loop at the same time. 2 PM42s are fine for the job, one manages the loop (set to the fastest trip setting) and the second handles the district set to medium or slow trip speed. That being said, the PM42 can handle reversing and power managing at the same time, just not on the same section of track. I had my reverse loop also be it's own district per-se. If a short happened in my reverse loop it would just flip back and forth over and over again, not really killing the power outright.
     
  17. EsK

    EsK TrainBoard Member

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    Got it. Thanks!
     

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