I purchased an Athearn Dash 9-44cw in the ready to run version with DCC plug in. I made a new layout with #6 switches Just to be able to run this size engine in this road name. The unit jerks all over the place and I found all wires to the dcc plug in board are not soldered. After soldering everything the Locomotive does the same thing. It appears to me to not be able to get a good ground. Has anyone else experienced the same type of trouble with this model?
I had the EXACT same problem with my RTR Dash 9 right after I bought it. But after running it a bit, the problem has gotten much better. I didn’t really do anything to make the problem go away, it just sort-of did. Just make sure your track is good and clean, and give the unit a chance to "break-in " a little. Hopefully your problem will go away like it did for me.
my recently bought ac4400 was a little jerky but after a short break-in period is ran much more smoothly and the gear noise quieted down
You guys are really lucky then, it just gets worse for me, and I can’t make it around the layout once, but everything else does!
Sounds to me like it’s time to take it back and get a replacement. I have had bad luck with Athearn Genesis SD70s and warped trucks causing derailments all the time. Athearn’s web site does not have replacement parts for any of their Chinese made RTR or Genesis product line, but interestingly enough they do indicate that Blue Box locomotive kits are still being made in the U.S.
Since everything i would have said has been said, best of luck
Were you the person that was looking for the new BNSF AC4400? If so, how do you like it?
Sean