Locomotive Failure

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

I was running a Life-Like (Proto 2000) GP30 that I use to pull a cleaning car. Have used this unit for years and it has been totally trouble free. As it was running, it stopped, started, and totally stopped. When I checked it on my test section, the sound worked fine but could not be adjusted and the locomotive would not run. I have a Digitrax system and tried to reset the unit to factory settinge, tried all the ways to exit and clear the designation; all to no avail. When I tried to read the CV’s, I got the None Detected code.

Any thoughts or ideas?

Ron K.

2

Sounds like the drive part of your decoder is fried. I’ve had that happen with a few non-sound decoders over the years.

3

I understand frying, but doesn’t there have to be a cause. Same track, same train, six years no problem. Maybe I just chalk it off to gremlins.

Ron K.

4

Clean wheels? A build up of crud pulling the cleaning car can accumulate on the wheels and half axles. A good cleaning and lube just might do the trick.

Pete

5

Everything gets old, even electronics. It only takes one little part of it to go out and that’s it. End of story.

6

Have you tried resetting the QSI decoder in the locomotive. IIRC, you have to set 3 CVs to reset a QSI decoder, and then the decoder will say “reset” as you enter the last number.

The locomotive’s address will then be 3.

7

Hey

I use a track cleaning car that has a spring loaded plate on the bottom. The way i use it though is with a piece of cloth snapped over the plate, the cloth adds some more drag, and After trying it with one engine I thought it was too much of a load. Since then I only use it with a double header. Just a thought, You might have over loaded the motor or decoder.

Good luck

Lee

8

The locomotive and wheels were cleaned. Would not reset to 03. I use the Centrline cleaner or a masonite drag strip so no big drag. Have done this for 6 years so I guess It’s the decoder.

Thanks for the thoughts, Ron K.

9

Do you have the round magnet that came with the loco? If so you can reset it to factory settings using it. If you have the instuctions it tell how to do it. Joe

10

If the track ckeaning car is heavy, as I’m thinking it might be, the load on the locl might be enough that it runs hot. Heat is the enemy of electronics, and can reduce the life considerably. That could be the cause.

11

Tried the magnet - did not work, would not reset. I believe just running the cleaning car puts far less drag than running a train with 10 to twelve cars so I don’t think that’s the cause. I’ll be using a new locomotive so we’ll see what happens.

Ron K.

12

I have a couple of QSI equipped GP 40s and one will reset with the magnet and the other refuses to do so. It requires the CV reset procedure.

Joe

13

I think you have to put it on a DC track and use the magnet also to reset it. If you have the manual check it or go to their web site and download it.Jim.