My son has an MTH Rail-King F3 that shuts down after 3 laps around the Christmas tree. He has to wait about 5 minutes before it will start up again, and then 3 more laps and it starts all over. He has it running on Lionel Fasttrack powered by a cheap K-Line transformer from a set. When I run the engine on my Lionel O gauge regular track with a Lionel transformer, it runs like a bandit. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Dick
Texas Chief
What does it do when you run it on FasTrack with a Lionel transformer?
Is the F3 the only powered item on the track ? Is there a lighted car on the track with the F3? Does this stay lit when the F3 stops?The reason I ask is maybe its the transformer shutting down.Good luck let us know what you find.
Try a different transformer.I had an older K-Line transformer that would do the same thing with a MTH loco.It just didn’t have the uumph…The MTH trains need a lot more power than the the K-Line engines. Ed
I suspect the K-line transformer is the culprit. The 950 series of starter set units only has about 20 va(watts) output. The F3 normally needs more than what the K-line can provide.
I suggest running it with the Lionel transformer,as it probably has enough capacity. I would alo suggest looking for an MTH Z500[50 va] or Z750[75 va] transformer, as the controller will have bell & whistle controls, and more than enough output.
The current transformer that MTH includes in it’s starter sets has 100 va output–
I haven’t tried a different transformer yet. I suspected that from the very beginning. I’ll give it a try first chance I get. Thanks folks and “MERRY CHRISTMAS”
Dick
Texas Chief