A recently purchased engine-- MTH 30-2734-1 Alaska RS-1 Diesel Loco w/PS 2.0--has had the following problem since I took it out of the box: it will not leave neutral. My layout is conventional operation, Z-1000 transformer. Sounds, couplers, etc. work properly with power applied. Pushing the direction button or turning the transformer knob to off results in immediate end to sounds. Upon power being reapplied, a relay clicks and the engine does the startup sounds. I tried the following:

I left the engine in neutral with 12 volts applied for about 10 hours to charge the battery. Did not help.

I bought a new battery and a charger. After charging the battery it still does the same thing as described above.

Should I be putting it in the box, preparing to return it or is there something else I can try???

Look closely at the battery connections. Trace the battery wires back to the circuit board looking for a broken wire or bad solder joint at the board. That's all I can think of right now.

quote:

Should I be putting it in the box, preparing to return it or is there something else I can try???

If you're comfortable taking the shell off, (probably 6 screws, 2 at each end and 2 with the built in washer on the fuel tank). If it's similar to an RS-3 you have to pull out the hand rail that plug into the cab.Watch the hand rail doesn't scratch the side of the cab.

AS Gary mentioned , trace the battery connections( should be red & black) back to the main board, The battery connection should have 2 pins. Maybe you'll get lucky & find a connection that isn't plugged in all the way .

So take a peek at the 2 pin connection right at the main board & take a look at the connection right at the battery,(if you want to)

If you find a loose connection, you'll probably still have to charge the battery again. Good luck, I hope you don't have to ship the thing back.

Well I wasn't comfortable taking the shell off but I didn't want to mail the loco back for something simple so off it came. And the 2 pin connection from the battery was not plugged in to the main board! I plugged it in, put the shell back on and everything works fine.

The engine is quite an upgrade from the Lionel NASCAR loco I have been using since I started playing with trains last winter.

I'm sure I will be wanting to pull shells of again so it was good to do it once and see it was no big deal. I gave my loco a little "character" though as one of the hand rails in a little messed up.

Thanks, Greg and Gary.