I am looking for advice. Last night while running trains, I heard a slight snap when I pressed the scroll button. It now seems that I have to press a bit harder to get the wheel to respond to commands. I am guessing this bodes bad for possible worse things to come. I have read another thread concerning the cracked frame that supports the thumb wheel. It can be replaced I take it. My dilemma is that two weeks from today, my layout is going to be part of the open house of layouts in the Piedmont Pilgrimage. I have no idea how many visitors to expect, but my nightmare would be that the remote completely fails on November 8th and I cannot run trains. MTH sells separate remotes I believe, but for me the $150.00 for the remote is not in the budget right now. So, from your own experience, what should I expect and what advice do you suggest for me to do? Thanks in advance.

Rick

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ranger Rick,

Call MTH and order a new thumbwheel, you have to solder the wires to the new one but with a good pencil tip soldering iron it's not hard.

Thanks Paul. I will do that tomorrow.

Rick

Rick,

Yep - sounds like the same symptoms I had when the thumbwheel cracked - as described & shown in the posting you found. You should see pix and links in that posting that will help you to change the thumbwheel assembly.

In addition, here's instructions that I found very helpful on how to open up the remote which I saved from an earlier posting by Barry:

"Opening the DCS Remote...

Be aware that you must be extremely careful when opening and working inside the DCS Remote!!!
• Open the battery compartment door.
• Remove the batteries.
• Remove the small Phillips head screw inside the battery compartment.
• Open the remote by simultaneously squeezing the sides at the bottom of the remote with one hand while pressing out from inside the battery compartment with the other. Be patient - the remote is somewhat difficult to open the first few times. It becomes easier the more times it is opened.
• When the two halves of the case separate, they will still be connected by a black wire. Be careful not to break any of this wire's solder connections, or dislodge the thumbwheel or the keypad!
• If the transceiver board is loose, The transceiver board is located at the top of the remote. Press down on it gently but firmly. DO NOT LIFT UP THE TRANSCEIVER BOARD!
• Before reassembling the case, it's a good idea to place a small piece of soft foam between the transceiver board and the case to prevent the board from lifting in the future.
• Reassemble the case, and replace the screw, batteries and battery compartment door."

Tom

Tom,

Thank you for your reply also. I am glad to get the hints on opening the remote. It is very frustrating just getting to the item that needs repaired at times. It is always good not to break something else trying to get to what is broke!!!! I have a call into Midge and left a message. I hope she will have time to return my call this afternoon.

Rick

If you have no luck, hit my email and i can pull a good one out of a junk remote and get it to you in time for your open house. Like Paul stated, they can be replaced easy.

Marty,

Thanks for the offer. The housing unit from MTH arrived yesterday, so I have a week to decide to do the repair myself, or to take it to Trainz for help (about a 45 minute drive). I believe that I could do it, but if I botch things up, then I am against the wall for next Sunday's open house. MTH is out of remotes and though Midge gave me names of several train stores in North Carolina, I have not called them yet and am not sure they would arrive by Nov 8th.
Thanks again for the offer and I appreciate your expertise. Have you also ever decided what lighting system you are going to add to your passenger cars? I would be interested to know what route you take on those.

Rick

Rick, I have not until I try others. Good luck with remote.

Rick go for doing the repair yourself, it is not difficult. Make sure you mark what of the three wires go where and unsolder them from the old unit and solder them to the new.

Paul,

I listened to your advice about roofing granules and was pleased and so I will try the repair also. I always have Marty Larkins at Trainz for a back-up.

Rick

Just a quick update on my remote problem.... it is no longer a problem. I survived the open house using the remote with the cracked thumbwheel housing. Things went well. I left to go to Ohio to visit my Mom for a week (and I got to see Bob Bartizek's fabulous layout while there). I returned and decided to give replacing the thumbwheel a try today. The result is a new thumbwheel now working in the old remote and some gained confidence by this poster. Thanks to all for your help, suggestions, and encouragement.

Rick

...Good to read about your "Happy Ending"....