Walthers Y-3 2-8-8-2

[Paradise275]

Has any one had this problem?
The loco ran fine for a while. They (while still under warranty), the engine would not move. The sounds still worked but it quit running. I sent it back for repair and, after 6 months and a couple of phone calls, it was returned repaired. It ran again for a short while and then the same thing all over.
I really like this loco but can't figure out what is wrong.
Is there another decoder that can be used? I'm sure it's that.

Rick

[mmagliaro]

Why assume it's the decoder?  There is a wiring harness between the engine and tender, and lot
of wires stuffed up under the shell.  Can you get the shell off and see if there is a broken or pinched
lead going to the motor?  It could be nothing more than that.  I'd start by pulling the shell,
putting it on the track, turn up the throttle and then touch meter leads to the motor leads to see if
it's even getting power... and then trace them back to the decoder to see if there is voltage on those
leads back there. 

I assume that when it was returned to you, they said nothing about what they fixed.  (If it's a flakey broken wire
inside a pinch in the insulation, it could have just started working again for them.  And having no idea what happened,
and no way to reproduce the problem, they may have just sent it back to you, only to have it fail again
when that wire moved a little).

[Paradise275]

mmagliaro, thanks for your reply.
I just assumed it was the decoder. And it was, but not the fault of the decoder. The sound system is QSI and the functions of that decoder is far reaching, especially to an no technical person like myself.
I also made inquiries at QSI. I received a prompt reply, the first asking if I was using DC or DCC. I replied DCC. The next question was "have you tried pressing F6 3 times. There may be a disconnect". The moral of the story is Read the Manual.
Apparently you can press F6, disconect the drive and power up the loco (especially deisel) to imitate buliding pressure up in the air tanks.Pressing F6 again 3 times restores the drive.

My loco runs beautifully now
Thanks

[peteski]

Yes, QSI decoders are very advanced and quite complex  deal with.  I have one of those locos and I paged through the full manual rolling my eyes. Way more functionality than anybody will ever need.

But these are also wonderful decoders.  The chuff sync is pretty much perfect (with no cam).  Too bad that QSI still shuns N scale - they have been announcing N sized decoders for many years, but none were ever produced.  If they did, it would be my first choice for a sound decoder for all my N scale steamers.

[spookshow]

252 pages on the full (downloadable) owner's manual. At what point does it become TMI?? 

Cheers,
-Mark

[peteski]

252 pages on the full (downloadable) owner's manual. At what point does it become TMI?? 

Yes, exactly!