New run of Atlas GP15, check your motor tabs !

[mu26aeh]

While at work today, I took one of my new YorkRail GP15 (still can't believe these are a factory run) and checked under the shell for any changes to anything.  Everything looks similar to previous run.  But what caught my eye was neither motor tab was bent in an orientation that allowed it to touch bottom of DC board.  In fact, both were bent that they were sticking up along the frame halves.   Units still ran bc they were in contact with the frames, but this could lead to a lot of returns/complaints for people not familiar with or wanting to "fix" a brand new locomotive.   I pulled 8 others ftom the case and all exhibited the same issue.  Not a single tab was touching board.

[eja]

here we go again .....

[tehachapifan]

If one does not correct that before dropping in a decoder it would be instant decoder death.

[mu26aeh]

If one does not correct that before dropping in a decoder it would be instant decoder death.

Yes, and this might have been missed by them bc these locos are only being released as DC only.  No decoder/sound equipped.  While I've had Atlas locos show up with contacts not touching the board, I've never seen them like this, much less to have 10 out 10 set up like this.

[peteski]

Actually there is a bit of a bright lining to this problem.  If the motor tabs in fact do not touch the light board/decoder then if a decoder is installed, it will not blow up (since motor circuit is left unconnected.  Also, since the light board has to be replaced with a decoder, wouldn't that automatically make the installer notice that there are no motor contacts in the expected locations?

I'm not making excuses for Atlas - it is still a nasty problem, but at least there should be no damage to any decoders if the installer missed the fact that motor contacts are messed up.

[randgust]

I was always asked why I didn't use the GP15 chassis for my CF7's as the wheelbase is correct.   I did try, but in having to do so much grinding on the fuel tank area of the frame it was bad, but without pickup wipers and ears off the trucks to the frame the pickup performance was REALLY spotty.  The one I did convert as an experiment ended up being sold for that reason.  Never did another.

I can't tell from your photos how the truck pickups are done - ears/wipers or direct wire....???

[spookshow]

Actually there is a bit of a bright lining to this problem.  If the motor tabs in fact do not touch the light board/decoder then if a decoder is installed, it will not blow up (since motor circuit is left unconnected.

If the motor and decoder board are both receiving current from the chassis, is that not going to blow up the decoder?

-Mark

[mu26aeh]

I can't tell from your photos how the truck pickups are done - ears/wipers or direct wire....???

They are ears to the bottom of the frame halves, no wires or pickup strips

I emailed Atlas overnight and have already received 2 emails from them looking into the situation

[spookshow]

They are ears to the bottom of the frame halves, no wires or pickup strips

Pictures here - http://www.spookshow.net/loco/atlasgp15.html

-Mark

[randgust]

Oh yeah, that brings back memories.

That is not a reliable pickup.  Any torque on the track (superelevated curve spiral, low spot, etc.) rocks one pickup ear off the frame.   Same as before.   If you were going DCC, better have a keep-alive somewhere.

Pass.

[bigdawgks]

If the motor and decoder board are both receiving current from the chassis, is that not going to blow up the decoder?

-Mark

I don't think decoders blow up just cause the motor isn't connected - that's never happened to me before. Electrically it would be equivalent to placing a DC loco on the same track as a DCC loco with no motor hooked up, I'd think. 

[Cory Rothlisberger]

That's what we used to refer to in "The Biz" as the lights are on, but nobody's home... 

[spookshow]

I don't think decoders blow up just cause the motor isn't connected - that's never happened to me before. Electrically it would be equivalent to placing a DC loco on the same track as a DCC loco with no motor hooked up, I'd think. 

So, @tehachapifan what were you referring to by "instant decoder death"?

-Mark

[tehachapifan]

So, @tehachapifan what were you referring to by "instant decoder death"?

-Mark

I guess it's true that, if the motor is not connected at all, it won't destroy the decoder. That said, there's still a pretty good chance that one or both motor tabs also make at least some contact with the motor pads on the decoder since they are right there and that's where they are supposed to make contact. It's when one or more motor tabs makes contact with both the motor and the frame that you can say bye, bye to the decoder. It's pretty easy for these motor tabs to slip in between the decoder and the frame during reassembly.

[peteski]

So, @tehachapifan what were you referring to by "instant decoder death"?

-Mark

Well, in instances where the decoder's motor outputs get shorted to the track voltage the yes, decoder will fry.  But as I explained in my earlier post, in this specific case the decoder motor outputs will be left unconnected, so no smoke will be released.  Since the motor is hardwired to the chassis, it will just sit on the track and buzz (like any DC loco placed on DCC-powered track.

This is all just speculations on my part (based on the problem description and photos).  I don't have that model in-hand.