Large Scale Central

LGB 28192 DCC Issue

Problem Solving
#1

I am looking for some help from someone who knows how to troubleshoot DCC (LGB MTS) controlled engines.

I have an LGB 28192 Mogul running on a MTS controller. I have been running it for 2 years without any problems. Recently the engine has been stopping randomly and I have to remove it from the track to get it to work again. The last few times it just wouldn’t work at all after putting it back on the track.

I put the engine on the test track to make sure there wasn’t an issue with the layout track even though I am able to run the track cleaning engine in MTS mode without any issues. With just the engine sitting on the track without the tender the engine has tried to move a few inches on it’s own with the controller in the 0 position. The engine is also making an electrical noise that it hasn’t made before, again without the tender being on the track. Now every time the engine moves it is tripping the controller.

I am at a lost as the engine was running fine then all of a sudden it is doing this. Is this a common issue that I can repair or correct on my own?

#2

Check the wires going back to the tender. I had them break, one at a time, on mine, and if a frayed wire end is contacting another frayed wire end, you could have “undesired” results.

#3

Sounds more like overcurrent shutting down the decoder, I’d turn off lights and smoke, and also inspect the motor.

Greg

#4

Since the engine has the tender disconnected, then the tender has nothing to do with the engine drawing too much current.

I suspect 1 of 3 things is the problem.

  1. Motor is bad

  2. Worn idler gear and engine is out of quarter.

  3. Decoder is bad.

Remove the motor and test it for current on a supply, it should never go over 1/2 amp when out of the LGB engine.

While motor is removed, inspect both idler gears for the motor worm gear to have ground out some teeth, when reinstalling be sure wheels are aligned properly (quartering).

If these are ok, most likely the decoder.

We do repairs at Trainli and have the decoder, side rods, idler gears, and long shaft (62204) motors in stock. Order the defective part/s or send engine to us for repair.

#5

Dan, I thought the decoder was in the tender. If it is, and the tender is disconnected, the motor shouldn’t run at all. Or don’t all Moguls have the decoders in the tender? Or am I just wrong?

#6

Dan Pierce said:

Since the engine has the tender disconnected, then the tender has nothing to do with the engine drawing too much current.

I suspect 1 of 3 things is the problem.

  1. Motor is bad

  2. Worn idler gear and engine is out of quarter.

  3. Decoder is bad.

Remove the motor and test it for current on a supply, it should never go over 1/2 amp when out of the LGB engine.

While motor is removed, inspect both idler gears for the motor worm gear to have ground out some teeth, when reinstalling be sure wheels are aligned properly (quartering).

If these are ok, most likely the decoder.

We do repairs at Trainli and have the decoder, side rods, idler gears, and long shaft (62204) motors in stock. Order the defective part/s or send engine to us for repair.

Thanks Dan, I found one of the drive wheels has play in it causing it to be out of quarter. I will be in touch to purchase replacement parts.

#7

All of the LGB moguls I have seen with the onboard decoder has the decoder, sound, and volume control in the engine.

How to tell is the cable is 3 sets of 2 wires , 1 pair for track power, 1 pair for rear light, and 1 pair for the speaker.

Older 6 wire units had 2 sets of 3 wires, 3 for track power and rear light, 3 for the rear axle chuff sensor, and the volume control was on the bottom of the tender.

Note that the oil version mogul tender was 5 wire and there was no tender power picks for power as this tender was iused on the 2-4-0 also.

If you have the oil version mogul, you can use the coal 2-4-0 tender, same wiring, or even the non sound 2-4-0 tender.

#8

Both of mine have the volume control in the tender. I have an analog sound version with a 9 volt battery in the tender and a digital sound version. I like the digital sound better.