I had the first run of my MTH Challenger. Really liked it, good sound and tracked well.
Nice Jerry. It sounds like Spring with all the birds but looks like winter with the snow.
Jerry-
Your MTH locos - the Hudson and Challenger - are apparently glitch free. At least at this point. ANY problems with the Hudson? Considering our hobby is loaded with anecdotes of product foibles, is MTH so far a good choice for those of us tired of buying and repairing?
Any thoughts from your experience?
Thanks,
Wendell
Both have run fine. I did have problems with the traction tires on both. I bought them used and I guess they were old, they stretched out and made a bump, so I removed them. Ray Manley has the parts in stock and I got replacements from them. He is also quite an authority on MTH.
The Challenger is exhibiting a common problem of the plug in the engine from the tender needs to be re-soldered. Ray says that is the only MTH engine with that problem. Hudson is fine.
I’m using the MTH DCS control system and still learning that, takes awhile for an old guy! Very versatile. You can run the engines on straight DC power, but you will not have the functions of whistle/bell/etc. Both engines have great sound and Ray has a good speaker upgrade I think I’ll get.
The Challenger needs a pretty good power supply, I had to switch over to my 10 amp Aristo unit, my old MRC 6200 died on me. It was on it’s last legs anyway.
Hey Jerry,
Glad to see that you finally got your Challenger. The passenger cars look great also. I loved running my Challenger at train shows with the sound and smoke. It was a big hit. I’d try to find another one but I’m all battery power now and I’d have to gut everything out of the Challenger because they don’t operate on battery with all the bells and whistles that come from MTH.
Great looking.
Chuck
Chuck: I run my MTH Big Boy and VO1000 with battery. No need to gut engines.
Build a TIU battery car and no more hassles with slider shorts and DCS signal issues.
Alan
Hey Alan,
I like that idea, so where do you get a “TIU” battery car? Does this work with all the MTH controllers? I would definitely like to see and know what you did.
Chuck
Hi Chuck:
Check out the Oct/Nov 2010 Garden Railways MTH battery power conversion articles.
I used the Aristo style battery plugs instead.
DCS track power signal can be touchy especially outdoors.
Also the MTH skates have tendency to catch and short on switches.
Battery TIU in box allows all the great DCS sound features.
Alan
Alan,
Can you send me a copy of that article? I don’t have that back issue.
jerry
I took the Challenger apart to fix the plug on the back. Wires were okay, just glued it to the mounting board, also bent a thin piece of brass to fit over it tight and used the screws that hold the board down, seems pretty secure. I did lube the gearboxes, not sure they needed it, will never do that again! Hard to get the plugs back in the circuit board. Logical layout of them, being different sizes/colors.
If I do take it apart again, I’ll lengthen the wires, putting an extra plug in, as Ray Manley suggested.
Ray Manly made a TIU car for me. I get all the benefits of the MTH system and no track problems. I did find out though that it will shut down at 14 volts. And you must not exceed 24 volts with batteries.
Jerry Barnes said:
Alan,
Can you send me a copy of that article? I don’t have that back issue.
jerry
Jerry, did you ever get copy of that article ? I am looking to build a battery car with TIU myself
thanks
nick
Nick, since the above post is 6 years old I’d suggest you send a PM to Jerry as he may not be on site while your question is on the active page, thus would miss it.
Click on his avatar …
That challenger is a nice locomotive . I had to sell mine on E Bay a couple of years ago and I miss it . I did notice the front driving wheels sort of went for the ride as they had no weight holding them tight to the rails. I did add some stick on weights to it trying to get some wheel traction . Don’t know if it made a difference. I still have a couple of the dash-8 locomotives and have many miles on them . I run track power and the DCS system is alot of fun to use.
Jerry Barnes said:
I had the first run of my MTH Challenger. Really liked it, good sound and tracked well.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/gunjeep444/_forumfiles/MTHfirst2..JPG)
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/gunjeep444/_forumfiles/MthFirstA.JPG)
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/gunjeep444/_forumfiles/MTHfirst4.JPG)
No, never did, just use track power.