Kato SD40-2 Issues

[abeemanator]

So I just recently purchased a Kato KOBO BNSF SD40-2 with Loksound v4.0 DCC and sound. Well I had an issue where I could no longer control the Ditch lights, so went through and reset cv 8 to 8 and they still didn't work when I pushed function 4 (I think) So the loco came with an instruction manual that lists all of the default CV's, but I think it was for a non sound board. Anyway now my loco won't respond to anything, and I think I set the address to something else besides 3, so I put it on my programming track and tried to reset it, well come to find out my MRC Prodigy is plagued with the issue where the program track has no voltage, period. SO I am in a pickle right now, I have a $245 paperweight, I purchased a Lok Programmer on ebay to see if I could reset it with that. Maybe a CV guru can tell me what the address is, so I can reset the decoder, unless there is a trick to resetting these decoders not knowing the address and not having a program track

CV Setting
1----3
13---1
14---1
17---0---
18---0--- I Think these are my problem
19---0
21---0
22---0
29---6------I think my problem may lie here as well as I also have no DC control
33---1
34---2
35---4
36---8
37---16
38---4
39---8
40---16
41---32
42---64
43---16
44---32
45---64
46---128
63---0

[Cjcrescent]

I'm not sure of the MRC Prodigy, but it seems that most regular programming tracks can't program a sound unit without a booster on it. I don't have much experience with ESU Loksound, but this could be why you're not seeing any power on the programming track.

Here's one thing you can do, if the MRC Prodigy can do it. Remove all the other locos from the track, (to prevent reprogramming all of them accidentally) and try to re-program the loco on the main. You probably can't read the CV's while doing this, but you can change them.

You can check the default CV's of your loco if you have JMRI's Decoder Pro on your computer. Even if you have no way to connect it to layout, you can select the decoder, and look at the default CV's. You can also use it to save the CV settings for all your locos, just by entering the information for each one.

If you don't have it, you can download it here;

http://jmri.sourceforge.net/

[abeemanator]

The MRC Prodigy Express will program on the main, but I must know what the locos address is, as far as I know i cant do like the Digitrax Zephyer where you can just send out an "All Call" to reprogram the locomotive.

The manual says you can test the programming track by placing a analog loco on the track, and when you send a command the loco will buzz, I tried and it did not work, I even took the main unit apart and there was still no voltage, from what I read this affects alot of the MRC's and you can get it repaired but I have had it almost 3 years and I am not covered by the warranty.

Now I did buy a LokProgrammer (alot like the JMRI), but built to be %100 comparable with the Loksound Decoders but I probably wont get it until Friday or Saturday, an I just wanted to see if I could get the loco back up and running before then.

[Cjcrescent]

Originally Posted by abeemanator

The MRC Prodigy Express will program on the main, but I must know what the locos address is, as far as I know i cant do like the Digitrax Zephyer where you can just send out an "All Call" to reprogram the locomotive...

I would try it anyway. Put the loco on the track by itself, after removing all the other locos. Then I would dial up 00. Send the reset sequence. If it worked, the lights may flash, or the loco jumps a little bit. If that don't work I would try two other numbers & combos of those numbers. 3-as that was the address you were trying to change it to. Then I would try 8, as that was the CV number sent trying to reset it to. You might want to try try 88 as well, just in case you pushed a wrong button or something. I've done things just as "bad".

I'm not saying that any of these will work, but from your description, these seem to be the most logical numbers to start with.

[BRS Hobbies]

One thing to keep in mind with the programming track is that normally there is no power on the programming track until you enter the programming mode and input data.

You might find some information to help solve your problem at this link - Prodigy Tips and Tricks

Best regards,
Brian

[abeemanator]

Ok so I found out 0 is an All Call mode, both the Kato and my GP40x with sound work, and the horn honks on both simultaneously, now I can reset my GP40x that has a Soundtraxx Tsunami in it (cv 8 to 8) using address 0 , but I can not program my Kato loco at all on address 0, but I can control all functions besides speed and direction. I will keep trying until get the LokProgrammer. Also my program track on my MRC prodigy has 0 volts AC even when I am sending a command to the locomotive.

P.S. The motor control does not work on any locomotive on address 0

[Cjcrescent]

Have you taken the body off the Kato to see if a wire has come loose to the motor? This has happened to me once.

[abeemanator]

I forgot I had posted this but I will post my solution. I bought a Lokprogrammer on Ebay that came without the power adapter for $45, I put my Loksound BNSF on the track and read back what the locomotive was set to, I dont remember what it was but it was like 192, I reset it and everything works great, as it should, exept I am having a problem with the ditch light LED's, but I am going to convert it all to incandescent bulbs like my Athearn locomotives.

Thanks for all your help,
abeemanator

[gregamer]

The long way around to arrive at the same problem.

maybe check underneath the shell to make sure nothing is blocking the light pipes.


Greg Amer
The Industrial Lead
gregamer.com

[abeemanator]

nope, the light pipes are fine, i took the shell off and the leds hardly light for the ditch lights, but the head light works fine, it actually happened like the same day I got the engine and I reset all the cv's to their default (CV8 to 8), and viola I no longer had ditch lights!!