Decoder Install Questions

[OnTheRightTrack]

I installed an MRC 1955 sound decoder in an N scale Atlas GP30. Sounds work fine, lights work fine, loco won't move? Side of the frame gets quite hot. This is not my first rodeo I have installed several decoders and the motor contacts are making connection with the decoder appropriately. Please spare me the MRC bashing I know their reputation but they have the best selection of sound decoders for N scale.

[Iron Horseman]

Originally Posted by OnTheRightTrack

loco won't move? Side of the frame gets quite hot. .... the motor contacts are making connection with the decoder appropriately.

Have you measured the output of the decoder with a volt meter? I mean have you isolated the problem to either the motor or the decoder?

[OnTheRightTrack]

I have not. However, I have been using the loco for some time in DC and the motor was quiet and smooth.

[leva]

Something is jammed into a gear or maybe between the motor and the motor frame. I once had the motor brush cap come off then I pushed it back in and the brush was caught at a weird angle and broke off. Had the same problem as you until I replaced it.

[nsrailfan9346]

I recently had a situation kind of like this. I had a atlas loco that would not run, it had a digitrax decoder. The lights came on and it responded to commands from controller, but it would not move at all. I took the decoder out reinstalled it and it worked. So, I don't know what the problem was. Maybe just a poor connection but from what I could see everything looked fine. I would check all the basics on your MRC sound decoder first before I consider returning it.

[diburning]

Is anything shorting to the frame or the motor? Most decoders have a motor isolation feature where if it sees that the motor or pickups are shorted, the decoder will not try to run the motor to prevent blowing the decoder.