01-03-2023, 09:25 PM
Greetings everyone
It has been another foggy morning although it cleared a bit after noon. The temperature is 61 degrees right now but winter is to come back next Monday
I decided to finish another project yesterday. I had painted an Athearn BB SW7 to match the one I painted (full size) for the Little Beaver Creek Valley Railroad. I did the prototype in 1992 and the model that winter, I even used the same paint so I know it was a match. I never finished lettering it and now it would need a decoder to run on my layout.
That was my 30 minute project yesterday. When I had installed the decoder I decided to test it. It didn't work so back to the repair room and disassemble to see if I had a short or some other problem.........Nothing, so it must be a bad decoder so I replaced it.......still won't run so check and recheck and I can't find a thing so I try a new decoder and the same thing nothing happens. I have been at this for 5 hours now so I need help, I think I got a bad batch of decoders, I have installed over 60 of these with no problem, so I call Woodone. Jerry made several suggestions so I hang up and try them, in the meantime Jerry calls back with a few more questions and suggestions. After all the tests I am still at ZERO, So, just for kicks I place another locomotive on the track in front of me (there are locomotives idling that I can hear so I know there is power to the layout) I acquire the locomotive on the controller and Viola!!!! nothing No light no horn, no bell, no nuthin. I wiggle the plug and nothing. The display lights but no functions so I go around the corner and plug into another outlet and everything works like a charm...So the work has been done because the outlet for the controller cable is bad. I called Jerry to let his know it was my stupidity and of course we both got a chuckle (not). I then went in and in 5 minutes had the decoder installed and the SW7 frame and motor back together, did a test run, and set it aside and quit for the day. I will install the lights and windows tomorrow and get it on the track for a photo. Then all I need to do is letter it. Her is a picture from 2001 on my last layout (which is now my sons)
I want to say i wish everyone a grand month and year ahead, and thank all of the members of this forum for all the fun and help and friendship
Cheers
Charlie
It has been another foggy morning although it cleared a bit after noon. The temperature is 61 degrees right now but winter is to come back next Monday
I decided to finish another project yesterday. I had painted an Athearn BB SW7 to match the one I painted (full size) for the Little Beaver Creek Valley Railroad. I did the prototype in 1992 and the model that winter, I even used the same paint so I know it was a match. I never finished lettering it and now it would need a decoder to run on my layout.
That was my 30 minute project yesterday. When I had installed the decoder I decided to test it. It didn't work so back to the repair room and disassemble to see if I had a short or some other problem.........Nothing, so it must be a bad decoder so I replaced it.......still won't run so check and recheck and I can't find a thing so I try a new decoder and the same thing nothing happens. I have been at this for 5 hours now so I need help, I think I got a bad batch of decoders, I have installed over 60 of these with no problem, so I call Woodone. Jerry made several suggestions so I hang up and try them, in the meantime Jerry calls back with a few more questions and suggestions. After all the tests I am still at ZERO, So, just for kicks I place another locomotive on the track in front of me (there are locomotives idling that I can hear so I know there is power to the layout) I acquire the locomotive on the controller and Viola!!!! nothing No light no horn, no bell, no nuthin. I wiggle the plug and nothing. The display lights but no functions so I go around the corner and plug into another outlet and everything works like a charm...So the work has been done because the outlet for the controller cable is bad. I called Jerry to let his know it was my stupidity and of course we both got a chuckle (not). I then went in and in 5 minutes had the decoder installed and the SW7 frame and motor back together, did a test run, and set it aside and quit for the day. I will install the lights and windows tomorrow and get it on the track for a photo. Then all I need to do is letter it. Her is a picture from 2001 on my last layout (which is now my sons)
I want to say i wish everyone a grand month and year ahead, and thank all of the members of this forum for all the fun and help and friendship
Cheers
Charlie