Quote from: Nathan Jahreis on August 14, 2011, 10:45:00 AM
Well now I think it is the decoder because if I run the motor directly from its leads to my transformer (attached to the drive) it runs fine. But with the decoder it runs erratically.  Without the drive attached,  I ran the motor with the decoder it runs fast and slows down and speeds up again.

As I have said, I am thinking that it is either the decoder or my power pack.  However, Athearn has been very cooperative with this whole situation. I am still awaiting Soundtraxx to email me back. I will keep you posted. Thanks for the info on the tech 4.

Very nice, can't wait to see the finished product.
When I got my layout going I was very "un-planning" all I did was had a 4x8 sheet of plywood, green paint, green sawdust, and plastered on the hills and such. Mine is not the best.  I was and still am a newbie so your layout I am quite jealous of. Good luck

Jeffery, speaking of supersonic loco's... I have one of those Athearn "Hustler's".  NOW THOSE ARE FUN! Just crank up the throttle and you'll hear a sonic boom, or the loco jumping the rail and taking out all of the scenery in its way Not to get off topic but didn't Lionel make one of those during their HO faze?

Thank You every one.
   Jim, I tried it with the 9v battery (had to use two because they were low). Not any better, still hesitates.  With my mrc tech 4 (200), is it pure dc or is it pulse?  If not, what pack would have the best dc control?

Than what do you recommend?

Before I got into HO I had a Lionel set with a 4-6-4 Hudson (the newer one not the glorified "scale" one). I also was into Ertl 1:64 scale tractors.  When my buddies came over, we put all of my ertl cows on the track and ran em' over at full speed.  After the pilot had hit the cow, the cow would get wedged between the rails, and the loco would jump the rail and short out on the center rail, thus leaving a shower of spark's. That is until the circuit breaker kicked in.   From my dads Tyco set, he ran it so much the gear that was driven by the worm wore through.

Thank you everyone for your input, you have helped a newbie out allot.
Hunt, with the fact that I run DC would you recommend an MRC tech 6?

Only problem is that I don't have a DCC controller.

Well now I think it is the decoder because if I run the motor directly from its leads to my transformer (attached to the drive) it runs fine. But with the decoder it runs erratically.  Without the drive attached,  I ran the motor with the decoder it runs fast and slows down and speeds up again. With the decoder, If I put enough resistance on the flywheels to slow it down I can feel it "pulse" about the timing of the second hand of a clock. Do you think the decoder is bad? or is that just its characteristics

Update: Now it works with the Tech 4 but still does not run right

Here's an idea, find a unit like it and make it a dummy with extra pickups. Then string wires to the loco you have so then you have about twice as much "pickup ability". I don't know if you would want to make a dummy because of the poor pulling of the one you have.

Well, I started with my Dads OLD tyco set that his parents got him, and that came with a MRC gold pack (about 2 amps). I then was at a tractor show and saw an MRC tech 4 controller. Now at that point I only had a few tyco engines that where not so good so the tech 4 worked allot better than the other dinosaur. And now I have a troller 1001 that I like and it works well with my few atlas loco's.  I only have a 4x8 and I love it. What I recommend for you is get something big that you can build off of in the future. But if you are strapped for money, get something economical. Also make sure it has electrical provisions for your switch machines.  With e-z track I don't know because I used atlas track that I nailed down.  Good luck

I don't use the extended range that much with the good loco's.  Then I tried it with an mrc tech 4 and the loco turned on off on off down the track. Not so good.  I then tried it with an OLD mrc gold pack with pulse off,  it did the same on off thing, just less intermittently.

Sounds like you have a bad case of the .......PANCAKE MOTOR
Model Railroaders have known them to be an unworthy beast
Or maybe it has built in momentum

Here's a TV idea "Trick my Bachmann GP40"

Took the front and back trucks off to check them, the front seems to hang back as if there is flashing on one of the gears.  The back is fine.  When I had the worms off and ran the motor, to see if it was to fault, it ran fast to slow repeatedly, is that because of the "back EMF" decoder? Athearn emailed me back and I found out if I want it repaired I should send it to some place in CA, now I live in western NY (hefty freight bill), so I think I will try to fix it myself. This is so disappointing