Hi,

I would be very careful about taking this model apart, it is exceedingly fragile (guess how I found that out)! Get your dealer to have a look at it, otherwise back to Märklin.

Carim

Hello

We just had a discussion of this model

https://www.marklin-user...t44721-Marklin-88715-ICE

The issue might be the contacts between the two carriages similar to the problem I had.

This is a fragile model but the issues seem to be related to these contacts. I purchased new ones from Marklin and now it works great. Check the connector, if the copper is loose or bent it will not work. Watch out, work slowly and don’t try to force in the connector when you are attaching things or you might break something. I had to set mine aside more than once and then comeback to it later.

I would suggest making certain you have the order of the carriages correct, observing black and red ends. Next verify your contacts are inserted completely into the end of the carriage so that none of the triangular shape of the connector is visible. You must fiddle with this connector to get it right, it must be inserted completely. If replacement is necessary there are now various vendors who carry them besides Marklin. If you send this set back it might take a while to get back, but it is your call, after all that is what a warranty if for. This is an expensive set and it is nice to get it working well.

Finally, if you have the ability to run this set on a regular layout, check it on another layout. This set has a minimum radius and when I think of a briefcase layout, I think, small radius curves, but I might be wrong on this because I am not familiar with your layout. This set has a long overhang at each end.

This set has become one of my favorite, the coreless motor is strong and quiet and it works great. It is different than a conventional set, and it takes some experience to get the hang of it.

I bet with a little effort, you will have the same opinion as me and appreciate this one too.

Best wishes.

Edited by user 26 July 2020 23:43:31(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Adam mentioned in his original post that the lights illuminate correctly, so I can't see this being an electrical problem.

One useful test is to watch and listen carefully as power is applied in the non-working direction. Usually, you will see a tiny amount of movement and hear some activity as the slack is taken up in the gear train. If this is happening we can be pretty sure the problem is mechanical.

I really understand what a pain it is to package up and return this but with it being such a high price-tag set I don't think you want to risk invalidating your warranty by attempting to repair it your self.

Cheers


Chris

Many thanks for the feedback, everyone! Your points on the fragility of this model are definitely well taken - I'm glad I asked before attempting train surgery. I think I’ve at least been getting the hang of the couplers, but figuring them out was mildly terrifying…

Mike, while it wasn’t bought from John’s or Westend, I will see if they can at least take a look. It does sound like my best bet will probably be to just let Marklin handle it.

I’m really curious now what the internal wiring for this set actually looks like; I had initially assumed the electrical pickup would just be from the motorized car, but it doesn’t run at all without the other cars connected, so there’s clearly something more complicated going on. I’m thinking I will at least take a multimeter to it and see if I can gain any insights that way without taking anything apart. Short of any great revelations from that, I’ll send it back.