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Offline rschundl  
#1 Posted : 29 January 2007 23:49:27(UTC)
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rschundl


Joined: 29/01/2007(UTC)
Posts: 9
Location: Westfield, NJ
I am a new user of Marklin trains and wanted to gather the best advice for getting product support on Marklin Products. I looked on the Marklin.com web site and did not find a support phone number or e-mail address. Did I miss it? What is the general recommendation?

For example: I tried to re-program a BR86 locomotive to limit the speed. Now the engine works sporadically. The lights go on and off as expected via the Mobile Station or the Control Station. The uncoupler works well also. This indicates that the decoder is addressed properly and working. Unfortunately, the engine will not start reliably. It can start and respond to speed changes, then stop and then not start again.

Who do I turn to to get help on this type of question?

I look forward to the collective wisdom of this Marklin User's Group. If you have had specific experience with this locomotive that would be great. More importantly, what experience have you had with direct help from Marklin and how did you set up getting support?

Thanks! Smile
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Offline nevw  
#2 Posted : 30 January 2007 00:05:15(UTC)
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nevw

Australia   
Joined: 27/08/2005(UTC)
Posts: 11,071
Location: Murrumba Downs QLD
Welcome to the forum Rschundl,
CHeck www.marklin.de for support email etc. They can be slow.
CHeck with your local dealer, as a first point of contact.
However you will find a wealth of support here.

Nev
NOt wearing the Pink Pinny, which is hard to see and now I have a white Pinny which also is hard to see against MY pure white Skin Still have 2 new shiny tin Hips that is badly in Need of Repair matching rusting tin shoulders
and a hose pipe on the aorta
Junior member of the Banana Club, a reformist and an old Goat with a Bad memory, loafing around
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Offline intruder  
#3 Posted : 30 January 2007 00:15:38(UTC)
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intruder

Norway   
Joined: 16/08/2006(UTC)
Posts: 5,382
Location: Akershus, Norway
Welcome to the forum, Russel!
Best regards Svein, Norway
grumpy old sod
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Offline Davy  
#4 Posted : 30 January 2007 00:18:20(UTC)
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Davy


Joined: 29/08/2003(UTC)
Posts: 1,915
Location: Netherlands
Welcome to the forum.

Greetings,
Davy
M-track with a CS2.
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Offline nevw  
#5 Posted : 30 January 2007 00:24:43(UTC)
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nevw

Australia   
Joined: 27/08/2005(UTC)
Posts: 11,071
Location: Murrumba Downs QLD
Russell,
If you have a Central Station,
Try Editing the Loco and reset to factory defaults and see if that fixes the problem. LAst menu item in the Advanced Section.
Also check for dirty track at the problem areas.
I did not read your post properly earlier.[:I]

Nev
NOt wearing the Pink Pinny, which is hard to see and now I have a white Pinny which also is hard to see against MY pure white Skin Still have 2 new shiny tin Hips that is badly in Need of Repair matching rusting tin shoulders
and a hose pipe on the aorta
Junior member of the Banana Club, a reformist and an old Goat with a Bad memory, loafing around
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Offline Webmaster  
#6 Posted : 30 January 2007 00:27:38(UTC)
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Webmaster


Joined: 25/07/2001(UTC)
Posts: 11,165
I think some of us should have some experience of the particular loco. But then we need to know the model number of it, or which starter set it is from, and so on to be able to pinpoint decoder problems or such...

Generally speaking digital locos are more sensitive to dirt on the tracks, voltage drops, bad ground return and similar basic electrical issues than on an analog layout.
Juhan - "Webmaster", at your service...
He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes. He who does not ask a question remains a fool forever. [Old Chinese Proverb]
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Offline perz  
#7 Posted : 30 January 2007 00:32:07(UTC)
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perz

Sweden   
Joined: 12/01/2002(UTC)
Posts: 2,578
Location: Sweden
The programming options can be found (only in German, unfortunately) at:

http://www.maerklin.de/faq/show...;sb=5&o=&fpart=1

I had a similar problem but with another lok. I fixed it by changing reg value 2, although Märklin states that this value never should be changed.

You can reset your lok to factory default values by setting reg 8 to 8.

To set a reg value, go to the program lok:reg menu.
Although Märklin says it is for service only, it can be quite useful sometimes.
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Offline David Dewar  
#8 Posted : 30 January 2007 01:05:26(UTC)
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David Dewar

Scotland   
Joined: 01/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 7,459
Location: Scotland
I agree that a reset of the decoder would be a good first step. Ensure the track is clean and also the loco wheels. This type of problem is best solved here as I expect Marklin if they do reply will take weeks. The marklin number of the loco would be helpful.
Let us know how you get on with the above.

David
Take care I like Marklin and will defend the worlds greatest model rail manufacturer.
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Offline jonquinn  
#9 Posted : 30 January 2007 01:48:43(UTC)
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jonquinn


Joined: 15/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 1,591
Location: Pennsylvania
I think you can find Dr Tom Catherall's e-mail on the Marklin USA site - its on the bottom and it says "contact us" - it is a US e-mail and not the german ones. pretty sure its catherall.
anyways he is the USA digital "expert" for Marklin so send an e-mail to his attention.
sometimes they are responsive.
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Offline HueyCE  
#10 Posted : 30 January 2007 02:44:55(UTC)
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HueyCE


Joined: 12/01/2003(UTC)
Posts: 2,528
Location: Groton, Connecticut
Welcome to the forum Russell.
Ira
Building German Era I-II layout(Mk IIIc).UserPostedImage
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Offline PierreGILLARD  
#11 Posted : 30 January 2007 03:06:06(UTC)
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PierreGILLARD


Joined: 09/11/2004(UTC)
Posts: 2,346
Location: Longueuil, Quebec
Welcome to the forum, Russell !

Pierre.
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Offline rschundl  
#12 Posted : 30 January 2007 03:51:58(UTC)
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rschundl


Joined: 29/01/2007(UTC)
Posts: 9
Location: Westfield, NJ
Thanks for the rapid response.

I had reset the locomotive to the "preset" settings. The lights blinked showing acceptance of the reset command. The engine, which came with the Starter Kit 29533, still behaves eratically. The address and the decoder seem to work as evidenced by the correct function of the lights and the Telex coupler.

The engine responds to speed changes and forward/backward commands sometimes. When the locomotive is stopped, it may or may not re-start. What could cause these symptoms ... a loose connection? The wheels are clean and the track is clean (I'm only using a short test track with the Mobile Station).

I have two other locomotives that perform as expected on the same track with either my Central Station or the Mobile Station.

Russ
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Offline koomond  
#13 Posted : 30 January 2007 05:03:21(UTC)
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koomond


Joined: 03/12/2006(UTC)
Posts: 16
Location: Vancouver, BC
Russ,

I had a similar experience last week with BR258 from my kid's 29852 starter set. Whenever the loc stops, it is hard to restart again.

Try to turn the speed up to some slow speed and give the engine a little push. If it works, then try to clean the brushes.

Hope this help.

Raymond
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Offline H0  
#14 Posted : 30 January 2007 11:54:10(UTC)
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H0


Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,451
Location: DE-NW
The BR86 has only one axle driven by cog wheels.
Sometimes the wheels stop in a deadlock position.
If this is the cause of your problem, then try: full throttle, reverse, full throttle (remotely) or gently push the loco to get the wheels out of the dead lock position.

This could also be a problem with the brushes (I had that with my V160). So if the loco is new or has new brushes, running her forward and reverse for 30 minutes each may improve this.
Regards
Tom
---
"In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS
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Offline steventrain  
#15 Posted : 30 January 2007 18:43:28(UTC)
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steventrain

United Kingdom   
Joined: 21/10/2004(UTC)
Posts: 31,695
Location: United Kingdom
Welcome to the forum Russ.
Large Marklinist 3- Rails Layout with CS2/MS2/Boosters/C-track/favorites Electric class E03/BR103, E18/E118, E94, Crocodiles/Steam BR01, BR03, BR05, BR23, BR44, BR50, Big Boy.
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Offline rschundl  
#16 Posted : 31 January 2007 14:28:07(UTC)
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rschundl


Joined: 29/01/2007(UTC)
Posts: 9
Location: Westfield, NJ
Thanks, Tom. I was able to get the electric motor to start and let the locomotive go forward and then backward for about 15 minutes each. I believe this seated the brushes. The motor is working reliably again!

Russ

Quote:
[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by h-zero
<br />The BR86 has only one axle driven by cog wheels.
Sometimes the wheels stop in a deadlock position.
If this is the cause of your problem, then try: full throttle, reverse, full throttle (remotely) or gently push the loco to get the wheels out of the dead lock position.

This could also be a problem with the brushes (I had that with my V160). So if the loco is new or has new brushes, running her forward and reverse for 30 minutes each may improve this.
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Offline Bigdaddynz  
#17 Posted : 31 January 2007 16:25:15(UTC)
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Bigdaddynz

New Zealand   
Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC)
Posts: 18,772
Location: New Zealand
Welcome to the forum Russ. Glad to hear your problem has been solved. Come to think of it, I have a BR41 delta lok which is operating rather sporatically, and on thinking about it, it may be sticking brushes that is the problem. The lok was operating OK, but after not using it for a while (several months) I tried to use it, and it was rather jerky in its operation. Better open it up and take a look!! Cheers.
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Offline Seetal  
#18 Posted : 02 February 2007 05:41:00(UTC)
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Seetal


Joined: 12/11/2004(UTC)
Posts: 548
Location: Maryland, USA
Hi Russ,

Welcome to the forum. The more the merrier.

I am constantly learning new things and I am very greatful for the participation and knowledge that everyone shares. And you get answers!

John
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Offline rschundl  
#19 Posted : 03 February 2007 23:12:53(UTC)
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rschundl


Joined: 29/01/2007(UTC)
Posts: 9
Location: Westfield, NJ
I still have some times when the "dead lock" seems to occur with, possibly, the cogs jamming. This does not sound like "precision" German engineering. Would this be grounds for Marklin's providing a new locomotive as a warranty exchange? It's not very acceptable to have a locomotive cease to operate in the middle of train operations on the train table.

Russ

Quote:
[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by h-zero
<br />The BR86 has only one axle driven by cog wheels.
Sometimes the wheels stop in a deadlock position.
If this is the cause of your problem, then try: full throttle, reverse, full throttle (remotely) or gently push the loco to get the wheels out of the dead lock position.

This could also be a problem with the brushes (I had that with my V160). So if the loco is new or has new brushes, running her forward and reverse for 30 minutes each may improve this.
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Offline Bigdaddynz  
#20 Posted : 03 February 2007 23:59:26(UTC)
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Bigdaddynz

New Zealand   
Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC)
Posts: 18,772
Location: New Zealand
Russ, I would guess that if the loc isn't performing the way it was designed to, then that is grounds for having it replaced. That would certainly be the situation under New Zealand law, but I don't know how things are for you in the US.
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Offline Charlie  
#21 Posted : 04 February 2007 03:02:39(UTC)
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Charlie


Joined: 15/01/2003(UTC)
Posts: 707
Location: Texas, USA
Yeah, but you do need to run in the locomotive, to properly wear in the brushes. It often will help the running characteristics.
www.ajckids.com
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Offline rschundl  
#22 Posted : 11 February 2007 03:38:33(UTC)
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rschundl


Joined: 29/01/2007(UTC)
Posts: 9
Location: Westfield, NJ
I talked to Marklin USA and they gladly asked me to send my locomotive in for warranty service. They were very responsive. I really appreciate the input from all of you though.

Thanks!

Russ


Quote:
[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by Bigdaddynz
<br />Russ, I would guess that if the loc isn't performing the way it was designed to, then that is grounds for having it replaced. That would certainly be the situation under New Zealand law, but I don't know how things are for you in the US.
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Offline ulf999  
#23 Posted : 11 February 2007 08:57:31(UTC)
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ulf999


Joined: 12/05/2005(UTC)
Posts: 1,908
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Welcome to the forum!
Ulf, American HO. www.goldenvalleyroute.com/
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