Welcome to the forum   
Welcome Guest! To enable all features please Login or Register.

Notification

Icon
Error

Share
Options
View
Go to last post in this topic Go to first unread post in this topic
Offline Paul187  
#1 Posted : 29 May 2025 10:31:48(UTC)
Paul187

United States   
Joined: 09/11/2021(UTC)
Posts: 23
Location: New Jersey
Hello:
I am not that familiar with some of the newer MFX locos. I purchased this as used. However, the loco looks to have never been used. I am using the Marklin 6647 transformer which the loco should recognize. The loco seems dead. No response at all. There is a jumper plug inside for track or catenary. Plug is set for track. I thought perhaps stale grease/oil syndrome but the motor truck seems unobstructed. Interior is factory fresh. No loose circuit boards or wires. No hum or lights when power is applied. Any ideas???
Thank you, Paul
Online JohnjeanB  
#2 Posted : 29 May 2025 11:39:28(UTC)
JohnjeanB

France   
Joined: 04/02/2011(UTC)
Posts: 3,568
Location: Paris, France
Hello Paul
Searching for loco 37342 in Märklin webbase I could not find it. Apparently, it was released in 2009 as a special edition set of two Re 4/4 II (one red one green).
When installing a recent Märklin digital model and powering with a transformer it should light up and start.

What can be wrong:
- motor seizure (blocked by dry oil. DO NOT try to unlock it by forcing the wheels to turn
- recent locos slider is clipsed (and not attached with a screw) so an improperly clipsed slider may prevent any operation
- the decoder is dead (may die using an old transformer with a direction change - overvoltage higher than 25 VAC)

Seizure is one the favorites (most likely)
- remove the brushes
- check for wheel seizure (move laterally / rotate Does it move a little?)
- worst is to have to open the motor (coffee grinder / HDLA in your case)

This maybe could help


Cheers
Jean
Offline mike c  
#3 Posted : 29 May 2025 17:56:05(UTC)
mike c

Canada   
Joined: 28/11/2007(UTC)
Posts: 8,241
Location: Montreal, QC
Hi Paul,

Can you take a photo of the model with the shell removed?

As there are no lights when the model is given power, this should rule out a seized motor or brush issue.
This was one of the last models with the OEM ESU decoder. It is possible that the decoder is damaged/dead. It was also one of the first models to have the rail/catenary switch replaced with jumpers on the circuit board.

Personally, I was not satisfied with the error in the production which resulted in the model having the shortened cab railings like the Re 421 instead of the complete railings of the Re 4/4II (420). I took the digital chassis from both locomotives and used them to upgrade two earlier models to digital and sold the 37342 shells with the analog chassis from the older models. At the time, it was clearly expressed that the chassis was from 3434/34344 type models.

If your model has the ESU decoder and jumpers, you did not end up with one of those particular models.

My first suggestion would be to ask how far you are from Euro Model Trains and whether you can have Mike take a look at it.
Alternately, you can contact Robert at RJF Trains in Katonah, NY.
They may have the ESU decoder tester which can be used to check the decoder. I am not certain if the current Maerklin tester will work on the older OEM ESU models.

If you have a similar Re 4/4II (37356/26534), you can carefully swap decoders to test the motor/lights.
I suspect that the issue is likely decoder related.

Regards

Mike C

thanks 1 user liked this useful post by mike c
Offline rhfil  
#4 Posted : 29 May 2025 19:56:42(UTC)
rhfil

United States   
Joined: 05/09/2014(UTC)
Posts: 679
Location: NEW HAMPSHIRE, Somersworth
Don't like those plugs. Remove it and reinstall it. Try different positions. Use a multi-meter to see if there is resistance between the slider and the wheels. If there is none it means no power is getting through so either there is a bad connection or a bad decoder. I would even move the plug to the catenary position and check everything again. Don't like those plugs.
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by rhfil
Offline Paul187  
#5 Posted : 29 May 2025 21:05:00(UTC)
Paul187

United States   
Joined: 09/11/2021(UTC)
Posts: 23
Location: New Jersey
locolocoLoco

Hello:
Here are pics of the loco.
Thank you, Paul
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by Paul187
Offline Dave Banks  
#6 Posted : 30 May 2025 03:14:15(UTC)
Dave Banks

Australia   
Joined: 08/03/2006(UTC)
Posts: 1,046
Location: Gold Coast, Australia.
This is about as close to that loco as I can find:

https://static.maerklin....9dcad7b3b11434542188.pdf
D.A.Banks
Offline rbw993  
#7 Posted : 30 May 2025 16:22:22(UTC)
rbw993

United States   
Joined: 19/08/2008(UTC)
Posts: 1,056
The plug is in the track power position...
Modeling Immensee, mile/km 0 on the Gottard. SBB Era V.
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by rbw993
Offline rhfil  
#8 Posted : 30 May 2025 17:26:37(UTC)
rhfil

United States   
Joined: 05/09/2014(UTC)
Posts: 679
Location: NEW HAMPSHIRE, Somersworth
Pull it out and plug it back in. There might be corrosion preventing contact. You might even clean the plug wires. Oh, also with the engine on a track and the plug out check with a multimeter that there is voltage flow across the sockets.
Offline 5HorizonsRR  
#9 Posted : 30 May 2025 19:44:25(UTC)
5HorizonsRR

United States   
Joined: 05/12/2004(UTC)
Posts: 2,980
Location: CA, USA
Originally Posted by: rhfil Go to Quoted Post
Pull it out and plug it back in. There might be corrosion preventing contact. You might even clean the plug wires. Oh, also with the engine on a track and the plug out check with a multimeter that there is voltage flow across the sockets.


Agreed, an easy test!

Three other obvious tests, especially knowing the lights are out:

1- the decoder just pops out, no soldering. Take it out and test it on a decoder tester, that is obvious thing #1, although you of course need a tester. (an excellent investment in my opinion, I prefer the ESU one)

2- Measure voltage into the decoder/PC board at the end of the red wire, which you can see dangling loose underneath the decoder. If there is no power there, you have a contact problem, not a decoder problem. Sometimes things don't make it from track to decoder, for example if the other end of that red wire came unsoldered at the pickup shoe, or oxidation.

3- Put power directly to the motor block to see if the motor itself works. (I'd remove the decoder to be safe) I bet the motor is fine though.
SBB Era 2-5
Offline Paul187  
#10 Posted : 30 May 2025 20:30:31(UTC)
Paul187

United States   
Joined: 09/11/2021(UTC)
Posts: 23
Location: New Jersey
Thank you. I will take your advice with the multimeter and check the current.
Paul
Offline mike c  
#11 Posted : 31 May 2025 00:18:25(UTC)
mike c

Canada   
Joined: 28/11/2007(UTC)
Posts: 8,241
Location: Montreal, QC
These are the closest manuals that I could come up with (online):

26534: https://static.maerklin....0920e965881434541708.pdf
37356: https://static.maerklin....bd2db4326c1434541941.pdf

Actual 37342 Manual (snippets): 37342.pdf (1,256kb) downloaded 4 time(s).

The 37342 and both of these models still had the OEM ESU (Lokpilot V3 21MTC) decoder. Later models had the Maerklin In-house decoder.
The earlier models (37344, 3734, etc) had Maerklin 6090X type decoders with dip switches.

swiss1.jpg
First thing to test would be to verify that there is contact/power from the slider to the PC board via the red cable (second pin on left on non-motor side). You can check this with an OHM metre between that contact and the centre rail when off and with the metre set to 25VAC (Analog/6021) or DC (MS2/CS) when powered.

As suggested, I would unscrew the PC board (2 screws) and carefully remove and reinsert the decoder. I had one incident where a similar decoder was fried because it was inserted inverted and then powered up. I have the ESU profile for the OEM decoder and if your's is not working, you can get a replacement Lokpilot and I can send you the file which you can load using an ESU lokprogrammer. If you order a replacement from Maerklin, it will be a non-ESU Maerklin decoder that may not have the same profile/settings. If possible, can you take a photo of the decoder (top side)?

You can check the slider by switching the jumper to catenary and then running power to the contact plate (large metal rectangle). If the loco works, it means that there is a problem between the board and the slider.

Here is a photo of my model: IMG_6620.jpeg

Regards

Mike C
Offline Paul187  
#12 Posted : 31 May 2025 03:49:55(UTC)
Paul187

United States   
Joined: 09/11/2021(UTC)
Posts: 23
Location: New Jersey
Hello:
Thank you Mike for the info. You are correct the chip is dead. Contacts work from both track and overhead. Motor works fine. The chip gave a small plume of white smoke signaling its demise after cleaning the power contacts and applying a little power. I will order a new decoder chip. Very easy to replace.
Paul
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by Paul187
Offline Paul187  
#13 Posted : 31 May 2025 05:59:26(UTC)
Paul187

United States   
Joined: 09/11/2021(UTC)
Posts: 23
Location: New Jersey
Hello:
Here is the damaged decoder. What is the current replacement? I do not need a sound decoder.
Thank you, Paul

https://i.frg.im/ain2pqI...4-4a67-808b-684809277175


Offline mike c  
#14 Posted : 31 May 2025 09:44:25(UTC)
mike c

Canada   
Joined: 28/11/2007(UTC)
Posts: 8,241
Location: Montreal, QC
Originally Posted by: Paul187 Go to Quoted Post
Hello:
Here is the damaged decoder. What is the current replacement? I do not need a sound decoder.
Thank you, Paul

https://i.frg.im/ain2pqI...4-4a67-808b-684809277175



The ESU model that was used by Maerklin for this model was a OEM Lokpilot V3.0 (60601).
I found one seller on Ricardo.ch

Here's a Danish 60601: https://www.nettog.dk/pr...lokpilot/5013-esu-61601/

If you contact Maerklin, they will sell you an in-house MLD decoder. They may be able to program it to approximate the settings of the 37342.
If you can get one of the ESU originals, I have saved the profile for that decoder and can send it to you so you can upload it via the ESU Lokprogrammer.
You can also contact ESU to find out whether there are any new versions (v4 or v5) that have the same connections and can accept the same profile, but you will have to buy it and load the profile at your own risk.

Quote:
ESU decoders in factory-assembled locomotives (OEM)
Many ESU decoders have already been pre-installed into locomotives that come ex factory. These decoders are exclusively provided with special settings for the respective customer and his locomotive to some extent. The so-called OEM decoders may considerably differ from our ESU standart decoders.
If these decoders shouldn´t work probably anymore, please refer it DIRECTLY to the manufacturer of the locomotive or to the shop where you purchased the locomotive.

Please never return an OEM decoder or even the whole locomotive to ESU, since we can´t accept any direct warranty claims for such decoders! All OEM decoders and locos will be sent back unrepaired.


Regards

Mike C
Offline 5HorizonsRR  
#15 Posted : 01 June 2025 06:56:32(UTC)
5HorizonsRR

United States   
Joined: 05/12/2004(UTC)
Posts: 2,980
Location: CA, USA
I'm not sure any old 21 pin decoder will do. I believe this is what you need- see the bit about marklin-specific applications in the description:

https://ajckids.com/products/esu-59649

If a "normal" 21 pin will do, part number 51619 would be the equivalent.

SBB Era 2-5
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by 5HorizonsRR
Offline marklinist5999  
#16 Posted : 01 June 2025 14:04:26(UTC)
marklinist5999

United States   
Joined: 10/02/2021(UTC)
Posts: 3,936
Location: Michigan, Troy
That is my dilemma for my 39020. It runs fine, I would like more sounds.
Offline mike c  
#17 Posted : 01 June 2025 20:09:56(UTC)
mike c

Canada   
Joined: 28/11/2007(UTC)
Posts: 8,241
Location: Montreal, QC
Originally Posted by: 5HorizonsRR Go to Quoted Post
I'm not sure any old 21 pin decoder will do. I believe this is what you need- see the bit about marklin-specific applications in the description:

https://ajckids.com/products/esu-59649

If a "normal" 21 pin will do, part number 51619 would be the equivalent.



I am sure that you could put in a V4 or V5, but I am not certain that the original decoder profile which I have saved and offered to the poster will be fully compatible with the newer models from ESU.
The original decoder was an OEM ESU for Maerklin.

Without the OEM profile, you will have to setup all of the functions and settings or use ESU's default for Re 4/4II.

Regards

Mike C
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by mike c
Users browsing this topic
Guest
Forum Jump  
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.

| Powered by YAF.NET | YAF.NET © 2003-2025, Yet Another Forum.NET
This page was generated in 0.682 seconds.