Trains.com

Williams Horn/Bell Volume

14334 views
24 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2010
  • 92 posts
Posted by kgstones on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 6:51 PM

Now you have me thinking on a whole new subject.  Maybe I should start a new post as this doesn't pertain to Williams or the diesel horn.  The new post will be "Polar Express upgrade to Railsounds 4.0".  I don't think the upgrade is worth it on the NW-2 diesel but would be neat as an alternative to buying the railsounds Polar Express tender.

Thanks for the info,

Mickey

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: South Carolina
  • 9,713 posts
Posted by rtraincollector on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 4:53 PM

kgstones

The bell and horn on this unit operate separately via the whistle and bell buttons on the transformer.  And they can operate together, at the same time.  It's over at the grandkids' residence so I can't open it up to examine the board to see if there's a volume adjustment.  Any idea if it can be upgraded so the horn will sound as long as the button is pushed?  Thanks for the info about the Bachmann forum.  I'm registering and asking them the above.

Mickey

Heres where I lie with that you can get sound system from a electric railroad distribator for about $85 which includes horn/whistle, bell engine sounds, and crew talk

heres what ERR states about it on there site

The RailSounds Commander is the smallest, most full featured, highest performance RailSounds 4.0 upgrade available for your locomotives.  The RailSounds Commander utilizes Lionel RS4 technology, combined with a single power controller that supports conventional mode, including battery backup.  The RailSounds Commander operates standalone, or in conjunction with the full product line of Electric Railroad’s TMCC upgrades. The small size is unparalleled in the marketplace, so just about every locomotive can have a high performance sound system!

The RailSounds Commander product is complete kit (view contents), including a high performance speaker, speaker baffle, mounting supplies, comprehensive installation manual, and connection cables for conventional and command operation.

Cool Features:
     Conventional and Command mode operation
     Command mode Volume Control
     On-board Volume Control for conventional operation
     Battery (9v) supports convention mode operation
     Diesel Sound Sets: Alco, F3/F7, E8/9, Geep 7/9, Dash 9
     Steam Sound Sets: Atlantic, Northern, Generic, Articulated
     Direct connection to the AC, DC, and Cruise Commander
     Only 1.95" L  x  1.25" W  x  0.95" H

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • 92 posts
Posted by kgstones on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 2:41 PM

The bell and horn on this unit operate separately via the whistle and bell buttons on the transformer.  And they can operate together, at the same time.  It's over at the grandkids' residence so I can't open it up to examine the board to see if there's a volume adjustment.  Any idea if it can be upgraded so the horn will sound as long as the button is pushed?  Thanks for the info about the Bachmann forum.  I'm registering and asking them the above.

Mickey

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Lake Worth FL
  • 4,014 posts
Posted by phillyreading on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 1:51 PM
If you can not adjust the volume on the older True Blast 2 units from Bachmann, the problem might be dirt or a film of lubricant on the volume switch itself, this needs to be cleaned carefully and then try to adjust the volume again.
Interested in southest Pennsylvania railroads; Reading & Northern, Reading Company, Reading Lines, Philadelphia & Reading.
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Lake Worth FL
  • 4,014 posts
Posted by phillyreading on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 1:48 PM
With True Blast 2 you can only access the horn in the sequence that was built-in the T.B. 2 circuit board. The newer True Blast plus, featured on the new GP-30's by Bachmann/Williams, will allow you to get direct horn sounding or as long as the whistle button is pressed the horn will sound, also can get noth horn & bell at the same time according to the Bachmann rep on "Ask the Bachhmann Forum" on the Bachmann website. Bachmann claims it(the new True Blast plus) is a polymorphic unit, or able to do two sounds at once.
Interested in southest Pennsylvania railroads; Reading & Northern, Reading Company, Reading Lines, Philadelphia & Reading.
  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: Virginia
  • 544 posts
Posted by TRAINCAT on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 9:58 AM

No Mickey, that is the only horn sequence you get. I understand the brand new GP-30 units are different now.

Roger

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • 92 posts
Posted by kgstones on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 9:46 AM

Same subject but another adjustment question.  I just purchased a NW-2 diesel engine for the grandkids and found that when you press the horn button the horn sounds the crossing signal of 2 long, 1 short, 1 long.  Does anyone know if that can be turned off so that you can sound the horn manually for any sequence you want?

Thanks all, Mickey

  • Member since
    November 2010
  • 993 posts
Posted by gunrunnerjohn on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 7:25 PM

Thanks for the kind words. Big Smile  I get as much as I give in these forums, nice to be able to contribute at times.

  • Member since
    April 2010
  • 269 posts
Posted by silentman on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 6:18 PM

srguy

 I know I've mentioned this, the value of this forum can't be measured. There is a wealth of experience among the participants that helps solve problems for those with less experience  like me. Thanks again to all the participants.

I agree one thousand percent!!!!

  • Member since
    September 2008
  • 1,320 posts
Posted by Train-O on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 3:54 PM

Jim,

Thank you for that info.

I have one two Williams diesel locos. with True Blast II features and I just want to make sure that my two engines bells aren't the only ones with a lower volume, than the horn.

Of my two Lionel diesel engines, both, with TMCC, the older one with 2.0 has a lower volume from it's bell , than it's horn.
The newer Lionel diesel ,with 5.0, has good volume, from both horn and bell.

Ralph

  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: ___ _, ____
  • 323 posts
Posted by srguy on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 2:55 PM

Train-O

Yes ... both of my Williams units are true blast II with horn and bell and the horn is louder than the bell. The sound adjustment however raises/lowers the volume for both horm and bell.... not individually.

 

Jim

  • Member since
    September 2008
  • 1,320 posts
Posted by Train-O on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 1:41 PM

srguy,

Do you have a bell and if so, does it have a decent volume?

Ralph

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: Virginia
  • 544 posts
Posted by TRAINCAT on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 1:17 PM

Yep, thats the right one that John showed you. I was shocked a year ago when a big Williams dealer did NOT know you could adjust the sound.

 

Roger

  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: ___ _, ____
  • 323 posts
Posted by srguy on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 9:32 AM

Actually the family is fine with my "toys" ... just joking a bit. . A point here .... Williams could not have made it more difficult to adjust the sound volume. With the configuration on the F3, the speaker had to be removed in order to access the control. Fortunately I had one of those mini screwdrivers that fit into the tiny opening. I know I've mentioned this, the value of this forum can't be measured. There is a wealth of experience among the participants that helps solve problems for those with less experience  like me. Thanks again to all the participants.

  • Member since
    November 2010
  • 993 posts
Posted by gunrunnerjohn on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 8:24 AM

Sorry about the family, but at least you're happy, right? Laugh

  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: ___ _, ____
  • 323 posts
Posted by srguy on Monday, November 21, 2011 6:19 PM

Good job John .... better info than Williams. Their description as I posted said there was an opening in the board .... NOT! Thanks for the photo .... the family can hear the horn upstairs now ,,,, I'm sure they're real happy about that!

  • Member since
    September 2008
  • 1,320 posts
Posted by Train-O on Monday, November 21, 2011 4:37 PM

Thank you gunrunnerjohn,

For the valuable photo.

Ralph

  • Member since
    November 2010
  • 993 posts
Posted by gunrunnerjohn on Monday, November 21, 2011 4:14 PM

Here is a Williams True Blast II Horn & Bell (Diesel) item No. 00245.  The volume control is indicated.

 

  • Member since
    September 2008
  • 1,320 posts
Posted by Train-O on Monday, November 21, 2011 11:33 AM

srguy,

Thank you for the info.

Ralph

  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: ___ _, ____
  • 323 posts
Posted by srguy on Monday, November 21, 2011 11:31 AM

I called Williams Bachmann's tech service this morning and they informed me that apparently there is a small hole in the sound board housing a flathead volume adjustment screw. Just a note .... they warned me not to turn it up all the way as it might damage the sound board. I'll check it out tonight and post my findings.

  • Member since
    September 2008
  • 1,320 posts
Posted by Train-O on Monday, November 21, 2011 9:35 AM

This is what I found for a Williams diesel engine, but it is difficult to see:

http://www.shopping.com/bachmann-williams-digital-true-blast-ii-sound-diesel/info?sb=1

In the photo., towards the top/center of the sound unit, just below the wires, there is a small silver item, which appears to be an upside-down, partially shaped 'U.'

This, may be the volume control, or a fixed, non-movable component.

I'm not sure and maybe someone else knows better.

Ralph 

  • Member since
    November 2010
  • 993 posts
Posted by gunrunnerjohn on Monday, November 21, 2011 8:40 AM

How about posting a close-up picture of the board?

  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: ___ _, ____
  • 323 posts
Posted by srguy on Sunday, November 20, 2011 3:37 PM

I looked carefully for anything looking like upside down U ..... it seems like every item accessible was fixed and nothing silver. Should this U that you refer to be easily accessible ... like on the top of the board??

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: Virginia
  • 544 posts
Posted by TRAINCAT on Sunday, November 20, 2011 1:28 PM

Yes, you can adjust the sound. Look closely at the sound board. There is a silver pot that looks like an upside down "U".  adjust that clockwise.

 

Roger

  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: ___ _, ____
  • 323 posts
Williams Horn/Bell Volume
Posted by srguy on Sunday, November 20, 2011 11:45 AM

I've purchased 2 Williams engines in the last year ... one and FM and the other and F3. The horn and bell on the FM you can hear at the neighbors (just kidding ... it's plenty loud). The F3 however is difficult to hear, especially the bell, when a couple of trains are running. My first thought is that the FM has many vents along the roof but the F3 only has 2 small screens on the roof. Is that the problem or is there a way to adjust the volume???

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month