I have a Bachmann GP40 that had a Soundtraxx Tsunami Installed inside of it. When I run it on the layout at a slow, prototypical speed, The engine has trouble picking up the current from the track. Not to mention the light flickers a lot of the time. The engine randomly stops, restarts itself, and then goes on its way to do it in another location on the layout. I've cleaned the track (Bachmann's E-Z Track) until I can practically see a reflection in it and the engine still stalls. Although I don't think that it's the engine's fault, I suppose that I can clean the wheels sometime. Any help would be appreciated!
I would suggest taking the decoder out of that unit and put it into something worth while. Then, I would suggest just using a standard decoder with the Bachmann unit.
Why would a standard decoder be any different than a sound decoder, as far as power pickup issues.
While I have your attention, why don't those handy dandy flywheels carry the loco past those tiny power dropouts? Thanks
I personally think flywheels are a waster of space under a shell. I haven't found an engine yet where they're heavy enough and spin fast enough at, say, a yard speed to carry an engine more than about 1/2", and I am being generous here. It is different if the scale speed out on the main with four or five model heavyweights are continuing to shove the works is closer to 40 scale mph and up.
However, if I have a short or something, and the power is cut to the layout or to a section, whatever is moving stops right quick. No 2" or 3" coast. They all stop dead faster'n you can blink. And they all have one or two flywheels.
Just my opinion here, and I warrant that I don't have a ton of experience.
-Crandell
selector I personally think flywheels are a waster of space under a shell. I haven't found an engine yet where they're heavy enough and spin fast enough at, say, a yard speed to carry an engine more than about 1/2", and I am being generous here. It is different if the scale speed out on the main with four or five model heavyweights are continuing to shove the works is closer to 40 scale mph and up. However, if I have a short or something, and the power is cut to the layout or to a section, whatever is moving stops right quick. No 2" or 3" coast. They all stop dead faster'n you can blink. And they all have one or two flywheels. Just my opinion here, and I warrant that I don't have a ton of experience. -Crandell
For the purposes of pure monentum I would have to agree with you. However, where they help is having enough monentum to smooth out slight variations in speed due to any number of reasons including the drive train, traction issues, trackwork and more. Without the flywheels, performance would be more jerky.
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
At slow speeds I agree the flywheels don't do too much good but once in the medium range they smooth out common problems. As far as problems with sound and pickups David is right on.
Springfield PA
Is the below diagram your loco?
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/H635X_IS005.pdf
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
OK. One more thing, and I'll stop beating this issue to death. Almost all locos have power pickups on both trucks. So, in the case of an SD or six axle loco, you have six wheels on each side of the loco allegedly picking up power. These six wheels span a distance of up to 10 inches on each side of the loco. So even if a couple wheels are on a tiny spot of dirt, you still have 3 or 4 wheels on each side of the loco to pick up power. It almost defies the imagination that all six wheels on a side are on dirty spots of track at the same time. I'm just trying to get to the bottom of the power pickup issue.
I've cleaned track, cleaned wheels, and scraped paint off truck sideframes, with some improvement, but still the problems persist, with more than one loco. Then others run flawlessly over the same track.
Many times diesels have pickups made of a thin plate of brass or phosphor bronze between the drivers and truck frame. The plate is supposed to press up against the inside of the drivers. Sometimes a thin coat of corrosion develops on the plate. I have cleaned off this corrosion with a Scratch Brush from Micro Mark and put a dot of corrosion preventer on the inside of the driver and outside of the plate.I use Cramolin which is not available anymore but you could use CRC 2-26 or DeoxIT®.
I also use the brush on the inside of the drivers.
You could also give the pickups a quick shot of CRC to clean them up and lubricate.
I have the same problem. I just turn it off and let it sit for awhile. I'm guessing the power pack or track get glitchy after long uses. If all else fails, get new track sections or a new track system altogether.
PS. I cannot wait to go into flextrack
The power pack or track will not get glitchy.
If clean track, then poor driver pickups. This assumes a good track connection from the controller. The Tsunami is a very good decoder. I have read in other forums that others have Spectrum with Tsunami that run very well.
Modelers in the Bachmann forums generally report good performance from Bachmann factory installed decoders.
I use the Tsunami, LokSound and Digitrax decoders and only poor track pickups will cause issues with factory installed decoders. I do have to admit that Bachmann locos are known to have issues with mechanical stuff.
I have to assume you are using a DCC controller, not a DC power pack but it should not make a difference.
I have had some locos develop pickup issues and it was in the side plates in the trucks.
Get back to us and let us know of any results.
Many in these forums find a solution and never think of giving back to the members about their successes. People here sometimes look through the messages for help and this can help them with issues.
I don't think that I mentioned this, but the loco isn't a Bachmann Spectrum. It came from the bachman Digital Commander train set. Cheap, I know, but is does what I need it to.
I'm about to aquire a DCC- Equipped 2-8-0 Consolidation from Bachmann. From what I've heard, I'm gonna have a lot more luck with that. There's where the forums come in handy!
I installed the Tsunami myself, it wan't factory installed.
But I agree on your last statement, I tend to look to the forums for help a lot of the time only to find that they never post their own solution for the problem.
I sure hope that this info helps.
That's close, but there's no decoder in the diagram, and my loco isn't a bachmann spectrum by the way, and the decoder was installed myself. It wan't factory installed.
TrainzMan2010That's close, but there's no decoder in the diagram, and my loco isn't a bachmann spectrum by the way, and the decoder was installed myself. It wan't factory installed.
You are very correct. I thought we were talking about track pickups. That is why I posted the photo link. At the Bachmann site you might find a photo of your loco diagram to help you fix this issue.
You have to be more detailed about your situation to get a response that will be helpful.
Your issue points to poor pickup which is even an issue sometimes with the Spectrum's. Give the truck pickups some attention like I said before. You will have to do some trouble shooting. DCC is more sensitive to poor track/driver pickup. Been there, done that, have the T shirt.
Rich's solution helped the problem ENORMOUSLY! The loco only has problems on the switches now. I also noticed that the wheels and gears were really heavily lubricated... If that helps... Anyways, I'll be sure to clean off the corosion regularly now. I honstly am not going to get my hands on any corrosion preventer for a while. Thanx Rich!