I recently purchsed a Bachmann S4 on that popular auction site. The seller said he "thought the unit had been tested." It arrived still in the original packaging and it appears to be in perfect cosmetic condition. I placed it on the track and the engine sound started normally and went to "idle" as it should, but the locomotive would not move forward or back and the lights, horn, and bell would not respond. I double checked the address was 3, no change. Reset the address to the cab number, no response. I reset the decoder by entering 8 in F8 and still nothing. I know my system is working as I ran other locomotives on the same track. So now what?
Any advice would be appreciated.
2002p51I reset the decoder by entering 8 in F8 and still nothing.
I assume you mean that you set CV8 = 8. It is not an address issue. I see reference to older Bachmann's having Lenz decoders, in which case CV 8 should be set to 33, but current production is not Lenz
"Thought it had been tested" is a mealy mouth description. Either it has and it should run or the seller has no idea.
I don't know if Bachmann would repair it for free, if not I would ask for a refund from the seller.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
In his defense, the seller is not a "railroad guy" (my words) and doesn't really know much about this stuff.
I don't really want to return it for a refund, I'd rather take it as a challenge and get it running.
Everything is repairable. :)
2002p51 I recently purchsed a Bachmann S4 on that popular auction site. The seller said he "thought the unit had been tested." It arrived still in the original packaging and it appears to be in perfect cosmetic condition. I placed it on the track and the engine sound started normally and went to "idle" as it should, but the locomotive would not move forward or back and the lights, horn, and bell would not respond. I double checked the address was 3, no change. Reset the address to the cab number, no response. I reset the decoder by entering 8 in F8 and still nothing. I know my system is working as I ran other locomotives on the same track. So now what? Any advice would be appreciated.
What DCC system do you have? Does it support readback? Do you have a program track? Can you read CV1?
Gary
try this to reset a lost/non-responsive decoder....
PROG → OPS → Add “00” → CV 8 = 8, CV 30 = 2 → (enter) Power Down
...and by powering down, remove the loco from the tracks for a few minutes. If successful, it should respond to address 03. Remove all other locos from the tracks, it will reset them also.
Terry
Inspired by Addiction
See more on my YouTube Channel
PennCentral99 Add “00” → CV 8 = 8, CV 30 = 2 → (enter) Power Down
Add "00" is not something that appears in the NCE manual, it that's what the OP has. Agree with the CV 30 = 2
NCE doesn't call it OPs mode either. It is programming on the main, but I thought that programmed only the loco that is addressed.
If the loco has a NCE, it's an after market install. Based on his description, sounds like it could be a eco-tsunami. Someone could have locked it up trying to program CV's. Maybe that's why the guy was selling it
BigDaddy Add "00" is not something that appears in the NCE manual, it that's what the OP has. Agree with the CV 30 = 2
I picked up that formula here from another member. I have Tsunami's and it's never failed to recover a non-responsive loco.
BigDaddy NCE doesn't call it OPs mode either. It is programming on the main, but I thought that programmed only the loco that is addressed.
Yeah, if you dial in that decoder. That's the problem, this decoder doesn't know it's name. Hard to program something that's not responding to commands (forward, reverse, lights, horn, bell).
Take any other locos off before doing the above! Programming to address 00 in Ops Mode on the main is a broadcast and programs EVERY loco. If the system allows it.
If the loco has factory sound, then it's Bachmann's Sound Value special Soundtraxx decoder. Do any sounds work, even though the loco doesn't move? Horn and bell whould work. If you advance the throttle, does the engine sound rev up?
Could be in a consist, or have a ridiculous amount of momentum. Set CV19=0, and also set CV3 and CV4 to 0, or 1.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
All of the above is great information that I will try later today.
My system is an NCE Power Cab.
Thanks for all this help. I will follow up with results.
I did not realize ADD 00 was telling it to program 00.
The guys at Tony's Train Shop say the Power Cab can program anything (unless there is a keep alive involved and in this case it is highly unlikely.)
Well, I tried the formula above and no change. The only sound that works is the prime mover at idle. It does not increase when the throttle is turned up and the horn and bell also do not respond.
I'm not giving up.
Did you cycle the power or remove the loco from the tracks after the reset?
And, does the Bachmann S4 edition support "shut down mode", where the unit is placed in "shut down" mode by double pressing F* key whichever, and back to "normal" mode by double pressing F* key whichever?
Also, as was mentioned, Momentum is a possibility, but if the horn & bell are not working at all, most likely this is not an issue, but consist might be it. Has that been cleared?
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
They don;t have the shutdown stuff like QSI, for sure. A full Tsunami doesn;t have that and the Sound Value is a very much feature-stripped decoder, providing just the basics.
Manual for the appropriate model should be here:
https://soundtraxx.com/reference/factory-installed-decoders/bachmann/
Doesn;t tell you much, but they do have supported CVs for each different model, the S-4 is under the Sound Value HO Diesel.
When you reset the decoder, after power is restored, after about 6 seconds, the lights should flash 16 times. This indicates the reset took. If not do a reset again. CV8=8 OR CV32=2. You may have a wire not having a good connection on the decoder. I solder the wires and get rid of the plastic clips. To remove the shell, remove the front and rear couplers. The shell should lift off. You may have to hold the fuel tank as you pull up on the shell. Joe
Following I have a soundvalue s-4 with the sane issues
Joe Staten Island West
BigDaddy I did not realize ADD 00 was telling it to program 00...
I did not realize ADD 00 was telling it to program 00...
What you are doing is telling the system to broadcast the following instruction(s) to all addresses because they'll all respond to the universal address of "00". So, it's the decoder, not the CV, that we're dealing with.
It's just like Paged Mode or Broadcast Mode where every decoder, no matter what address it's currently set to, will adopt the CV changes you impart via the keypad if they are currently on the rails and getting power. It's why many learn the lesson eventually that they must remove all but the affected locomotives from the rails if they're going to use Paged Mode or the Address "00". If they forget, and leave that one Rivarossi Heisler up on the industrial spur, in the corner out of my eyesight, like I did last week , they'll have to re-programme that one as well.
After reset, the loco will be at short address 3. Make sure you select that correctly, because NCE allows you to use both short address 3 and long address 3. They are NOT the same. Do the lights work? If the horn and bell don't work, I doubt the lights work - there is no communications to the decoder. Either is is using an address different than that you have selected, or it has failed.
FOrget the program on main, use the program track (which is the same track unless you have the Auto-Switch). Try setting CV19=0, then repeat the CV8=8 and CV30=2, then take the loco off the track. Exit program mode, put the loco back, and select address 3.
Well, I appreciate everybody's input. I tried all of your sugestions to no avail so today I shipped it off the Bachmann's service department.
It's a shame too because one of the reasons I bought this loco is the other one I have is the best performing loco on the layout.
Thanks again.
In the interest of a follow up. I got a call today from Bachmann's Service Department. The loco had a bad circuit card. They replaced the card and it runs fine now. They also cleaned it, lubed it, boxed it up and it's on its way home.
I appreciate everyone's efforts to help.
I own two of the Bachmann S4 Sound Value locos. I had similar problems with one of them. The fix is probably NOT with the DCC settings. Pop off the shell and check all of the wire connections to the decoder. Bachmann used plastic clips for these unsoldered connections and the clips can work loose. Even more surprising is that several of the wires on the loco I was having problems with were not making contact with the solder pads of the decoder, even when the plastic clip was tight (the factory installed clip was holding an insulated portion of the wire against the solder pad). I had to remove each clip, verify or correct good electrical contact between each wire and solder pad, then replace each clip. Better yet, I should probably go back and solder each connection so the clips are reduced to insulators. Regardless, all motor and sound functions were restored by fixing these physical electrical connections. I think you'll love this loco once you get it running right.
Hornblower