I have two Bachman shays running on the layout. I put them in consist and saw that the motors are runnig at different speeds. To prove this I seperated them leaving them both still on consist and put them on opposite ends of the layout. The one hauling 4 log cars caught the engine pushing 1 log car. I don't know if this means anything but one engine light is on and the other is not. How do I correct this and am I hurting the motors?
Sounds like the time to learn about speed matching! This is where the differences in various locomotives are matched so that they both move at the same speed /rate instead of fighting each other or one catching up to the other. Speed matching will between locos only , not pulling any cars. You're not really hurting the motors unless they are connected together and one is fighting the other. Before my first speed matching the one loco dragged the other behind it with it's wheels squealing as the second loco wasn't moving as fast as the first. Not a good thing over time.
How far off are they?
If it's just a little different you should be fine.
Springfield PA
Yeah i would agree with CP it can cause problems down the road if one is fighting the other. However, im not sure about Bachmann and their decoders speed steps i know with most decoders such as digitrax or mrc you can change the start voltage and the accelaration/ decelaration of the locos motor. i know that the Bachmann engine that i have doesnt support those specific CV's. but if yours does play around with the start votages and accel/ decel rates you also may be able to set speed limits aswell. Just remember what they are originally set at that way you can change them back if it doesnt work out ( the CV values). Good Luck.
Teach me. Ok so it'speed matching. How do I correct this? I have adjusted the CV's but I am not running at top speed but at middle of the road.
One is a digitrax. I do not know the other as Bachman had to replace an engine and the new won came with the decoder installed.
From what I have been told you start with the slowest engine. With CV 2, that is the starting voltage. Adjust the voltage till till the slower engine starts moving at the same time as the fast one.
Next run them fast (can they go fast?) and set the faster one CV 5 to so it slows it top speed to match the slower one. Take CV 2 and Add it to CV 5 and dived it by two and set CV 6 to that number.
CV 2 = 4
CV 5 = 254
CV 6 should be at 128
Then adjust CV 6 from there, CV 6 is mid range power.
Don't be shocked if the CV are way different from each other. To night I speed matched 2 PK F 3's each had the same decoder DH 123.
A unit B unit
CV 2 = 2 20
CV 6 = 88 128
CV 5 = 254 254
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