Sounds liek the wire may have broken inside the speaker where it's very hard if not impossible to repair, since small speakers aren't designed to be taken apart. It MIGHT just be broken right on the back of the terminals, where the fine flexible speaker wire is soldered to the other side of those terminals that you solder the input wires to, but good luck getting at it.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Yikes, I did not pay attention to your location, so I would hesitate to send it back to BLI.
When you say that pressing on the speaker allows it to work, my first thought is that the connections are loose or cold soldered. If you haven't pulled it out, I sure would and check the solder connections. Even if they appear to be soldered, I would touch a hot (25w max) iron to them to melt and solidify them again.
If the cone of the speaker is broken loose from the center, that's a whole different story, but your symptoms don't lead to that conclusion.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
QSI decoders need speakers 8 ohms or greater, so the 8 ohm should be fine. The bigger diesels and steam locos usually have two in series for 16 ohms, but the decoder is capable of driving as low as 8 ohms.
Hi,
I am sure that a reason of my problem is the speaker. I dissasembled the model to find the problem. All decoder functions work. The engine runs forward and reverse. Lights work properly. The sound works only when I press the membrane of the speaker - all sound functions (Horn, Bell etc.) works when as well.
My model's warranty has expired. Sending it from Europe to US and back to me might cost more than this model is worth. I can replace the speaker myself. I am just not sure if I can use an 8 ohm speaker in place a 16 ohm one. Is it safe for a decoder?
I'm the guy (Mobilman44) that started the post you quoted. I ended up sending the loco back to BLI and they fixed and returned it in 5 weeks. They said that no sound system was ever installed. That could have been the decoder/speaker or just the speaker - I don't know for sure.
In any case, I would opt to send it back to them (call/write first) for repair. Or, perhaps they will just send you the speaker and you can install a new one.
All that being said, it is no fun to buy such a nice loco and have it not work as it should.
Hello all,I found this post from 2008
Grampys TrainsHi Mobilman 44: Yes, I had the same thing happen to my BLI RSD-15, about two weeks ago. It ran fine, but intermittant and then no sound. I pulled the shell, and by accident, touched the speaker cone with the shell off, and the sound came back on, as long as I touched the speaker. Defective speaker, so I fired off an e-mail to BLI, and got a prompt reply. They wanted all the numbers off the box, and then gave me the option of sending it in, or shipping me a new speaker. I opted for the speaker, installed it, and now have sound. Hope this helps.
I have the same problem now. The speaker works only when I touch it. It seems that a batch of speakers was defective. I want to buy a new speaker but I can't find any 1.25", 16 ohm speaker.
I found a TDS speaker at Tony's trains which is described as:" This high quality 8 ohm 1.25" Dia speaker is specified by QSI for the QSI DCC sound equipped Broadway Ltd, Atlas and Life-Like locos, and is now in stock.This is the same speaker used in OEM production and is an exact replacement. "However, it is a 8 ohm, 0.3W speaker. I don't want to destroy my sound decoder. Can I use this speaker? Maybe I should install two speakers connected in series?
http://www.tonystrains.com/tonystips/2006/020706d.htmhttp://www.tonystrains.com/technews/dreamspeakers/detail-125dia.htm