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problem with bachmann em-1

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  • Member since
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  • From: CAPE CORAL FLA
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problem with bachmann em-1
Posted by thomas81z on Sunday, December 8, 2013 6:10 PM

ok i got an bachmann em-1 last year it has a tsunami heavy steam sound decoder in it , well i finally dragged it out of the closet last week & i put it on a small test track &........ nothing i put it on dc & nothing in dcc the tender light came on for a second then dead.

strange i cleaned the track & wheels but still nothing . i need to get a multi meter to see if the tender is picking up power , so anybody got any ideas ?//

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Posted by cacole on Sunday, December 8, 2013 6:25 PM

Make sure the wires are firmly plugged into the sockets on the tender.

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Posted by Redvdub1 on Sunday, December 8, 2013 7:53 PM

The tender wheels may be shorting out.  Bachman has both left and right hand rail pickup in the tender as well as the loco.  If both tender trucks are picking up power from the same rail you have a short. 

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Posted by richhotrain on Monday, December 9, 2013 4:41 AM

Just a thought.  You ought to re-title this thread to something like Bachmann EM-1 Problems to draw attention to your thread.  I recall that others had similar problems with this loco.

The title confusing problem will cause many to bypass the thread.

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by gn.2-6-8-0 on Monday, December 9, 2013 11:11 AM

Assuming your decoder is the one you have to self install, make sure its installedl fully and correctly....not backwards.

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Posted by zstripe on Monday, December 9, 2013 11:46 AM

Thomas81z,

Just in case you need it:

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/service.php

Cheers, Drinks

Frank

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Posted by thomas81z on Monday, December 9, 2013 3:01 PM

thanks but since its the tsunami decoder & not thier decoder im sol

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Posted by thomas81z on Monday, December 9, 2013 3:02 PM
some people have had similar problems with the EM-1??? didnt know that
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Posted by richhotrain on Monday, December 9, 2013 3:51 PM

Add an M to that title.

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by richg1998 on Monday, December 9, 2013 4:03 PM

thomas81z

ok i got an bachmann em-1 last year it has a tsunami heavy steam sound decoder in it , well i finally dragged it out of the closet last week & i put it on a small test track &........ nothing i put it on dc & nothing in dcc the tender light came on for a second then dead.

strange i cleaned the track & wheels but still nothing . i need to get a multi meter to see if the tender is picking up power , so anybody got any ideas ?//

 

Since it lights up, that says there is no short. Assumption. The decoder must be getting power. SOP, Standard Operating Procedure is to reset the decoder to factory specs. CV8, enter 8.

Does you controller indicate a short? If it does, make sure the tender trucks cannot swivel 180 degrees. Some Bachmann tenders they can. Not all.

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.

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Posted by LIRRs on Monday, December 9, 2013 7:17 PM

Hi.

Did you change the motor only decoder address before installing the sound module?  The address of the locomotive (motor decoder) should only be changed when the sound module is installed otherwise you will not receive any response.  Reset the motor decoder (sound module removed) to the factory defaults:CV8=8, reinstall the sound module and see if the unit responds to address 03.

All the best.

Reinhard

 

All the best.

Joe F

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Posted by richg1998 on Monday, December 9, 2013 7:39 PM

The OP did not say how the decoder was installed. I am assuming he ripped out the default motor and lights only decoder and hardwired a Tsunami shrink wrapped decoder.

 The original motor, lights decoder comes ready for a 21 pin "Sound Module" according to the Bachmann catalog.

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.

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Posted by thomas81z on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 4:02 PM

yes the its hardwired in need to try  dcc again with default address again but like i said the back light comes on then goes out about 5 seconds later & it will not run even in regular DC mode either :(

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Posted by richg1998 on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 4:25 PM

Answer this question. Does the DCC controller or DC power pack indicate a short after the tender light goes out?

I have read a few times that the Tsunami you install yourself needs the DC option activated. The CV list will tell you which CV.

 

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.

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Posted by thomas81z on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 4:38 PM

Smile, Wink & Grinhumm really ?? i will check that out & get back to you , thanks

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Posted by richg1998 on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 5:00 PM

thomas81z

Smile, Wink & Grinhumm really ?? i will check that out & get back to you , thanks

 

You did not answer about any short on your controllers so I assuming there is no short.

 

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.

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Posted by thomas81z on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 6:09 PM

]DAMN ADDStick out tongue IM sorry i didnt answer that part of the question, the controller ran an f-7 no problem on dcc & my other big boy ran fine on dcc & dc so i think the controllers

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