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Athearn GP50 soundtrax decoder

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  • Member since
    February 2014
  • 84 posts
Athearn GP50 soundtrax decoder
Posted by JOSEPH the steam buff on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 1:21 AM

So i have this Athearn Blue Box Gp50 with a sagami motor and a soundtrax tsu1000 decoder circa 2000.     i have a jerking motion witch i thought was the result of a thrust washer missing.    we checked that.    so i read on a forum if you put cv 3 or 4 to a vallue of zero you can fix this.    so i put it on the JMRI and go to the soundtrax options  but i cant find the decoder.    does the tsu mean tsunami?    i am 25.   and this one decoder is kinda stumping me so forgive me if i seem novice.   i promise i do know quite allot.     hope you can help me out.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 7:20 AM

 Depending on what version oof JMRI you have, they may be under Throttle-Up, which was the original name of Soundtraxx. One Tsunami 1000 series is the same as all others. I don't see how removing all momentum will stop jerky motion, but go for it. In the time it took you to log on to the forums you could have just set this with your throttle - seeing as how you are trying to set both to 0, it's a pretty simple matter to select CV3 and set it to 0, then select CV4 and set it to 0. This is why I rarely use JMRI for programming any more, at least on my own locos where I use all the same brand decoders. Even with an SSD, it takes longer for my computer to start up and JMRI to load than it does for me to just program the address I want and be running.

                                   --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 9:36 AM

rrinker
This is why I rarely use JMRI for programming any more, at least on my own locos where I use all the same brand decoders. Even with an SSD, it takes longer for my computer to start up and JMRI to load than it does for me to just program the address I want and be running.

Good point!  And I'm finding this out, also.  I thought after the kids got me a new laptop for Christmas, I went out and bought a new PR4, I would be in programing heaven.  I'm now finding out the only thing I can't do with the DT400, and DB150, is read whats there now.  And that doesn't really matter, because I'm changing it anyway.  And I don't need or use JMRI for any thing else, like signals, etc., etc.

Mike.

  • Member since
    July 2007
  • From: New Lenox Il.
  • 163 posts
Posted by LenS on Thursday, March 8, 2018 9:05 AM

JOSEPH the steam buff

So i have this Athearn Blue Box Gp50 with a sagami motor and a soundtrax tsu1000 decoder circa 2000.     i have a jerking motion witch i thought was the result of a thrust washer missing.    we checked that.    so i read on a forum if you put cv 3 or 4 to a vallue of zero you can fix this. 

When does the loco start the jerking motion? If it's when starting, then adjust CV 02 to a value from 1 up to 50 or so, depending on when the loco starts smoothly. If the jerking is while running, either check for dirty track, electrical problems or something binding in the drive line.

Len S

  • Member since
    February 2014
  • 84 posts
Posted by JOSEPH the steam buff on Thursday, March 8, 2018 1:07 PM

it does it when i start at a slow speed step.   when i get it at a higher speed it goes away.    before it never did this.    but after not running it a while it started jerking or sturting.   after running it a while it would not do it.    but that was origanily.    i did replace the rear truck and carefully filed  some burs off the teeth.    even the previous owner is stumped.    

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