I just finished an install of a Tsunami TSU-750 "Galloping goose" in my Bachmann 0-4-0 siderod. The speaker I ordered with it is small .40 (10 mm). I also used the Soundtraxx enclosure for it. I did solder the "Keep alive" capacitor to the decoder. The decoder is in the cab, the capacitor in the engine compartment. I tried to fit them both in the engine compartment but just not enough space, so right now the decoder is on the left side of the cab. The speaker/enclosure I mounted on the roof of the cab. The sound isn't the greatest. You can hear it but with two steam locos on the layout running they tend to drown out the siderod. While I had it apart I glued an engineer on the seat. I just need to do something with the decoder in the cab and then figure out what I'm going to do with the speaker on the roof. I drilled a small hole for the wires to fit through and I drilled a hole in the roof approx the size of the speaker. It runs great, just doesn't have the sound I would have liked.

I have a problem with one left hand turnout on my ON30 layout. It is a Bachmann DCC turnout #44130 (18" radius left turnout). The problem I have is with the Bachmann 2-6-6-2 loco I just received. I love the loco but it hates this turnout. If I try to run it straight through, when the loco turns left and goes down around the curve I have set up there it is fine. I have run the loco very slow through the turnout (going straight) and the loco's front two wheels seem to pass through o.k. but when the front truck hits it the wheels seem to ride up and to the left and the derailment occurs. I can run the 4-4-0 American I have through it fine, no problems, it's just when I try to run the 2-6-6-2 straight through the turnout rather than turning to the left that the derailment occurs. I'm at a loss. I have run a Code 100 rail gauge over the rails and it looks to me like the rails going into the turnout (these are straight rails) are not in gauge (very tight if at all in gauge), yet the 4-4-0 runs fine straight and switching left. Anyone have any ideas?

The other thing about the 0-4-0 Side Rod Mechanical is if you take the superstructure off to gain access to the decoder ensure when you reinstall it that the decoder slides up the side of the superstructure otherwise the wires to/from the decoder will pinch and you will have problems. The decoder should not be sitting on top of the circuit board it plugs into. I know, I had similar problems with it. It was running fine one day and the next time I went to run it, it just sat there. I took it apart about 6 times and finally noticed some excess grease (or something) in the gears. I removed this with a small screwdrivers, then reassembled and tried running it. No go. I could leave the superstructure off, just sitting loosely on top of the base, place it on my programming track and I could read the CV's and it would respond. As soon as I tried reinstalling the superstructure (with the decoder on top of the ckt board) it wouldn't do anything. I just found this out by trial and error. I hope it helps others who might have a similar problem.

I too had problems with the ON30 Forney. I had two of them that I purchased on Ebay, (the dealer's name I won't mention)and they both were bad, one died the first time I put it on my track, one ran fine for about 3 times around my layout and then the sound died. The dealer blamed my track, yet when I purchased a 4-4-0 American from another dealer and put it on my track it ran fine and has run fine ever since. Since that time I haven't ordered another Forney. I'm afraid to try one. I just received a 2-6-6-2 yesterday and tried it for the first time this afternoon and so far so good. I have a Rail Truck that I've had to ship back to Bachmann because the rear gear case screws were stripped, I believe right from the beginning. It ran fine for a little while and then the gear case cover fell off. I'm willing to give Bachmann a chance, I love the ON30 scale, it's just frustrating to receive a loco and then have it die and have to ship it back. The Forney's I was fortunate that the dealer took them back, but everything he sent me was bad. I also had a Climax that died the first day, gears stripped or something, I shipped it back to the dealer as well. The 4-4-0's seem to be strong runners and I have a 0-4-0 Siderod that runs good. I just hope Bachmann see's fit to repair this Rail Truck under warranty, it hasn't been a year yet.

Quote from: Chris G on September 01, 2009, 11:43:00 PM
Hello all,
I mounted a Loksound micro 52891 using extension lead off circuit board out into cab. Put doors on cab, installed engineer, made rear windows awning type so sound gets out and fixed decoder to back wall. Ran wires to speaker up back wall and mounted speaker in enclosure on roof pointing down. I figure the enclosure is an a/c unit. All looks good. Didnt seem possible to fit all in engine compartment unless hardwiring. This way I can easily remove if I want to fit in another loco etc.
Hope this helps,
Ta Chris

Chris,
I would like to add sound to my 0-4-0 Siderod (On30 scale). With the Loksound micro 52891 doesn't that come with a 6 pin NEM651 connector on it? How did you install that into your 0-4-0? I have done an install on a 4-4-0 American (Bachmann) On30 scale loco with speaker. Mounting the speaker on top of the cab sounds good to me. You must have fabricated a speaker enclosure for it? I also have a rail car (On30) from Bachmann that I would like to add sound too, not sure if that's possible. I like the Tsunami by Soundtraxx I just haven't done an install of a 8 pin connector to the decoder yet. When I ordered the Tsunami for the 4-4-0 American, Tony's Trains installed the 8 pin connector for me before they shipped it for a nominal fee. Any help would sure be appreciated. Thanks Chris.

Here, here, Yampa Bob!
Why is it other companies can provide excellent customer service, yet they have to deal with the same issues any other company has to deal with, economy, fuel prices, etc. I just think Bachmann thinks they have a corner on a market and don't have to provide the level of customer service that one should expect when one pays the amount you do for one of their locomotive, cars, etc. I have a hobby shop in town here that when I went in to ask them a question about DCC, and mentioned Bachmann I got "Bachmann?!! They can barely build trains!" from the two "train experts" at the hobby shop. I'm not trying to bad mouth Bachmann, I just expect some level of customer service. I'll give you an example: I purchased a table saw from a well know retailer. When I was assembling the saw, stand, etc I noticed the left extension table was damaged. This was after I had assembled most of the saw. It was late so the next morning I called the retailer and was told to bring the extension with me along with my receipt and the Mgr would pull one from another saw they had in stock and give that one to me. When I arrived at the store he have me a new extension and then said "here take these two (two wrenches) you might need these, oh and take this too, (a push tool)". Now that's what I call customer service. I will purchase from this company again. I will go online and give them good marks in their survey for customer service. I notice Bachmann doesn't have such a thing (customer service feedback/survey) I wonder why?

Thanks for the recommendations Jim.
I have cleaned my track with denatured alcohol. I didn't notice any flickering of lights at all. As I said I have a Bachmann Colorado Mining Truck that runs around the layout just fine. No flicker of lights. I have good solid connections at the rail joiners, I ran and ohms test around the track and show good continuity for both rails all the way around. Believe me, I did this at least 3 times if not more, trying to isolate the problem. I do appreciate the help. I'm not trying to bad mouth anyone. I just thought one would expect some sort of customer service out of Bachmann other than "call Soundtraxx". Soundtraxx was at least a helpful in that the Tech went through the troubleshooting steps with me while I was on the layout and said "well it sounds like the amplifier on the decoder is blown". So back she goes. Thanks Jim.

Quote from: USNavyChiefRet on March 05, 2009, 08:57:02 PM

Quote from: USNavyChiefRet on March 05, 2009, 08:41:07 PM
I have ordered and received 3 ON30 locomotives since Feb 5, 2009 and all 3 have been defective. Now I know this because I have a locomotive here that runs great on my track, runs around to beat the band. It's not sound but it runs. I have verified my DCC track voltage at 13 volts. I won't mention the retail store I purchase these loco's from because I don't consider it their fault. These were brand new, sealed in the factory sealing, locomotives from Bachmann. The first one came ran fine once around my track and then started acting up, go stop go stop. So I'm thinking it's my problem, track needs work. I ran two bus wires down the middle of my layout, one red, one black. Then to these two bus wires I ran drop wires from wired rail joiners, the leads from the joiners are 6-8 inches long at the most, I soldered these small wires to 16 AWG wire and connected them to the main bus wires, soldering them. I don't like butt connectors or suitcase connectors. I then ran an ohms test on my track, both rails, all the way around. It's basically a simple oval with two turnouts, only one of which is powered by AC from an analog power pack, in fact right now I'm just switching it manually the same as the other switch, which is only manual. Now the Colorado Mining Rail Truck, which is DCC, (no sound) runs around fine. I have had a 2-4-4 Forney that was bad, sent back to the retailer. I then had a Climax, that ran around the track once and as far as I can tell the main gears in the gearbox where the motor runs to broke. I know this because I isolated both front and rear trucks, took them apart and verified the gears on them. So it broke. Mind you this is right out of the box. Then today I received another 2-4-4 Forney w/Tsunami sound installed in it from the factor. Took it out of the box, put it on my track, made a high pitched sound like it was firing up then pop! and nothing! This is 3 loco's in the past month, brand new from Bachmann that have failed. I called customer service this afternoon (3/5/09) and was basically given the run-around. I was told to call Soundtraxx, "they make the decoders, you'll have to call them", when I mentioned that this was the 3rd loco in a month that failed the customer service rep said she couldn't help me "would I like to talk with a Manager"? I said "Yes, I would", at which point I was transferred to someones voice mail, I say "someones" because I couldn't hear who's voice mail it was. Then click. I called back and got "Bridgets" voice mail and left her a message concerning my problems. I venture to say I won't get a reply. Is this the type of customer service that I can expect from Bachmann? I am frustrated, tired, and about ready to toss all of this. I have never been treated so rudely. I thought this was going to be fun, it has been nothing but headaches.

Oh I forgot to mention that, today, after the 2-4-4 Forney (On30) squealed and then went silent I went through all the CV's that deal with sound on it, and in fact I did speak with a Tech at Soundtraxx, he had me look at the decoder by removing the coal load to see of one or both of the wires to the speaker had come loose, they hadn't and the decoder showed no signs of a burnt chip, etc. he said "Well it sounds like somethings blown on the decoder". I might also mention that the loco ran fine around my track, just no sound, except at first then nothing. The Tech at Soundtraxx said I would have to call Bachmann and go through the warranty procedure. That's real promising.

I also forgot to add that the retailer I purchased these 3 Bachmann loco's from has been FANTASTIC! in working with me! Which is more than I can say for Bachmann customer service.

Quote from: USNavyChiefRet on March 05, 2009, 08:41:07 PM
I have ordered and received 3 ON30 locomotives since Feb 5, 2009 and all 3 have been defective. Now I know this because I have a locomotive here that runs great on my track, runs around to beat the band. It's not sound but it runs. I have verified my DCC track voltage at 13 volts. I won't mention the retail store I purchase these loco's from because I don't consider it their fault. These were brand new, sealed in the factory sealing, locomotives from Bachmann. The first one came ran fine once around my track and then started acting up, go stop go stop. So I'm thinking it's my problem, track needs work. I ran two bus wires down the middle of my layout, one red, one black. Then to these two bus wires I ran drop wires from wired rail joiners, the leads from the joiners are 6-8 inches long at the most, I soldered these small wires to 16 AWG wire and connected them to the main bus wires, soldering them. I don't like butt connectors or suitcase connectors. I then ran an ohms test on my track, both rails, all the way around. It's basically a simple oval with two turnouts, only one of which is powered by AC from an analog power pack, in fact right now I'm just switching it manually the same as the other switch, which is only manual. Now the Colorado Mining Rail Truck, which is DCC, (no sound) runs around fine. I have had a 2-4-4 Forney that was bad, sent back to the retailer. I then had a Climax, that ran around the track once and as far as I can tell the main gears in the gearbox where the motor runs to broke. I know this because I isolated both front and rear trucks, took them apart and verified the gears on them. So it broke. Mind you this is right out of the box. Then today I received another 2-4-4 Forney w/Tsunami sound installed in it from the factor. Took it out of the box, put it on my track, made a high pitched sound like it was firing up then pop! and nothing! This is 3 loco's in the past month, brand new from Bachmann that have failed. I called customer service this afternoon (3/5/09) and was basically given the run-around. I was told to call Soundtraxx, "they make the decoders, you'll have to call them", when I mentioned that this was the 3rd loco in a month that failed the customer service rep said she couldn't help me "would I like to talk with a Manager"? I said "Yes, I would", at which point I was transferred to someones voice mail, I say "someones" because I couldn't hear who's voice mail it was. Then click. I called back and got "Bridgets" voice mail and left her a message concerning my problems. I venture to say I won't get a reply. Is this the type of customer service that I can expect from Bachmann? I am frustrated, tired, and about ready to toss all of this. I have never been treated so rudely. I thought this was going to be fun, it has been nothing but headaches.

Oh I forgot to mention that, today, after the 2-4-4 Forney (On30) squealed and then went silent I went through all the CV's that deal with sound on it, and in fact I did speak with a Tech at Soundtraxx, he had me look at the decoder by removing the coal load to see of one or both of the wires to the speaker had come loose, they hadn't and the decoder showed no signs of a burnt chip, etc. he said "Well it sounds like somethings blown on the decoder". I might also mention that the loco ran fine around my track, just no sound, except at first then nothing. The Tech at Soundtraxx said I would have to call Bachmann and go through the warranty procedure. That's real promising.

I have ordered and received 3 ON30 locomotives since Feb 5, 2009 and all 3 have been defective. Now I know this because I have a locomotive here that runs great on my track, runs around to beat the band. It's not sound but it runs. I have verified my DCC track voltage at 13 volts. I won't mention the retail store I purchase these loco's from because I don't consider it their fault. These were brand new, sealed in the factory sealing, locomotives from Bachmann. The first one came ran fine once around my track and then started acting up, go stop go stop. So I'm thinking it's my problem, track needs work. I ran two bus wires down the middle of my layout, one red, one black. Then to these two bus wires I ran drop wires from wired rail joiners, the leads from the joiners are 6-8 inches long at the most, I soldered these small wires to 16 AWG wire and connected them to the main bus wires, soldering them. I don't like butt connectors or suitcase connectors. I then ran an ohms test on my track, both rails, all the way around. It's basically a simple oval with two turnouts, only one of which is powered by AC from an analog power pack, in fact right now I'm just switching it manually the same as the other switch, which is only manual. Now the Colorado Mining Rail Truck, which is DCC, (no sound) runs around fine. I have had a 2-4-4 Forney that was bad, sent back to the retailer. I then had a Climax, that ran around the track once and as far as I can tell the main gears in the gearbox where the motor runs to broke. I know this because I isolated both front and rear trucks, took them apart and verified the gears on them. So it broke. Mind you this is right out of the box. Then today I received another 2-4-4 Forney w/Tsunami sound installed in it from the factor. Took it out of the box, put it on my track, made a high pitched sound like it was firing up then pop! and nothing! This is 3 loco's in the past month, brand new from Bachmann that have failed. I called customer service this afternoon (3/5/09) and was basically given the run-around. I was told to call Soundtraxx, "they make the decoders, you'll have to call them", when I mentioned that this was the 3rd loco in a month that failed the customer service rep said she couldn't help me "would I like to talk with a Manager"? I said "Yes, I would", at which point I was transferred to someones voice mail, I say "someones" because I couldn't hear who's voice mail it was. Then click. I called back and got "Bridgets" voice mail and left her a message concerning my problems. I venture to say I won't get a reply. Is this the type of customer service that I can expect from Bachmann? I am frustrated, tired, and about ready to toss all of this. I have never been treated so rudely. I thought this was going to be fun, it has been nothing but headaches.

Quote from: Hunt on February 18, 2009, 03:01:22 AM
Out of the package a metal frog on a Bachmann HO turnout or crossover is not powered.

The black wire underneath with one end loose is connected to the post under the frog to polarize the frog.

Best if using DCC not to polarize the frog unless absolute necessary because of a short wheelbase locomotive.

O.K. I do have another question, Hunt. If one were going to "polarize the frog" on a #6 right hand crossover, what do you connect the loose wire(s) underneath too? How would one wire that? The crossover I have says it is a " Bachmann #6 Crossover Right Hand # H-4576-B".

Quote from: USNavyChiefRet on February 25, 2009, 08:30:41 PM
I am having similar problems. I only have a loop with two switches at each end that go off to spurs. I thought initially it was my problem, i.e. loose rail joiners, so I soldered some of the rail joiners to the rails with a small amount of solder to make a good electrical contact. Afterwards I Ohm'd out the rails and they checked good .2 - .3 ohms at the most. I also had a problem where the booster section of my DCC system failed and I had to send it back to them for repair which I might say they were great about. I just got it back, and in the mean time I made doubly sure of my track connections, i.e. wiring, rail joiners, etc. I connected it up tonight and put my Bachmann 2-4-4 Forney w/Tsunami sound and I am experiencing similar problems that I had before the booster section failed on my DCC. The Forney goes around, stops, then goes again, then stops and sometimes it goes past a place that it stopped at before. Now after I shipped my DCC Command Sta/Booster to the manufacturer I took the Forney out and began checking it over, looking for the obvious. What I found kind of shocked me. on the rear truck there are two wires with ring terminals on them that come down and attached underneath the truck. My impression is that these are the pickup wires for the decoder. One of them was loose, the ring terminal was not tight where it screws to the truck in the middle. These two wires seems to cross and there is no insulation on the wires, which makes me nervous. I tightened the loose ring terminal with a good grade phillips screwdriver and put it back in it's box awaiting the return of my DCC Cmd Sta/Booster. Well I got it back today as I mentioned and the same thing is happening. It goes around then stops and goes quiet, then it will start up again, sometimes without help, and run and then stop again. Now here's the kicker. I have Bachmann Rail Truck (Item # 29162). It is strictly DCC, no sound. I placed it on the track and it runs around the track with no problems. I ran it around 6 times with no problems. What do I do? Contact Bachmann Service?

Guess what? I soldered rail joiners, added power to the track in 5 different locations so I have power spread throughout my layout (11' x 5"), I ohm'd out the track all the way, both rails and come to find out, when I ran a check on the Tsunami decoder in my 2-4-4 Forney that the decoder is flaky. One time it will tell me it's decoder #80, the next time decoder #89, the next time decoder #44, then decoder #49. I would set CV-29 to 2 and then look at it again and it was set to 255. I know my programming track is good using the PTB-100 because I can read a decoder in another loco and it comes back right away with the correct manufacture # and decoder #. Now to get Bachmann to replace it. I just bought this thing February 5th, 2009 and have been working all this time thinking it was my track, etc. and all the time it was a faulty decoder. I thought Tsunami was better than this not to mention Bachmann.

This is not good! I too have sent them an email 10 days to two weeks ago with not response. In talking with a fellow Model Railroader, he said "email was out, don't even try you won't get a response". I have called and left a message also with no response to date. Is this the kind of customer service I can expect from Bachmann? If so, maybe I need to take my buisness elsewhere.

I am having similar problems. I only have a loop with two switches at each end that go off to spurs. I thought initially it was my problem, i.e. loose rail joiners, so I soldered some of the rail joiners to the rails with a small amount of solder to make a good electrical contact. Afterwards I Ohm'd out the rails and they checked good .2 - .3 ohms at the most. I also had a problem where the booster section of my DCC system failed and I had to send it back to them for repair which I might say they were great about. I just got it back, and in the mean time I made doubly sure of my track connections, i.e. wiring, rail joiners, etc. I connected it up tonight and put my Bachmann 2-4-4 Forney w/Tsunami sound and I am experiencing similar problems that I had before the booster section failed on my DCC. The Forney goes around, stops, then goes again, then stops and sometimes it goes past a place that it stopped at before. Now after I shipped my DCC Command Sta/Booster to the manufacturer I took the Forney out and began checking it over, looking for the obvious. What I found kind of shocked me. on the rear truck there are two wires with ring terminals on them that come down and attached underneath the truck. My impression is that these are the pickup wires for the decoder. One of them was loose, the ring terminal was not tight where it screws to the truck in the middle. These two wires seems to cross and there is no insulation on the wires, which makes me nervous. I tightened the loose ring terminal with a good grade phillips screwdriver and put it back in it's box awaiting the return of my DCC Cmd Sta/Booster. Well I got it back today as I mentioned and the same thing is happening. It goes around then stops and goes quiet, then it will start up again, sometimes without help, and run and then stop again. Now here's the kicker. I have Bachmann Rail Truck (Item # 29162). It is strictly DCC, no sound. I placed it on the track and it runs around the track with no problems. I ran it around 6 times with no problems. What do I do? Contact Bachmann Service?

You might want to check the power connections on the loco's themselves. I found one of my locos with a ring connector lose on the rear truck of the loco, it would do the same thing. Go, stop, go stop. It can also be loose rail connectors as previously stated here. Good Luck.