I just completed modifications to my Bachmann On30 shay last night which include installtion of a Soundtrax decoder and fabrication and installation of electrical contact wipers similar to Geren Mortenson's wipers.  Thanks again to "Smokin' Porter" for your help and encouragement!  I have gone from being an armchair model railroader to a "real" modeler almost over night.

Thanks to a new friend who recently helped me install a decoder in a Bachman On30 Climax, I finally got up enough nerve to attempt an install on my own.  This past Saturday I installed an MRC Sheer Brilliance decoder in a Bachmann 2-8-0 Consolidation.  I used MRC Model 1639 which might have fit in an N scale loco.  However, I replaced the factory speaker with a larger one from Radio Shack which I had to modify slightly to fit in the tender.  I also had to put voltage dropping resistors in the light circuits.  I was pleased when everything worked the first time, and I think the sound is awsome.  It's not quite as good as a Tsunami, but at 2/3 the price it is very good sound.  My next project is to install a sound decoder in my On30 Shay.  Thanks to all of you for your input and feed back and a special thanks to "Smokin Porter" for your help!

Thanks to all of you for your input and feed back.  Bachmann, if I had a hat I would have to eat it.  I guess I just wasn't holdin' my mouth right because I finally was able to change the address of this decoder.  I really appreciate all of the guidance and I especailly want to thank Stan whose offer to talk me through this gave me incentive to try just one more time on my own.

Harold,

Thanks for your reply.  I have toured many of your web pages in the past so I know you are a "doer" with some genuine expertise and you have my respect.  Perhaps you can answer my next question regarding this decoder installation.  Please keep in mind that this "idiot" has a little back cloud continually hovering over his head!

The decoder intall manual indicates that the lighting output voltage is "track voltage" and that I need to put a 1K ohm resistor in series with the LEDs.  In the Bachmann 2-8-0 the rear leads are a "no brainier"  However, the headlight leads are a question for the "idiot".  Are they they the two wires with the small connectors between the tender and the loco?  Or are they somewhere else?  Do I need to put a separate resistor in for each led or are they wired in series? 

After extensive effort and numerous attempts I am quite satisfied that the particular Bachmann On30 Forney / Tsunami that I have cannot be programmed by either my Bachmann EZ Command system or my MRC Prodigy Advance2 system.

I would like to note that I have never read any reference to a programming booster in any of Bachmann's advertising related to their On30 Forney or any other Bachmann product for that matter.  Consumers are led to beleive, by ommission of this fact, that both the EZ Command and any other NMRA compliant system is capable of programming the Bachmann / Tsunami decoders.

At this point I honestly don't beleive that "Bachman" can change the address of my "Bachmann / Tsunami decoder with my EZ Command sytem or with my MRC Prodigy Advance2 system.  I'll have to admit that I'm still a little sore about his inference that I "need to learn how to change an address"!

I would like all members to please keep in mind that I still think Bachmann products are well made and of good value and I will continue to purchase them as I can.

Cookie

Hey Wes,

I got your phone message.  What the heck was I thinkin?  Here I am asking questions on a web forum when I have an expert in my back yard!  I'll call when I have everything together.  I have to pick up a couple of resistors before I try to install this decoder.  I may also have to get new glasses so I can see some of the parts and wires!

Thanks again,

Curt

Anybody had any experience with the MRC 1639 Sound decoder?  It is a plug in sound decoder, but it has one pin marked "1" on the top of the plug and another marked "1" on the bottom.  Can anybody tell me how to positively identify either pin 1 or pin 8 on this decoder?  I would like to try it on my 2-8-0 but I am afraid I'll fry something if I can't figure out whcih pin is the "real'' pin 1.

I recently purchased a Bachmann On30 Forney with the factory installed Tsunami sound decoder.  Although my EZ Command controller will operate all functions properly on decoder address 0003, I cannot assign another address to this locomotive.

I also recently purchased a MRC Prodigy Advance 2 and have the same problems with it.  It won't program the Forney on the main or the program track!

Another group told me I had to purchase a "programming boooster".  I thought this DCC was supposed to be fun.  I have a lot of money wrapped up in this stuff and it doesn't work any better than a cheap kid's toy.

What do you say Bachmann?