issue with N scale Bachmann 2-8-4

[southern837]

I recently bought a Bachmann 2-8-4 with value sound in Orlando at the National Train show.  I have been trying to tweak the cv's in an attempt to correct a little quirkiness in its slow running.  Im operating the engine with an older digitrax zephyr system.  Anyways the problem I'm having with the engine is that it randomly stops at slow speeds. It doesn't short out, it doesn't find a dead spot, it just stops. All i have to do is bump the throttle up and it starts up and goes again.  Any help is greatly appreciated

[woodone]

You can try to set the start volts a bit higher.  Adj. CV 2 up to a value of 5 or so and see it that helps.

[jdcolombo]

Take a look at this thread:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=35724.msg420186#msg420186

John C.

[southern837]

I used the link that you sent me and that seems to have helped the engine dramatically.  I watched that video you made of your locomotive. I think a speaker change is coming for mine as well.

[jdcolombo]

I used the link that you sent me and that seems to have helped the engine dramatically.  I watched that video you made of your locomotive. I think a speaker change is coming for mine as well.

Ultimately, I pulled the Bachmann decoder and installed an ESU LokSound, which is a better decoder, with better sound.  It's not a terribly hard conversion, and I documented how I did it in this thread:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=35889.0

It's a relatively expensive conversion (the LokSound costs $90), but if your engine is running decently with the Bachmann decoder, it will run even better with the ESU, and it will sound light-years better with the ESU.

John C.

[southern837]

Ive not ruled out that option.  I have a J class i want to do first and then I may consider doing the 2-8-4.  I just had a tsunami 2 put into a mrc/mp 4-6-2 and i was amazed at how well it sounded and how well it ran compared to the 2-8-4. 

[learmoia]

I recently bought a Bachmann 2-8-4 with value sound in Orlando at the National Train show.  I have been trying to tweak the cv's in an attempt to correct a little quirkiness in its slow running.  Im operating the engine with an older digitrax zephyr system.  Anyways the problem I'm having with the engine is that it randomly stops at slow speeds. It doesn't short out, it doesn't find a dead spot, it just stops. All i have to do is bump the throttle up and it starts up and goes again.  Any help is greatly appreciated

.. I thought I responded to this before but it must not have gone through.. (And In the response I wasn't sure which CV it was.. but now I (think I) do)

Set CV11 to 0 and see what it does.
CV11 is Packet Timeout / Automatic Stop -- The locomotive Automatically stops after a certain # of milliseconds after loosing packet communication (or on DC voltage)..

If you set your throttle and leave it alone (Checking slow speed movement).. After a few second the locomotive may think it has not gotten any new commands so it automatically stops.. (As soon as you nudge he throttle.. 'NEW COMMAND' GO!)

For some reason.. this is more of an issue with Digitrax Systems.. and More so with Sound Decoders than Non Sound.

I had this same problem with a BLI SD40-2 at a club layout running Digitrax 10+ years ago.. the loco would run.. then engine sound would go to idle. then N4 - Idle - N4 - Idle and the train would keep going... But I had 2-3 other non sound units in the consist and they were all running fine..

I thought it was a cool sound effect until I realized what was going on.. CV11=0.. Never again..

I'll be curious if this helps solve your problem.

~Ian