I have had an HO Bachmann Spectrum 8-40CW “dcc on-board” locomotive for the past couple of years. It has the original factory decoder and motor. Lately about 40% of the time that I activate the loco on the layout and give it power, it does not move. Sometimes it will give a little hum and then do nothing. The lights work, however, during this do-nothing period. If you give it a little nudge it usually starts humming and moving. I have cleaned the wheels and track, removed the shell and checked for loose wire connections but found nothing. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Adjust CV2 until the locomotive starts to creep on speed step 1. If your loco doesnt respond to CV2, then you will need a higher quality decoder…the HUM is the result of a decoder that doesnt have a high-frequency drive.
David B
With my current CV2 setting, when the locomotive “works”, it does start to move at speed step one. However, my problem is that sometimes I get no response when I turn the throttle. No noise, no hum, nothing. I can crank the throttle to full and nothing happens until I give the locomotive a little nudge, and then it comes to life. When this happens, though, the light will still work, so it is getting power, but I am getting no motor response. On the occasions that the locomotive is working normally, it starts to hum and creep at step 1. I hope this clarifies my question. Thanks for the help.
-Miles.
My first reaction would be to throw the Bachmann decoder into the trash and get a better one, such as a TCS T-1 or NCE D13SR.
I think I would check the lubricant in the gears, and check the motor brushes if you can get at them. It’s also possible that the motor is going bad. It does not sound like a decoder problem to me.
Also check the track pick-up connections. They may need some cleaning. A little axle and gear lube should be done as well. Oh and change the decoder. Good Decoders will kick the motor to get it starting.
On my engines it has been the decoder not making enough contact with the track power. It gets enough to power the lights, but no enough to move the motor.
Dirty track or wheels will not even get power to the lights. Of course this is my take on this when I have have problems and may have nothing to do with your problem.
Update: I noticed that the motor and track power wires on the Bachmann decoder are not soldered-on, but just use some black covers/clips to secure the wires to the decoder. I was going to solder these in hopes of solving my problem, but after reading all the responses, and doing some decoder research, I opted to trash the OEM Bachmann decoder. I purchased an NCE Bach-DSL which is supposed to be a specific replacement for the Bachmann locomotives. I have now installed the new NCE decoder, fine-tuned the slow speed adjusting CVs, and it works great - like a totally different machine. This has made a tremendous improvement for this locomotive, plus the golden-white LEDs that came with the NCE are a more prototypical white color than the Bachmann blueish-white ones. Thanks to all that replied!
Nice job doing a little searching. I had thought of suggesting the NCE Bach-DSL decoder but you did not seem to be looking for a decoder replacement. That decoder is a good replacement for the Bachmann decoders.
Hopefully Bachmann will find a better non sound on board decoder in their future models.
Bachmann is going over to the Tsunami sound with some new diesels.
Rich
Hi
I had a 4-4-0 that gave me a similar problem and I found there was fore and aft movement in the motor shaft causing the ring and pinion gear to bind. In the Diesel it might be the gear tower where the ring and pinion meet. Or rust or dirt on wheels?? Lack of lubrication on gears?? Run it back an forth with the shell off.
Just some thoughts. Good luck.
Lee