A friend of mine had a Alco s2 that had the sound value decoder in it and it failed, and it is out of warranty.Is there a way to get it repaired, or get a replacement sound decoder from Bachmann for it ?
Thanks,
Johnny Adam

I was wondering if Bachmann ever plans on making a Spectrum diesel with sound.??The sound value line up is great ,but with the Spectrum line of Steam it shows 15 with complete sound and not 1 diesel that can be purchased with complete factory sound .The sound value line is great,but has limited sounds that would be great if they could be upgraded like digitrax,qsi,esu .Do they plan on offering a upgrade for these in the future since technology hardware is all flash programmed base ,or a Spectrum diesel with the full sound offering? In my opinion it would be a great way to benefit everyone that has purchased the sound value line of diesels in that they would not have to replace a very good existing decoder and would generate funds for the upgrades and bring more value to the sound value line of locomotives with this option.Give a great option for those interested in doing so that many would pay to have done or buy a programmer and push the buttons and do it themselves and remove the dead end that the limited on-board non upgrade-able sound system creates on these great models ,remove the opinion that I have seen many of saying/// I will just get a non sound and upgrade it with a non Bachmann/Soundtraxx product that many are offering that are blank and can be programmed to what ever loco or what ever you desire.Just a idea.Anybody have thoughts or a opinion on this?
Johnny

I see in the catalog there are more NS Heritage Diesel locomotives in the works .Are they going to arrive this year some time?  And to ask why are cartoon drawings of them in the 2016 catalog and prototype photos in the online store. No actual pictures of what is for sale? Customer Request 
Thanks,
Johnny

I was looking for the cv default list for the gp 40 and the gp 38-2 .The gp 40 has been out long enough for another sound b be released witch is the gp 38-2.Figured this would be a good way to tell what they have along with horns and the prime mover sound sets.They are always on the same sheet.It has been a few months now for the gp  40 since its release and no info on the Bachmann site or Soundtraxx .Good thing we have computers to blame.Or we cold call it a classic bait and switch.
Johnny

I am interested in the Spectrum ballast regulator with dcc onboard and would like to know if this decoder has the 2 light functions that the standard Bachmann dcc decoder on-board locomotives have.I am aware they do not have lights ,but want to know if I need to buy the standard and a separate decoder to add lights?Or am I ALL set to hook up lights to the functions onboard??
Thanks
Johnny Adam

I have a GE Dash 8 dcc ready version that is a older release that is DCC ready and want to add sound,but in a attempt the motor growling noise just makes it a poor candidate for sound . I tried a soundtraxx Tsumani decoder in it and a pair of zimo speakers. It growls and moans too loud mid-throttle &up.
Trial and error determined it was the motor noise and a hard plastic motor mount set up.
A member at our club has one of the new Norfolk Southern Heritage diesels and removed the shell to find out that they were basically the same except for the drive-shafts and a blue colored motor compared to the Dash 8 gray motor.The NS diesel is quiet through the entire speed range when running without sound.The DASH 8 has been lubed ,and is free rolling with no worm gears in it to test binding if any in the gear cases and none found.
Are the new Blue colored motors that much different or higher output then the gray motors?
Anybody know?
Johnny

I have a few sound value diesel locomotives and have noticed  what looks like oval solder pads on the board like Tsumani uses for adding lights.They are not labeled .Is there any way to get more info on the reason for these being there but not labeled.Possibility of expansion of functions for future use?
Johnny

I was thinking about installing some smoke units and would like to be able to control them with the dcc output control and a realize that the current that the

smoke generators use is too much for the decoder to handle .I would like to know if there is a micro type relay to use to use the low current dcc controll output

to control the high current that a smoke generator draws, and a example of how it could be wired  without letting the smoke out of a Soundtraxx sound

decoder.I like the option of being able to turn it off, rather then letting it constantly draw and burn out prematurely If not being used.I have some 12 volt mini

automotive relays laying around ,but seem still to large and too much draw to be of any use in ho scale.Already fried part of a old mrc dcc decoder doing a trial and error with one of those relays.Guidance Appreciated.
Johnny Adam

Was looking through the Online ho seeker literature diagrams and was interested in a Plymouth switcher.The Diagram showed a 3 axle Plymouth switcher with the split frame design reduction gears,and 2 of the 3 axles were gear driven witch is confusing since the Bachmann online diagram is a little different .
1 shows a pancake motor ,and the other shows a can motor with the traditional worm gear.Very interested in that one ,but I am not sure on the part number and if it is a Spectrum or a standard white box .Like the idea of both axles powered ,gear reduction and a can motor in one of these ,but a pancake motor is out of the question,,, and do not want to get stuck with one of those.A little help or knowledge would be appreciated 
Johnny Adam

The Bachmann sd40-2 are all made with dynamic brakes ,but the dynamic brake insert is removable.Are there plans to make a non dynamic brake version of this model and or a insert part available through Bachmann to model a sd40-2 with non dynamic brakes?
Johnny Adam

I have noticed that in the past Bachmann made undercorated model locomotives for almost every model available in the past in there diesel line up .Now I  have not seen any produced.Is this something that is gone for good, or do they plan more in the future ?
Johnny

I just acquired a few sound value diesels and looked over the Soundtraxx site and noticed a few things in the manner of cv adjustments that are not stated looks like some misprints where the dd40ax shows no cv51 but this it what was found that controls the beacon.
and cv 217 that deals with motor control but is not listed either.Getting to the point seems there are some literature issues.I realize there is no EQ to adjust the individual tones.Is there a type of master cv that adjust the complete tone that is some sort of secret like a few of the others ?Hard to believe there is not with digital technology.Why are there cv's like 217 that are not listed but admittedly there as stated by Soundtraxx?
Why would these be not updated so that we can get this great sound and motor control that we paid for?
Johnny Adam

I have a dcc on board sd40-2 and would like to know if it is possible to program the front and rear lights to operate on separate function buttons?Thanks.
Johnny Adam

Hello Bachmann or Yardmaster
In the online Bachmann store they list a New EMD E7 coming soon with a picture of a O  scale model.Are they going to make the B units for them ?Are there any pictures or pre -production photos that can be shared of the actual models?Ii is now may 2016 and they are in the 2016 catalog anything yet??
Thanks,
Johnny Adam

Hello,
I have a question regarding LED lights.For starters I installed some white LED lights in my gp 30 with the proper resistor to make them directional after hard wiring the locomotive since it was a older split frame.They work well directional ,but the light that goes out on the back side of the engine will flicker.I did some research and found that I am missing a capacitor in the circuit to absorb the spikes generated by the motor and in time will blow the LED lights.Someone said to put a capacitor across the motor leads to absorb the spikes .Can anyone recommend the right type to use polarized ,non polarized ,???Thanks.
Johnny Adam