I noticed your reference to forward & reverse trim Hunt.  I briefly passed over it in the manual, figured it was too soon in my learning curve to try.  What type of response will I be looking for in the locos?  Do I leave my other settings alone when adjusting these trims?  Thanks, Dave

I thought owners of these engines might find my settings for CV's  interesting to try. S4 CVs:

       Alco S4                                                                  Alco  RS-3
CV    New set                                                        CV     New set
   3        150                                                             3         125
   4          70                                                             4          50
   5        100     <---light weight branch line work--->      5           20

The RS-3 CV5 setting might be a little too low, but I'm still experimenting.   Just be sure to keep
record of each change you make.  Have fun,    Dave

Finally got time to experiment with CV5. B'mann docs are wrong. There IS a CV5 and CV6 in the RS-3. Readback showed it was 075 from factory. CV6 showed 000. Sort of makes you wonder what else is not documented.  As the RS-3 is reminiscent of KATO top end speeds, I set CV5 all the way down to 20. Top end is now 30mph, well suited for my small branch line operations. It also, combined with CV3 setting of 150, allows engine sound to "rev up" long before any movement of the loco. Thank you all for your inputs. I'll post my CV settings on another post later for the B'mann S4 and RS-3.

Thank you for the info.  I won't be able to check out the CVs until late Friday 13th morning. Will post my findings then. Thanks all.

Thank you for your reply Jerry.  I spent too much time yesterday trying to set CV-5 that didn't exist !  I still tend to do things the old "tinker with it first".  Guess I'll have to start looking things up on the net sooner.  I think the sound board files in the RS=3 are the best I've heard of an older diesel.  Dave

My B'mann S4 has a CV-5 ( V max ) listed.  It appears the RS3 does not have this CV.  Anyone know if this is True? I can't imagine they would leave it out , . . well maybe . . .  Thanks to anyone with info

Thanks again Hunt for the valuable info.  I did get the address changed thanks to you.  I guess because Bachmann used the terms "Sound-Traxx Digital Decoders" all over their guide I mistakenly assumed it was Tsunami. Thanks for the CV listing. Dave

Thank you for the quick reply Hunt.  I guess I was lulled into thinking a change of CV1 would be simple because my Mantua 2-6-6-2 w/MRC decoder had no such restriction.  Being new to this DCC stuff, I wasn't aware of this.  Too late tonight to read the links, but rest assured I'll be all over it tomorrow .  Thanks again, Dave

My Bachmann Alco S4 with the stock DCC w/sound decoder (Soundtraxx), will accept CV changes in the OPS mode.  I have successfully made changes to accel/brake/whistle/bell etc.  It refuses to accept a CV 1 address change ( 2 digit ).  I also tried changing in DIR mode.  I reset CV 36 to "c" and tried the above steps again.  Same result.  I really don't want engine address as   " 3 " forever.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

1. Use wooden "skewers" with long tapered piont. Insert into cplrs, twist clockwise to open
2. Kaydee makes a special "stick" with molded end to work like above.
3. RIXX Plastics make a magnetic tool to slip over cplrs and open via. magnetic attraction.
Hope this helps.

Ref your "climbing" truck issue. You are on the right "track" as far as the pivot point is concerned. A few years back I had exactly the same issue with an N scale Rivarossi SW1500 engine. This loco used two stamped semi_circular pieces of metal to form a left and right side pivot. There was just enough slop in the assembly to allow the drive worm, under certain conditions, to climb up onto the top of the driven gear, and with the high torque motors Rivarossi was using, it would force the truck to rotate, as a plane rotates to lift off. I never did cure the issue, not enough time, patience nor parts availability. Maybe you can observe the interface of the worm and gear as the situation occurs. Hope this might help and good luck. You are also correct about the amount of force required to push the truck back down onto the track - and this was in N gauge !

I am having difficulty finding prototype info of Bachmann's 40ft ore car, Item 76902. Need to know how it discharged load and what RR(s) used them. Have a fleet of 20 to run with a S4 DCC switcher (Backmann). The S4 is new and a sweet runner. sound is awesome!.