Quote from: GN.2-6-8-0 on April 21, 2010, 12:22:54 AM
The Tsunami decoder in the Spectrum series is a abbreviated one made by Soundtrax for Bachmann,case in point is the Bachmann 2-10-0 Russian Decapod of which i have one . the full Tsunami Light/ medium /heavy steam decoders list 7 to 8 different whistles available with the decoders where as My Bachmann 2-10-0 only has 3 to choose from so I'm assuming the decoder in the Bachmann 2-6-6-2 also only has 3 although there was a rumor going around  a while back that the Spectrum series might be produced with the full Tsunami decoder.....Maybe the 'Bach man' can say yay'or nay on this rumor  or we might read the decoder and find 7/8 whistles listed.....Oh happy days eh'
Any ways I'll be at my club Sat and will try and read the decoder too before the break in period.

Hi
I bought the 2-6-6-2, (I guess it's the H4), last  Christmas and have been fighting it ever since. I finally got the CV values from another modeler and got it to run fairly  good. I did find out that Decoder Pro does not show all of the CVs on their CV page.
If the Bachmann "OE" is different from the Regular Tsunami steam decoder,  does the Tsunami owners manual really give you the correct information for the Bachman decoder?
My problem was that the loco did not run full speed at full throttle. It stopped accelerating at step 19 (NCE Power Cab) and that was all. I had no problems with my other Bachmann Spectrum's.
Any Ideas.
Lee

Jim Hi
This is off topic, but my wife and I really enjoyed an overnight stay in Kalowna on our way from Vancouver to Banff and back. We loved the Vineyards and a stay at a neat little B&B over looking the lake. What shocked me was the Arizona like look to that part of BC. I guess the mountains block the rain clouds.
Lee
From St. Louis Mo.

My 2-6-6-2 should be at Bachman by Monday 11/2.  I hope Tom calls me soon after that .  I'll report back when I get the loco back and try it out.
I may not be seeing the details of the way these models work, but I don't see how the decoder can keep a constant speed when going down grade the weight pushes the engine, decoder backs off,train stops, decoder applies power, train pushes, etc. Movement is in one to one and a half inches at a time. I'll wait until I can check out a new engine for final judgment. 
Lee

Stix Hi
You probably saw me complaining, I was waiting for a reply from my last post for a final summary, but after all of my work since I bought my 2-6-6-2 in June i have come to the conclusion that the loco will run fine on DC because there is a steady power to it. Now put it on DCC with a decoder that's trying to keep a constant speed, that's a whole nuther thing as they say.
I talked to Tom today at Bachmann and I will probably send mine back and after he sees it I may exchange the 2-6-6-2 for another one or for a different kind. In June I had him pull a new 2-6-6-2 from the box and check the slop in the drive train, which sounded like the same as mine. Almost a quarter turn of the drivers when you pick it up and roll the wheels.
Those are my thought others may disagree.
good luck
Lee

After thought: If I understood Tom right today, Bachmann has not received any new stock on the 2-6-6-2 and that which is out there is old stock.

Sheldon
Good morning
Just one more question and I'll let Bachmann replace the loco.
Do you have grades on your layout? and what percent? sorry that's two questions. 
I was at my train club last night and they did say that others had complained of my problem also.
Thanks to all for the help.
Lee
p.s. If you run DC and no grades I could see were one wouldn't have the surging.

My Bachmann 2-6-6-2 is # 84010 painted but unlettered. There is one on Walthers site #84010 that is unlettered and looks like mine. Could be a new run.
I have used every possible combinations of CVs  that the manual suggests and it has no effect on my downgrade surging  problem.
I have been trying all day to get through to Tom or Mr. Riley no luck so far.
Returning it seems to be the answer but what do I get in return,  same problem??
Ok guys need a little sympathy here 
Lee

Jim
And all that answered.
I went to the Tsunami and there is an OEM steam sound user's guide. Downloaded manual and been trying different settings for Hyperdrive,  back EMF on, off and different settings ETC. I have run loco for some time, changing CVs that the manual suggests on the fly. I'm running loco with no cars. I get changes but nothing that helps the loco going down grade at throttle settings 5 or below. At throttle one or two it lunges about one to one and a half inches at a time.
I really wanted this articulated, but I have to think it is a bad design. My other Bachmann Spectrum  work great. If I understand correctly this #84010  2-6-6-2 is not the same as the 2-6-6-2 that is being sold now or will be out soon.
I'm thinking about going back to Bachmann to see if they will trade me something of equal value.
Lee

Hi 
BY GEORGE I THINK WE HAVE SOMETHING.
I don't have DC available but when I have Decoder Pro read the decoder it says analog is NOT available.  If this decoder has it's own manual I will read that, it may help.
I sure appreciate all help.
Lee

Hey guys
This decoder is DSD steam OEM put in the loco by Bachmann, I take that to mean it is unique to Bachmann. Loco is # 84010
As far as I can tell it does not have BEMF. I'm using Decoder Pro with my NCE Power Cab and I have printed the manual for DSD series decoders.
The loco probably doesn't have an hour or two of time in use.
I'm reluctant to run it because the jerking has to be hard on the drive train.
The wheels will turn almost a quarter turn if you picket it up and roll the wheels, both trucks. My other Bachmann steam locos (2-8-0 con and 4-8-2 heavy mountain)  have almost no slop in the drive train. I pulled the sand dome and found one screw but the exploded parts view doesn't help dissembling very much.
I'm unhappy camper.
In OP, one and a half inches on 3% grade it appears and surging on lesser grades.
Thanks everyone.
Feel free to chime in with any ideas.
Lee

Hi all.
I have a problem with a Bachmann Spectrum 2-6-6-2 with DCC and sound that I bought in June from Micro-Mark. It surges going down hill on any grade that has any slope, lunging  11/2"  on 3% to small surges on 1.1%. There so much slop in the gear train that the decoder can not keep the loco at a constant speed. I talked to two people at Bachmann. The tech told me there was probably no point in sending it back, not sure what they could do with it. I have forgotten the name but a man that said he was the designer and engineer had already told me to oil the drive train and clean the wheels. Which I did. This is a brand new engine. Someone on this forum told me to take it apart and shim the worm gear. Getting to the worm gear looks like a complete disassemble. I don't think I should have to do that to a new engine.
All in all I feel I got screw**.
My rant, I hope it helps someone else.
Lee

Quote from: SteamGene on August 12, 2009, 06:18:13 PM
I have three of the C&O H-5s - one of which I have not yet run.  The two that have, run fine.  As noted, the original Bachmann 2-6-6-2 is the USRA light Mallet.  The one coming out is the C&O H-4 (6) - not the same locomotive - but very close. 
I agree with Sheldon - it might well be a decoder problem.  Can you try it on DC? If it still doesn't run well, send it back.
Gene

Gene
I have tested everything, CVs ETC. The problem is, on DCC the decoder tries to keep the loco at a given speed. The cars push, motor slows, train slows, motor speeds up, because of the slop in the gearing the decoder can not maintain a constant speed. On DC the train speeds up going down hill and slows going up hill. No one notices.
By the way Tom at Bachmann says there is no point in sending it back they can't fix it. So much for that!
Others have said to try to shim the worm gear. I may look in to that. Brand new loco $#@%##.
Have a nice day
Lee 

Sheldon
Hi
I'm using DCC and running grades 1.2% to 3% I've been playing with the CVs but it doesn't seem to help. Like I said the guys at Bachmann told me the units on their shelf had the same slack in the drivers. Tom took one out of the box and tried the movement. I have Bachmanns 2-8-0, 4-8-2, and this 2-6-6-2 which I just bought new. The 2-8-0 has no slack. The 4-8-2 has almost none, and the 2-6-6-2 will roll about 5/16Th inch on the track without moving the motor. Since the company doesn't seem to know what to do,  if anyone else can help me solve this that, would be terrific.
Thanks
Lee

I can't recommend The Bachmann 2-6-6-2. I bought one quite recently and there is so much slack in the gearing that the drivers turn 1/8th to 1/4qtr turn with out moving the motor. This causes surging going down grade. I talked to management and was told to oil the gears and clean the pick ups.    I did that but to no avail. I sent an Email several days ago, but do not have answer yet. I don't believe there is a way to fix the 2-6-6-2. there seems to be an extra gear in the truck pivot tower. More gears more slack.     
Lee