I have one of Bachmann's Sound Value Alco RS-3s re-painted as a Northern Pacific loco,  N.P. ran these locos short hood forward and the loco came from factory as long hood forward.  NDOT in CV 29, following my Digitrax Zephyr and decoder manuals states I should just be able to add one number to CV29 to get my loco to change directions; however after much fooling around and discussion with Digitrax and on other forums, I have been unable to get anything to work!

What is the secret?  Please speak in plain English as you DCC nuts will loose me in an instant!

I would like to replace my headlight lenses on the above model with new lenses, they are Part number 00G05.  Are these parts available?  The reason for this is I am painting the locomotive to a Northern Pacific model and  need to know the old lenses out in order to paint.

Mark

I have just received the above locomotive, purchased from Micro-Mark.  This is the second one of these locomotives I've purchased in a the last two months.  I  ran the loco for a while on the from the factory, 03 address and locomotive ran very sporadically.  I programmed in the loco's new 4 digit address with my Digitrax Zephyr DCS50 and the loco still runs poorly!  It runs for a short bit, goes dead and runs for a bit and goes dead, etc. etc.  It is not stopping at specific locations and seems to stop at random locations that change everytime it runs through the same length of track.  I have clean track, none of my other locomotives stop and start like this one does.  I cleaned the wheels twice with Goo Gone on a shop towel and this improved it slightly.  I was hopeful that it would run in and begin to do better; but, this does not seem to be happening.  It maybe has 30 minutes of running time.   

I would have purchased the Bachmann S-4 Sound Value model had it been offered in Northern Pacific livery.  Since it was not, I have provided it with a Digitrax DH123D decoder.  I have installed a dozen or so of Digitrax Decoders and never had a problem.  I noticed that Bachmann wires their motors with the red leads from the track on the fireman's side, whereas others would have the red leads on the engineer's side, however, this makes no difference.

After completing the installation I placed the loco on my programing track and got a d nd error message on my Digitrax Zephyr DCS50, meaning there was an open circuit on the programing track.  I got out my Multimeter and checked continuity between the wheels and decoder and found that one of my solder joints had broken apart.  I fixed this and rechecked the continuity and it was good.  Then I placed the loco back on the programing track and attempted to read back the address and got 03, which was what I had hoped I would see.  I attempted to run the loco on address 03 and nothing happened!  I placed the loco back on the programing track and attempted to write the mew address (713) and now get a d nA error meaning there is no acknowledgement from the decoder. I also at one time got an A255 message and I am unfamiliar with this one.

I have always been successful before, installing decoders.  However this one has put me at a loss.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!   

I have an HO Bachmann Spectrum 2 truck Climax.  Although I bought this loco 5-8 years ago, it has been run very little.  I have a medium sized layout and I doubt this loco has made 2 laps around the layout.  So, for all practical purposes, it is brand new.  I did, however, install a Digitrax DZ123 decoder in it.  I'm having a problem with this loco.  Both U-Joints at the trucks are popping off the trucks.  There is a very small detent that is supposed to lock the U-joint onto the truck and I'm finding this to pop off of both trucks. 

In talking with other owners of this locomotive, it is my understanding that this loco has been plagued with problems from it's going onto the market!

What are my options?  I would not consider selling this loco on Ebay or in any other way, with the problem it has!  Can it be repaired?  Can it be replaced?  I should think Bachmann would not want to have this locomotive out in the public, given its history and problems!